tag:theconversation.com,2011:/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805/articlesThe University of Queensland2024-03-28T05:50:27Ztag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2263892024-03-28T05:50:27Z2024-03-28T05:50:27ZA hollow egg or the whole basket? How much chocolate should my kid eat this Easter?<p>Easter is the time for chocolate. The shops are full of fantastically packaged and shiny chocolates in all shapes and sizes, making trips to the supermarket with children more challenging than ever. </p>
<p>Meanwhile kids are receiving chocolate eggs at every turn from friends, relatives and the Easter Bunny (or bilby). </p>
<p>But this can also make it very tricky for parents to manage their kids’ chocolate intake. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/each-easter-we-spend-about-62-a-head-on-chocolates-but-the-cost-of-buying-unsustainable-products-can-be-far-greater-225784">Each Easter we spend about $62 a head on chocolates, but the cost of buying unsustainable products can be far greater</a>
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</p>
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<h2>What’s in chocolate?</h2>
<p>There are potential health benefits of chocolate. Cocoa beans are rich in fat, vitamins, minerals and phenolic compounds (or phytochemicals) which have been shown to <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23462053">reduce blood pressure</a>. </p>
<p>But these phenolic compounds taste so bitter they make raw cocoa almost inedible. And this is where food processing steps in. </p>
<p>Sugar, milk fat and other ingredients are added to make milk chocolate – the amount of cocoa used is small. By the time you get to “white chocolate” there is no cocoa at all.</p>
<p>Overall, <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29903472/">studies on the health benefits</a> of chocolate show very weak evidence that chocolate is good for our health.</p>
<p>If there is a benefit, it comes from very dark, bitter chocolate with a high proportion of cocoa (and phytochemicals), which children tend not to like. Dark chocolate sometimes gives adults a “mood boost” as it contains caffeine. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="Chopped up dark chocolate on a board." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/584317/original/file-20240326-24-t89j1r.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/584317/original/file-20240326-24-t89j1r.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=403&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/584317/original/file-20240326-24-t89j1r.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=403&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/584317/original/file-20240326-24-t89j1r.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=403&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/584317/original/file-20240326-24-t89j1r.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=507&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/584317/original/file-20240326-24-t89j1r.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=507&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/584317/original/file-20240326-24-t89j1r.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=507&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Dark chocolate is higher in bitter phytochemicals, which children do not tend to enjoy.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://unsplash.com/photos/brown-dried-leaves-on-white-ceramic-plate-4ewSZirtA7U">Sigmund/ Unsplash</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span>
</figcaption>
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<h2>How much chocolate should kids eat?</h2>
<p>All types of chocolate are classed as “discretionary” foods, the same as biscuits, cake and sugary drinks. This means they should be considered as treats. </p>
<p>As a rough guide, kids aged two to three years should not have more than one serve per day of <a href="https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/food-essentials/how-much-do-we-need-each-day/recommended-number-serves-children-adolescents-and-toddlers">discretionary foods </a> and for older kids up to three serves per day. Translating this into “chocolate”, a serve of chocolate would be 25–30g. An average hollow chocolate Easter egg weighs in at around 100g. </p>
<p>But it is OK for children to have some chocolate as a treat. Kids are not going to go sugar crazy if they enjoy eating their bunny or have some extra chocolate over the Easter break. </p>
<p>If children eat only chocolate through the day, this could lead to a <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30951762/">sugar crash</a> and leave kids hungry and cranky at bedtime. So make sure you fill them up with real food before letting them at the chocolate eggs. </p>
<p>Babies should not be offered chocolate as it will sensitise them to overly sweet flavours. But those <a href="https://growandgotoolbox.com/digital-resources/lumpy-road-to-solids">more than six months old</a> can join in the fun with a “real egg” hard boiled.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="Two young children hold boxes containing small, chocolate eggs in foil wrapping." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/584314/original/file-20240326-28-46r6h3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/584314/original/file-20240326-28-46r6h3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/584314/original/file-20240326-28-46r6h3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/584314/original/file-20240326-28-46r6h3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/584314/original/file-20240326-28-46r6h3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/584314/original/file-20240326-28-46r6h3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/584314/original/file-20240326-28-46r6h3.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">It is OK for kids to have chocolate as a treat.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/kids-holding-box-with-candies-7281861/">RDNE Stock Project/ Pexels</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>How can you manage Easter festivities?</h2>
<p>When planning treats for your kids, there are a few things you can do to manage the chocolate:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>if you are buying eggs and bunnies, compare the weight of products to help you choose a suitable serving size for your child’s age</p></li>
<li><p>use small, individually wrapped eggs in your egg hunt. Smaller pre-wrapped portions help parents manage consumption over time without nagging and demonising chocolate as a “<a href="https://theconversation.com/how-can-kids-have-a-healthier-halloween-and-what-do-you-do-with-the-leftover-lollies-216634">bad food</a>”</p></li>
<li><p>ask family members to buy an alternative gift such as a book or game to reduce the sheer quantity of chocolates entering the house at Easter</p></li>
<li><p>remember bunnies eat carrots too! Offer savoury snacks before the chocolate to help fill them up with essential nutrients before they have their treats. </p></li>
</ul>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/heres-why-having-chocolate-can-make-you-feel-great-or-a-bit-sick-plus-4-tips-for-better-eating-202848">Here's why having chocolate can make you feel great or a bit sick – plus 4 tips for better eating</a>
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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/226389/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Clare Dix receives funding from a Department of Health and Aged Care Preventative Health grant. </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Helen Truby has received funding from the Commonwealth Department of Health: Public Health and Chronic Disease program for the Grow and Go Toolbox, the Medical Research Future Fund, National Health and Medical Research Council, The Victorian Cancer Agency and the AJ Logan Trust.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Stella Boyd-Ford recives funding for employment from a Department of Health and Aged Care Preventative Health grant.</span></em></p>Easter is the time for chocolate. This can also make it very tricky for parents to manage their kids’ chocolate intake.Clare Dix, Research Fellow in Nutrition & Dietetics, The University of QueenslandHelen Truby, Professorial Research Fellow, School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, The University of QueenslandStella Boyd-Ford, Research Fellow with the Grow&Go Toolbox, The University of QueenslandLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2247402024-03-28T05:45:33Z2024-03-28T05:45:33ZCurious Kids: what did people use before toothpaste was invented?<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/583065/original/file-20240320-28-zza8cd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C0%2C1000%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/little-asian-cute-girl-brush-teeth-612960914">Casezy idea/Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><blockquote>
<p>How does toothpaste work? What did people use before toothpaste was invented? – Amelia, age 7, Meanjin (Brisbane)</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/curious-kids-36782"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/291898/original/file-20190911-190031-enlxbk.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=90&fit=crop&dpr=1" width="100%"></a></p>
<p>Thanks for your great questions, Amelia. </p>
<p>I’m a dentist, so I know a bit about how toothpaste works and what we used before it was invented.</p>
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<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/curious-kids-do-cats-and-dogs-lose-baby-teeth-like-people-do-98380">Curious Kids: Do cats and dogs lose baby teeth like people do?</a>
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</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>How does toothpaste work?</h2>
<p>Toothpaste makes your mouth smell fresh and feel clean. If you brush your teeth two times a day, toothpaste also helps protect your teeth from forming holes or cavities. Let’s look at these benefits one at a time.</p>
<p><strong>That fresh feeling</strong></p>
<p>Some <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7245492/">toothpaste ingredients</a> mix with your spit (or saliva) to make a soapy sudsy foam. The sudsy foam turns into slimy slop that you spit out.</p>
<p>Many toothpastes also have a slight sandy feeling to scrub stains off your teeth. This also helps remove the sticky, soft, white globs that grow on your teeth called plaque (pronounced plark). </p>
<p>Plaque is made from sticky bits of food and bacteria (tiny bugs). The bacteria in your plaque live, grow and multiply in your mouth. Some bacteria – such as <a href="https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/aapd/pd/2021/00000043/00000001/art00002"><em>Streptococcus mutans</em></a> (pronounced strep-toe-cock-us mew-tans) – love to digest the sugary food you eat. Other bacteria in your plaque burp rotten-egg gases that make your breath smell. </p>
<p>No wonder we want to get rid of plaque with gassy bacteria.</p>
<figure>
<iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iAQUCF9n3HU?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
<figcaption><span class="caption">What is plaque?</span></figcaption>
</figure>
<p><strong>Prevents cavities</strong></p>
<p>Even worse, plaque bacteria poo out diarrhoea (pronounced die-ree-a). That diarrhoea is “acidic”, meaning it can dissolve your teeth to form holes. So we brush our teeth twice a day to get rid of as much bacteria and their diarrhoea as we can.</p>
<p>There are lots of special ingredients in toothpastes to prevent holes from forming that include:</p>
<ul>
<li><p><a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/19424396.2003.12224154">xylitol</a> (pronounced zy-lee-toll). When bacteria in your plaque eat this, they get constipated and poo less acid</p></li>
<li><p><a href="https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD007868.pub3/full">fluoride</a> (pronounced floor-ride). Your teeth have tiny gaps on the surface that are so small you can only see them with a microscope. Fluoride fills these gaps to make your teeth strong. This is how fluoride protects against nasty bacteria poo from dissolving your teeth.</p></li>
</ul>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/curious-kids-what-is-inside-teeth-187258">Curious Kids: what is inside teeth?</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>What did people use in the olden days?</h2>
<p>People who lived a long time ago didn’t know much about <em>Streptococcus mutans</em> and bacteria poo. They thought getting holes in teeth was part of growing up. They were wrong. But they tried to make their teeth look whiter by using tooth powders.</p>
<p>People in ancient Egypt, China and India used their fingers to rub <a href="https://mansapublishers.com/index.php/jofr/article/view/1834/1444">tooth powders</a> on their teeth.</p>
<p>The first tooth powders were made of crushed animal bones, ox hooves, and egg, snail and oyster shells. Later, people added crushed charcoal (the black stuff you get when you burn bones or wood), powdered tree bark and flavouring herbs.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/583315/original/file-20240321-16-u9l7da.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Snail on green leaves" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/583315/original/file-20240321-16-u9l7da.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/583315/original/file-20240321-16-u9l7da.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583315/original/file-20240321-16-u9l7da.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583315/original/file-20240321-16-u9l7da.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583315/original/file-20240321-16-u9l7da.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583315/original/file-20240321-16-u9l7da.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583315/original/file-20240321-16-u9l7da.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 used to crush snail shells and rub the powder on their teeth.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/snail-muller-gliding-on-wet-leaves-1341770150">Zebra-Studio/Shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The ancient Romans cleaned their teeth with toothpaste made with <a href="https://mansapublishers.com/index.php/jofr/article/view/1834/1444">pee</a>. </p>
<p>Thank goodness things have changed.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/how-did-people-clean-their-teeth-in-the-olden-days-119588">How did people clean their teeth in the olden days?</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Thank your lucky stars</h2>
<p>The next time you brush your teeth, think of all those people in the olden days. They made tooth powders with bones and shells, and toothpaste with pee. </p>
<p>Luckily, we now have toothpastes that leave a better taste in your mouth and stop holes forming in your teeth. </p>
<p>But when you brush your teeth, remember to spit out the toothpaste. Don’t rinse it away with water. We want to keep a bit in your mouth to protect your teeth from that nasty bacteria poo. </p>
<hr>
<p><em>Hello, Curious Kids! Do you have a question you’d like an expert to answer? Ask an adult to send your question to curiouskids@theconversation.edu.au</em></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/224740/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Arosha Weerakoon's PhD research on the effect of ageing on mineral and collagen in teeth was funded by Colgate. She is also an Advocate for Oral Health with Colgate. Arosha is a practice owner and works as a general dentist.. </span></em></p>People once used tooth powders made from crushed bone or shells to whiten their teeth. Others rinsed their mouth out with pee. Yuck!Arosha Weerakoon, Senior Lecturer and General Dentist, School of Dentistry, The University of QueenslandLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2267242024-03-27T23:28:32Z2024-03-27T23:28:32ZAustralia must wean itself from monster utes – and the federal government’s weakening of vehicle emissions rules won’t help one bit<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/584679/original/file-20240327-24-tmdd5x.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C0%2C5810%2C3867&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 federal government has bowed to pressure from the car industry, announcing it will relax proposed emissions rules for utes and vans and delay enforcement of the new standards by six months.</p>
<p>The legislation was introduced to parliament on Wednesday. The government <a href="https://minister.infrastructure.gov.au/c-king/media-release/new-vehicle-efficiency-standard-tailored-australia">says</a> the new rules give Australian motorists a greater choice of electric vehicle models and insists the policy is “good for the environment”. </p>
<p>But on the latter point, the government is mistaken. The amended rules will slow the reduction in emissions from Australia’s polluting road transport sector. And they reflect domestic and international trends that, taken together, increase the risk Australia, and the world, will fail to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/australian-passenger-vehicle-emission-rates-are-50-higher-than-the-rest-of-the-world-and-its-getting-worse-222398">Australian passenger vehicle emission rates are 50% higher than the rest of the world – and it's getting worse</a>
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</p>
<hr>
<h2>What are the changes?</h2>
<p>Vehicle emissions standards set a limit on grams of CO₂ that can be emitted for each kilometre driven, averaged across all new cars sold. Carmakers failing to meet the standards will incur financial penalties.</p>
<p>The federal government released its <a href="https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/department/media/publications/cleaner-cheaper-run-cars-australian-new-vehicle-efficiency-standard-consultation-impact-analysis">initial version</a> of proposed vehicle emissions standards in February.</p>
<p>Under the changes announced this week, some 4WD wagons – such as the Toyota LandCruiser and Nissan Patrol – will be reclassified from “passenger car” to “light commercial vehicle”. The change means less stringent emissions standards will apply to those models.</p>
<p>In a <a href="https://minister.infrastructure.gov.au/c-king/media-release/new-vehicle-efficiency-standard-tailored-australia">statement</a>, the government justified the change by saying some off-road wagons have a similar chassis and towing capacity to vehicles in the light-commercial category, and so should be subject to the same standards.</p>
<p>The government will also give more favourable treatment to heavier vehicles. And manufacturers will not be penalised under the scheme until July 2025 – six months later than the government originally proposed. </p>
<h2>The global picture</h2>
<p>The government’s decision to weaken the standards is a response to pressure from the domestic vehicle industry, and a concession to the Opposition which falsely claims the new standards are a “<a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-15/fact-check-vehicle-missions-standard-ute-family-car-tax/103587622">ute tax</a>”.</p>
<p>But the watering-down also reflects a broader international trend in which the legacy vehicle industry is backing away from its <a href="https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2021/09/27/ford-to-lead-americas-shift-to-electric-vehicles.html">earlier</a> <a href="https://www.gm.com/commitments/electrification">commitments</a> to a rapid transition to electric vehicles. </p>
<p>For example, in the United States Ford and GM have both cut back production of some models, <a href="https://www.axios.com/2024/01/19/ev-cars-ford-lightning-gm-chevy-blazer-cuts">reportedly due to</a> lower-than-expected consumer demand.</p>
<p>Also in the US, carmakers this month <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2024/03/20/bidens-regulators-poised-to-issue-rule-meant-to-drive-electric-car-sales-00148019">secured a relaxation</a> of the Biden administration’s fuel efficiency targets for new vehicle sales.</p>
<p>US politicians are also pushing for <a href="https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-introduces-new-bill-raise-tariffs-chinese-evs-protect-american-autoworkers">increased tariff protection</a> from imports, already taxed at 27.5%. This would make US producers even more competitive against big Chinese electric vehicle brands such as BYD.</p>
<p>Toyota, the world’s largest car maker, has gone all-in on hybrid electric vehicles, beginning with the highly successful Prius. But as the global market has shifted to fully electric cars, Toyota has <a href="https://electrek.co/2023/10/30/why-is-toyota-anti-ev-it-lost-the-race-to-compete-ev-council/">fought against</a> further tightening of standards. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="three large utes under US flag and Ford sign" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/584688/original/file-20240327-26-ws6hhg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/584688/original/file-20240327-26-ws6hhg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/584688/original/file-20240327-26-ws6hhg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/584688/original/file-20240327-26-ws6hhg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/584688/original/file-20240327-26-ws6hhg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/584688/original/file-20240327-26-ws6hhg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/584688/original/file-20240327-26-ws6hhg.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">US carmakers secured a relaxation on fuel efficiency targets.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Pressures in Australia</h2>
<p>Australia no longer has a domestic car manufacturing industry. But global carmakers continue to exert powerful influence through the Federated Chamber of Automotive Industries, Australia’s peak industry body for manufacturers and importers of passenger and light-commercial vehicles. The chamber has consistently <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/inside-the-car-industry-s-climate-lobbying-push-20230522-p5da61.html">lobbied against</a> effective climate action. </p>
<p>The government’s agreement to weaken standards also reflects the prevailing assumption, apparently shared by both major parties, that tradespeople comprise the majority of the “working class” voters for whom they are vying.</p>
<p>But it’s an out-of-date assumption. In the 1980s, the occupations fitting a broad interpretation this term (trades and technical workers, machinery operators and labourers) <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/labour-force-australia-detailed/latest-release">accounted for 40%</a> of all employed workers, and a majority of full-time non-managerial workers. </p>
<p>But today, <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/labour-force-australia-detailed/latest-release">only 28%</a> of workers fit this description. Workers with professional qualifications, such as teachers and nurses, <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/labour-force-australia-detailed/latest-release">outnumber</a> trades and technical workers two to one. But their concerns are frequently dismissed by some politicians as those of a woke, inner-city minority. </p>
<h2>Utes are changing</h2>
<p>The shift from substance to symbol in regards to the working class is mirrored in the transformation of utes themselves. </p>
<p>Until relatively recently – and as the name implies – utes were utilitarian vehicles designed for the practical tasks of carrying a farming couple “<a href="https://hidrive.com.au/a-brief-history-of-the-ute/#:%7E:text=In%20one%20version%20of%20the,pigs%20to%20market%20on%20Mondays.">to church on Sundays and the pigs to market on Mondays</a>”. But over time, this has been replaced by various forms of cosplay. </p>
<p>Utes have been tricked out with sports bars and fancy wheels, metallic paint and so on. More recently, the traditional ute has been replaced by US-style pickups, typically sold in dual-cab configurations. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/labors-fuel-efficiency-standards-may-settle-the-ute-dispute-but-there-are-still-hazards-on-the-road-222875">Labor's fuel-efficiency standards may settle the ute dispute – but there are still hazards on the road</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>Most models of the market-leading Ford Ranger <a href="https://www.ford.com.au/showroom/trucks-and-vans/ranger/specs/">don’t even offer</a> a single-cab version, though such versions are sold overseas.</p>
<p>These vehicles are massive, but many have far less carrying capacity than a traditional ute. For example, the Ram 1500 has a tub length of <a href="https://www.news.com.au/technology/motoring/motoring-news/2023-ram-1500-big-horn-has-arrived-in-australia/news-story/f84366c4e20c57d6a25201cc52440062">1.7 metres</a>, compared to about 2.4 metres for the tray of a standard single-cab ute. </p>
<p>Unless the growth in the size of passenger vehicles is stopped and reversed, Australia’s task of meeting our net-zero target will be even more difficult.</p>
<p>It’s unlikely the two big parties will act on this issue any time soon. But as climate change worsens, the need to wean ourselves from monster cars and internal-combustion engines will demand the attention of our political leaders.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/226724/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>John Quiggin is a former Member of the Climate Change Authority, which recommended fuel efficiency standards in 2014</span></em></p>The amended rules will slow the reduction in emissions from Australia’s polluting road transport sector and reflect alarming trends, here and abroad.John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of QueenslandLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2241442024-03-25T19:05:37Z2024-03-25T19:05:37ZSummer’s over, so how much sun can (and should) I get?<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/583381/original/file-20240321-22-89ys3l.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C0%2C6016%2C3998&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://unsplash.com/photos/woman-sitting-on-beach-shore-during-daytime-f9HmXiFNKXM">Tamara Bellis/Unsplash</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>As we slide of out summer, you might be wondering how careful you need to be about sun exposure. Excessive exposure causes <a href="https://www.cancer.org.au/about-us/policy-and-advocacy/prevention-policy/national-cancer-prevention-policy/skin-cancer-statistics-and-issues/uv-radiation">skin cancer</a>, but sun exposure also has <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9976694/">benefits</a>. How do you balance the two? </p>
<p>A new <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1326020023052949?via%3Dihub">position statement</a> from cancer, bone health and other experts <a href="https://www.assc.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Sun-Exposure-Summit-PositionStatement_V1.9.pdf">aims to help</a> Australians balance the good and bad effects of sun exposure by taking into account their skin colour, risk of skin cancer, and where they live.</p>
<h2>What are the benefits of sunlight?</h2>
<p>Ultraviolet (UV) radiation (the wavelengths in sunlight that cause skin cancer) also leads to vitamin D production. <a href="https://dermnetnz.org/topics/vitamin-d">Vitamin D</a> is very important for maintaining strong bones, and is likely to have <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9976694/">multiple other health benefits</a>. </p>
<p>But vitamin D probably isn’t the whole story. Sunshine, including UV radiation, is thought to affect health in <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9976694/">other ways</a> such as improving our mood and reducing the risk of autoimmune diseases and infections. So for many people, avoiding the sun and taking a vitamin D supplement may not be the best approach.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/vitamin-d-supplements-can-keep-bones-strong-but-they-may-also-have-other-benefits-to-your-health-219521">Vitamin D supplements can keep bones strong – but they may also have other benefits to your health</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>How much time does it take to make vitamin D?</h2>
<p>It’s complicated, but for most people and most of the year across most of Australia, it’s a lot less than you think.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/php.13854">amount of time needed</a> depends on the amount of skin covered by clothing and the intensity of UV radiation (indicated by the UV index). More skin exposed and higher UV index equate to less time needed. </p>
<p>Both the UV index and the amount of the year that UV radiation is high increase as you get closer to the equator. In summer, all of Australia is bathed in sunshine. But in winter, opposite ends of the country have <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/php.13854">very different exposures</a>. </p>
<p>In summer, everybody except those with deeply pigmented skin can make enough vitamin D in <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1326020023052949?via%3Dihub">just five minutes</a> between 9am and 3pm, anywhere in Australia, provided they are wearing shorts and a T-shirt. </p>
<p>In winter it’s a different story. In <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1326020023052949?via%3Dihub">Darwin and Brisbane</a>, 5–10 minutes between 10am and 3pm will do the trick, but in <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1326020023052949?via%3Dihub">Hobart</a>, factoring in winter clothing, it will take nearly an hour in the middle of the day.</p>
<p>Hover your mouse over the lines below to see the length of exposure needed at specific times of day.</p>
<p><iframe id="X5szQ" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/X5szQ/" height="400px" width="100%" style="border: none" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p>Staying out for longer than needed doesn’t necessarily make more vitamin D, but it <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1326020023052949?via%3Dihub#bib25">does cause skin damage</a>. </p>
<h2>Hang on, what about those with darker skin?</h2>
<p>People with deeply pigmented, brown to black skin accumulate both vitamin D and DNA damage at a much slower rate than people with lighter skin tones. </p>
<p>When UV radiation hits a DNA strand, it causes the DNA to become distorted. If the distortion isn’t fixed, it will cause a mistake when the DNA is copied for a new cell, causing a permanent mutation that sometimes leads to cancer. </p>
<p>Melanin, the brown pigment in the skin, absorbs UV photons before that can happen, and the high melanin content in the darkest skin tones provides <a href="https://faseb.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1096/fj.201701472R">60 times</a> as much UV protection as the small amount in very fair skin. </p>
<p>The flip side is the risk of vitamin D deficiency is much higher than the risk of skin cancer. </p>
<p>The new statement accounts for this by putting people into <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1326020023052949?via%3Dihub">three groups</a> based on their risk of skin cancer, with specialised advice for each group.</p>
<h2>Highest skin cancer risk</h2>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="Red-headed woman" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/583354/original/file-20240321-22-qfrbj0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/583354/original/file-20240321-22-qfrbj0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583354/original/file-20240321-22-qfrbj0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583354/original/file-20240321-22-qfrbj0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583354/original/file-20240321-22-qfrbj0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583354/original/file-20240321-22-qfrbj0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583354/original/file-20240321-22-qfrbj0.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">People with pale skin that burns easily are in the high-risk group.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-photo-of-person-with-nose-ring-2146042/">Luriko Yamaguchi/Pexels</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>This includes people with very pale skin that burns easily and tans minimally, but also people with darker white or olive skin who can tan easily but have extra skin cancer risk factors because they: </p>
<ul>
<li>have had <strong>skin cancer</strong> before</li>
<li>have a <strong>family history</strong> of melanomas</li>
<li>have many <strong>moles</strong></li>
<li>are taking <strong>immunosuppressant</strong> medications.</li>
</ul>
<p>For these people, the harms of sun exposure almost certainly <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1326020023052949?via%3Dihub">outweigh the benefits</a>.</p>
<p>These people should wear sunscreen every day the <a href="https://www.arpansa.gov.au/our-services/monitoring/ultraviolet-radiation-monitoring/ultraviolet-radiation-index">UV index</a> is forecast to get to <a href="https://www.assc.org.au/peak-health-bodies-recommend-new-approach-to-sunscreen-use/">three or more</a>, and use the <a href="https://www.cancer.org.au/cancer-information/causes-and-prevention/sun-safety/be-sunsmart">five sunsmart steps</a> whenever the UV index is above three: </p>
<ul>
<li><strong>slip</strong> on clothing covering as much of the body as possible</li>
<li><strong>slop</strong> on SPF30+ sunscreen on areas that can’t be covered up</li>
<li><strong>slap</strong> on a hat</li>
<li><strong>seek</strong> shade</li>
<li><strong>slide</strong> on sunglasses.</li>
</ul>
<p>They shouldn’t spend time outdoors deliberately to make vitamin D, but should discuss vitamin D supplements with their doctor. </p>
<h2>Intermediate skin cancer risk</h2>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="Man drinks soda from a cup" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/583358/original/file-20240321-20-42mfoy.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/583358/original/file-20240321-20-42mfoy.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583358/original/file-20240321-20-42mfoy.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583358/original/file-20240321-20-42mfoy.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583358/original/file-20240321-20-42mfoy.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583358/original/file-20240321-20-42mfoy.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583358/original/file-20240321-20-42mfoy.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">People with skin that tans easily are at intermediate risk.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://unsplash.com/photos/man-in-gray-shirt-drinking-from-white-ceramic-mug-TfqM6Kg2Rh4">Jarritos/Unsplash</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>This means people with dark white/olive skin that sometimes burns but tans easily, and who don’t have other skin cancer risk factors. </p>
<p>These people should still apply sunscreen as part of their usual routine on all days when the UV index is forecast to get to <a href="https://www.assc.org.au/peak-health-bodies-recommend-new-approach-to-sunscreen-use/">three or more</a>, but they can spend enough time outdoors to get a “dose” of vitamin D on most days of the week. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/curious-kids-how-does-the-sun-help-your-body-make-vitamin-d-139670">Curious Kids: how does the Sun help your body make vitamin D?</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>Once the time needed for their vitamin D dose is up, they should also use the <a href="https://www.cancer.org.au/cancer-information/causes-and-prevention/sun-safety/be-sunsmart">slip-slop-slap-seek-slide</a> steps to avoid accumulating DNA damage. </p>
<p>If they’re unable to do this because of health or lifestyle factors, like being housebound, working night shifts, or always covering up with clothing, they should see their doctor about whether they need vitamin D supplements.</p>
<h2>Lowest skin cancer risk</h2>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="Family members sit outside, laughing" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/583359/original/file-20240321-16-fk5ehb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/583359/original/file-20240321-16-fk5ehb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583359/original/file-20240321-16-fk5ehb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583359/original/file-20240321-16-fk5ehb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583359/original/file-20240321-16-fk5ehb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583359/original/file-20240321-16-fk5ehb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/583359/original/file-20240321-16-fk5ehb.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">People with skin that rarely burns have the lowest risk of cancer.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://unsplash.com/photos/two-persons-staring-at-each-other-jg_t3PBq5Jo">Eye for Ebony/Unsplash</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>This covers people with deeply pigmented brown to black skin that rarely or never burns. </p>
<p>These people can <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1326020023052949?via%3Dihub#bib14">safely spend enough time outdoors</a> to make vitamin D and get the other benefits of sunshine. But because more time is needed, it can be difficult, particularly when the weather is cold. Vitamin D supplements might be needed. </p>
<p>They don’t need to routinely protect their skin, but might need to <a href="https://www.cancer.org.au/cancer-information/causes-and-prevention/sun-safety/be-sunsmart">slip-slop-slap-seek-slide</a> if they are outdoors for more than two hours.</p>
<h2>How do I get the feel-good effects of sunshine?</h2>
<p>Spending time outdoors in the early morning is the best way to get the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9976694/">feel-good effects</a> of sunshine. An early morning walk is a great idea for all of us, but it won’t make vitamin D.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/should-i-be-getting-my-vitamin-d-levels-checked-211268">Should I be getting my vitamin D levels checked?</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/224144/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Katie Lee receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council for a student stipend. </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Rachel Neale receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council for grants related to vitamin D and sunscreen. She was the lead author of the manuscript describing the revised position statement and chaired the Summit that led to the revised recommendations.</span></em></p>Excessive exposure causes skin cancer, but sun exposure also has benefits. How do you balance the two?Katie Lee, PhD Candidate, Dermatology Research Centre, The University of QueenslandRachel Neale, Principal research fellow, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research InstituteLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2260112024-03-25T02:42:08Z2024-03-25T02:42:08ZIndustry shutdowns are messy and painful: 4 lessons Australia’s coal sector can learn from car-makers about bowing out<p>Shifting Australia’s electricity sector to low-carbon technologies and closing coal plants is vital to tackling climate change. But such transitions are easier said than done.</p>
<p>People and economies are often deeply connected to the coal industry. Coal plants have often been integral to a community for decades, and closing them is a complex social process. </p>
<p>So how do we minimise the social and economic effects of such closures, and ensure communities and regions continue to thrive?</p>
<p>To answer this question, we looked to another sector that’s recently undergone large-scale shutdowns: Australia’s car-making industry. Our <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2210422424000261">research</a> highlights four lessons to help plan the end of the coal-fired power sector.</p>
<h2>The huge loss of the car industry</h2>
<p>Australia’s coal plants are polluting, <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Environment_and_Communications/Coal_fired_power_stations/Final_Report">ageing</a> and inefficient. Closing them sooner rather than later makes sense. </p>
<p>But the shift is challenging. First, renewable energy must be scaled up to cover the loss of coal-fired power. Second, poorly managed closures can lead to widespread social and economic disruption.</p>
<p>For guidance, we can look to closures in the Australian car industry in recent decades, mostly in South Australia and Victoria. The closures were due to <a href="https://www.afr.com/opinion/bill-scales-the-rise-and-fall-of-the-australian-car-manufacturing-industry-20171018-gz3ky4">economic and policy shifts</a> which made the domestic industry untenable.</p>
<p>The last closure occurred in October 2017, when Holden shut down its <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-08/holden-closure-australia-history-car-manufacturing/9015562">Elizabeth plant</a> after 70 years of operations. The move led to mass <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10.1080/21681376.2021.2016071?src=getftr">job losses</a>. It also disrupted <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/apr/11/adelaide-elizabeth-holden-500-car-industry-manufacturing-loss">community and social cohesion</a>, leading to family breakdowns and <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/hpja.564?src=getftr">social and health issues</a> among workers.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/what-is-a-just-transition-to-net-zero-and-why-is-australia-struggling-to-get-there-218706">What is a 'just' transition to net zero - and why is Australia struggling to get there?</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Lessons for coal plant closures</h2>
<p>Holden’s closure process was not perfect. <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21582041.2024.2322132">Research</a> showed three years after the Elizabeth plant closed, many workers remained financially vulnerable. And while workers were helped into new employment as quickly as possible, this often came at the expense of quality employment, and did not meet the demand for new skills to align with emerging industries.</p>
<p>The Holden experience nonetheless offers lessons for the coal-fired power industry.</p>
<p>Both industries are male-dominated and involve a high proportion of blue-collar workers with low levels of formal education and skills training. Plants are often located in communities dominated by single-income households. The industries are a source of pride for locals and form a major part of people’s social and cultural identity, often across generations.</p>
<p>In <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2210422424000261">our research</a>, we spoke with people from various groups involved in Holden’s closure process. These included the car industry and its supply chain, agencies across all levels of government, community organisations and academia.</p>
<p>Our research highlights four standout lessons: </p>
<p><strong>1. Timing matters</strong></p>
<p>The Elizabeth plant closure was a gradual process that unfolded over several years. This extended timeline allowed most workers, families and businesses to be prepared – as well as they could be – for imminent restructuring. </p>
<p>Holden planned a staged release of workers over three years. This prompted local and state agencies to coordinate resources, and helped workers and their families plan for the transition without experiencing immediate pressure on their social and economic wellbeing.</p>
<p><strong>2. Try innovative solutions</strong></p>
<p>Holden’s “transition centre”, established in 2014, was a one-stop shop where employees could access a range of services and information. A local government representative told us the transition centre:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>took care of every aspect of [the worker’s] life […] their social, their health and well-being, their finances.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>With the mental health of the workers and their families in mind, for example, the centre provided information about healthy eating and exercising. However, the centre wasn’t always on the cards. As one interviewee observed:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Although Holden’s leadership wanted to make a difference, it wasn’t easy to convince the company to fund the centre. There was no other way […] Government funds were not arriving soon enough and were going to be accessible only to certain employees for certain purposes. At the government’s request, the centre opened its doors to the whole supply chain eventually.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><strong>3. Consider families, too</strong></p>
<p>When longstanding industries close, the impact is felt beyond the worker. It changes family dynamics and poses risks to mental health. It also demands new skills such as financial literacy amongst redundant workers and families so they can better manage payouts and future investments. </p>
<p>Research participants told us these issues were overlooked in the early phases of Holden’s closure of the Elizabeth plant. In several cases, poor financial decision-making led to family breakdowns and bankruptcy.</p>
<p>However, the transition team eventually recognised the need to engage with affected families. It organised morning and afternoon tea sessions for workers’ partners, and mailed financial literacy information to employees’ homes.</p>
<p><strong>4. Work together</strong></p>
<p>In the early days of Holden’s closure planning, there was limited coordination between workers and government agencies providing support services to workers and their families.</p>
<p>What’s more, one state government expert closely involved with the transition process said agencies recognised the need for consultation with workers, however:</p>
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<p>the translation of the messages into something that was appropriate for the scale of the transition and that responded to the specific needs and aspirations of the community was significantly lacking.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Over time, industry and governments recognised the need to coordinate efforts to engage with and assist workers and their families, to ensure the transition was as smooth as possible.</p>
<h2>Navigating a difficult time</h2>
<p>Like the car industry shutdowns, the closure of coal-fired power stations is likely to be messy at times – but the negative effects should be managed as well as possible. </p>
<p>The car industry’s experience can guide governments and the private sector in how to minimise disruption for regions, communities and workers.</p>
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<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/heres-what-happens-to-workers-when-coal-fired-power-plants-close-it-isnt-good-215434">Here's what happens to workers when coal-fired power plants close. It isn't good</a>
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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/226011/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>The closure of Australia’s coal-fired power stations will be challenging. The car industry experience provides lessons on how to protect workers and families.Vigya Sharma, Senior Research Fellow, Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of QueenslandJulia Loginova, Research fellow, Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of QueenslandLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2259032024-03-22T10:49:08Z2024-03-22T10:49:08ZAustralia must lead the world on nature restoration through ambitious interpretation of international law<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/583313/original/file-20240321-16-pgufis.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=24%2C0%2C5396%2C3616&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/restoration-sign-wetlands-alviso-marsh-don-622076825">Sundry Photography, Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Australia has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to halt and reverse biodiversity loss through ambitious law and policy reform.</p>
<p>The federal government is currently rewriting our <a href="https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/epbc/epbc-act-reform">national environmental laws</a> and updating the overarching <a href="https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/biodiversity/conservation/strategy">Strategy for Nature</a>. The updated strategy will include, among other things, goals for the restoration of degraded areas. </p>
<p>Part of the impetus for this reform is the <a href="https://www.cbd.int/doc/decisions/cop-15/cop-15-dec-04-en.pdf">Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework</a>. This 2022 United Nations treaty was signed by almost 200 countries committing to address the biodiversity crisis. It includes a pledge to achieve 30% of degraded land, water, coastal and marine ecosystems “under effective restoration” by 2030. </p>
<p>But as we argue in our <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-024-02389-6">new correspondence</a> in Nature Ecology and Evolution, this restoration target is wide open to interpretation at the domestic level. Some responses could be very ambitious, while others would barely shift us from the status quo. Australia has an opportunity to lead here. We can show the world how to restore land and water for the benefit of all. </p>
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<figcaption><span class="caption">The United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP15) ended in Montreal, Canada, on December 19, 2022 with a landmark agreement to guide global action on nature through to 2030.</span></figcaption>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/5-things-we-need-to-see-in-australias-new-nature-laws-217271">5 things we need to see in Australia's new nature laws</a>
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<h2>Interpreting the 30% restoration target</h2>
<p>The global framework contains 23 targets, to be “initiated immediately and completed by 2030”. </p>
<p>The restoration target obliges countries to: </p>
<blockquote>
<p>Ensure that by 2030 at least 30% of areas of degraded terrestrial, inland water, and marine and coastal ecosystems are under effective restoration, in order to enhance biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services, ecological integrity and connectivity. </p>
</blockquote>
<p>At first glance, this 30% restoration target sounds like a huge and important step towards reversing biodiversity loss. But the devil is in the detail, and almost every word of this target is open to interpretation. </p>
<p>For example, the term “degraded” can be interpreted in various ways. A country may interpret it to include only areas that have seen a drastic decline in biodiversity, such as those that have been totally cleared. </p>
<p>But if a country interprets it more broadly as areas that have experienced any decline in biodiversity, this translates to a much larger area for restoration.</p>
<p>The wording also refers to 30% of areas of “degraded terrestrial, inland water, and marine and coastal ecosystems”. Crucially, it does not say effort must be spread evenly across these different ecosystems. This may lead countries to focus on areas where restoration is easier or cheaper. Given the <a href="https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/csp2.13050">complexities involved in marine and coastal restoration</a>, there is a risk countries may focus their efforts on land while continuing to neglect freshwater, marine or coastal ecosystems.</p>
<p>The phrase “under effective restoration” also has a range of possible meanings. Does “effective” simply mean in a better state than it was before restoration began? Or does it mean bringing the ecosystem back to an approximation of its natural state – prior to interference from development or other harm? </p>
<p>How the term “effective” restoration is defined at a national scale will drastically influence reports of “success” and make it difficult to compare results between countries. </p>
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<figcaption><span class="caption">The United Nations is honouring the planet’s most ambitious, successful, and inspiring examples of large-scale ecosystem restoration.</span></figcaption>
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<h2>Scaling up</h2>
<p>Australia has signed the framework and is currently considering how to implement it domestically. If Australia does decide to interpret the restoration target broadly and commit to restoring larger areas of land and water through more ambitious standards, there will be other issues to contend with. </p>
<p>For example, one study identified a lack of funding and complex legal requirements as <a href="https://www.nespmarinecoastal.edu.au/project/1-6/">barriers to upscaling restoration</a> in marine and coastal areas. In particular, having to apply for numerous government permits for restoration can <a href="https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/csp2.13050">slow progress</a> and lead people to scale back their plans.</p>
<p>To meet the 30% target, the government will need to reconsider how to fund restoration and streamline legal processes. Remember, much of the heavy lifting is currently done by <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-new-major-players-in-conservation-ngos-thrive-while-national-parks-struggle-199880">non-government organisations</a> such as The Nature Conservancy, Australian Wildlife Conservancy, Bush Heritage Australia and Trust for Nature.</p>
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<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/the-new-major-players-in-conservation-ngos-thrive-while-national-parks-struggle-199880">The new major players in conservation? NGOs thrive while national parks struggle</a>
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<h2>Leading by example</h2>
<p>Ultimately, we argue countries should have discretion over how and where to implement restoration based on their individual circumstances. But we also think the global framework could be supplemented by standardised terminology and metrics to allow genuine comparison of countries’ progress towards the global targets. </p>
<p>Closer to home, our analysis has some important lessons for Australia as the federal government contemplates the fate of our national environmental laws and biodiversity strategy. Australia’s <a href="https://soe.dcceew.gov.au/">most recent State of the Environment Report</a> painted a bleak picture of biodiversity decline, highlighting an urgent need to upscale restoration of our land and water.</p>
<p>Australia has an opportunity to take a leading role in this area and reverse our legacy of biodiversity loss. Interpreting the 30% restoration target broadly and ambitiously would set us on a path towards achieving meaningful outcomes for biodiversity and make Australia a world leader in restoration. </p>
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<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/weve-committed-to-protect-30-of-australias-land-by-2030-heres-how-we-could-actually-do-it-217795">We've committed to protect 30% of Australia's land by 2030. Here's how we could actually do it</a>
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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/225903/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Justine Bell-James receives funding from the Australian Research Council and the National Environmental Science Program. She is a Director of the National Environmental Law Association.</span></em></p>Australia committed to restore 30% of degraded ecosystems by 2030 when we signed the global biodiversity framework. But what does that really mean? It’s open to interpretation. So let’s be ambitious.Justine Bell-James, Associate Professor, TC Beirne School of Law, The University of QueenslandLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2262252024-03-21T19:07:33Z2024-03-21T19:07:33ZPrestigious journals make it hard for scientists who don’t speak English to get published. And we all lose out<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/583287/original/file-20240320-17-ek0zj5.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C12%2C4288%2C2830&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/stem-cotton-gossypium-hirsutum-microscopic-view-170232521">D. Kucharski K. Kucharska/Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>For the first time in history, a single language dominates global scientific communication. But the actual production of knowledge continues to be a multilingual enterprise.</p>
<p>The use of English as the norm poses challenges for scholars from regions where English is not widely spoken. They must decide whether to publish in English for global visibility, or publish in their native language to make their work accessible to local communities. And when they work in English, they end up <a href="https://theconversation.com/non-native-english-speaking-scientists-work-much-harder-just-to-keep-up-global-research-reveals-208750">expending more time and effort</a> writing and revising papers than their native English-speaking peers.</p>
<p>As gatekeepers of scientific knowledge, academic publishers play a key role in helping or hindering the participation of a multilingual scientific community. So how are they doing?</p>
<p>We reviewed the policies of 736 journals in the biological sciences and discovered the great majority are making only minimal efforts to overcome language barriers in academic publishing. Our research is <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2023.2840">published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B</a>.</p>
<h2>A wide range of inclusive policies</h2>
<p>Linguistically inclusive policies come in many forms, and can be implemented at each stage of the editorial process. They might aim to make publishing more multilingual. Alternatively – if sticking with English – they may aim to reduce the burden on non-native English speakers.</p>
<p>Allowing papers to be published in more than one language at the same time would resolve the dilemma many non-native English speaking scholars face about communicating locally or globally. However, only 7% of the journals we surveyed allowed this possibility. (A further 11% will allow multilingual versions of an abstract alone.)</p>
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<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/non-native-english-speaking-scientists-work-much-harder-just-to-keep-up-global-research-reveals-208750">Non-native English speaking scientists work much harder just to keep up, global research reveals</a>
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<p>Another possibility would be to implement machine translation tools to make versions of an article available in multiple languages on a journal’s website. There has been recent <a href="https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/72/10/988/6653151">progress in this area</a>, but only 11% of journals we surveyed have put it into practice. </p>
<p>Journals can also indicate they value submissions from authors from diverse linguistic backgrounds by explicitly declaring they will not reject manuscripts solely on the basis of the perceived quality of the English. Surprisingly, we found only two journals stated this.</p>
<p>Similarly, providing author guidelines in multiple languages would further encourage submissions from diverse authors. While 11% of the journals we examined translate specific sections of their guidelines to other languages, only 8% offer their entire guidelines in more than one language.</p>
<p>To ensure published research learns from the scientific contributions of <a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2664.14370">scholars from around the globe</a>, journals should explicitly allow or encourage non-English literature to be cited. Only one tenth of journals mention this in author guidelines.</p>
<p>Journals may also adopt measures to ensure work submitted by non-native English speakers is assessed fairly. One such measure is the provision of English-language editing services. </p>
<p>More than half the journals we surveyed refer authors to some kind of editing services; only 1% offer the service free of charge to authors. The cost of editing may impose a considerable <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0238372">financial burden</a> on scholars in lower-income countries.</p>
<p>Another measure is to educate reviewers and editors about language barriers and instruct them to assess the manuscripts based on their research attributes alone. This is something only 4–6% of journals implement.</p>
<h2>Drivers of inclusivity</h2>
<p>We also identify two key influences on a journal’s adoption of linguistically inclusive policy. </p>
<p>The first is impact factor, a measure commonly taken to represent the prestige of a journal. We found journals with higher impact factors tend to adopt less-inclusive policies, possibly because they mostly target English-proficient authors and readers.</p>
<p>The second influence is ownership by a scientific society. Journals owned by scientific societies tended to adopt more inclusive policies. They have also taken the lead in the movement to publish multilingual content.</p>
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<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/what-is-open-access-and-why-should-we-care-11608">What is open access and why should we care?</a>
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<p>Many scientific societies have a mandate to <a href="https://anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ar.24735">foster diverse communities</a>. They are supported by their members and are well positioned to push for a cultural change in scientific publishing.</p>
<p>We also found that open access journals (which make research available to the public for free) were no more likely to adopt inclusive linguistic policies, nor were journals with more diverse editorial boards. </p>
<p>The apparent lack of influence of linguistically diverse board members is a puzzle. Perhaps editors who have experienced language barriers in their own professional life do not advocate for non-native English speaking authors. Or perhaps editorial boards have less power to define editorial policies than we might expect.</p>
<h2>Language barriers</h2>
<p>Language barriers deepen geographic divides, hampering knowledge sharing. Tackling them in academic publishing becomes critical to effectively address both regional and global issues, such as health and conservation.</p>
<p>In our study, we looked at a number of linguistically inclusive policies, but there are plenty of other things journals can do to help scientists from non-English speaking backgrounds. These range from <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adg9714">using artificial intelligence tools</a> to the re-negotiation of copyrights to <a href="https://academic.oup.com/iob/article/5/1/obad003/7008844">authorise the publication of translations</a> elsewhere.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/226225/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Henry Arenas-Castro 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>A study of 736 biological science journals showed only a small fraction are making efforts to foster a multilingual scientific community.Henry Arenas-Castro, Postdoctoral Fellow, Yale University, The University of QueenslandLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2261212024-03-21T02:25:09Z2024-03-21T02:25:09ZRecovering after a false start? What’s the state of play for Brisbane’s 2032 Olympic and Paralympic planning?<p>When Queensland premier Steven Miles announced Brisbane’s <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/mar/18/queensland-premier-steven-miles-rejects-plan-for-multi-billion-dollar-olympic-stadium-in-brisbane">Lang Park</a> (sponsored name Suncorp Stadium) as the venue for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, he hoped, no doubt, it might finally lay to rest speculation about all the proposed Olympic venues and especially the Brisbane Cricket Ground (Gabba) rebuild. </p>
<p>But what does this mean more generally for the Games’ budget and for the legacy it will leave for Brisbane and south-east Queensland?</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/how-can-you-tell-if-hosting-the-olympics-or-commonwealth-games-offers-value-for-money-here-are-our-expert-tips-210161">How can you tell if hosting the Olympics or Commonwealth games offers value for money? Here are our expert tips</a>
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<h2>The Olympics’ ‘new norm’</h2>
<p>The Olympic Games are famous for <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/344409066_Regression_to_the_Tail_Why_the_Olympics_Blow_Up">cost blowouts</a> – every Olympics host since 1960 has spent significantly more than initial estimates, with an average spend of about 2.5 times the original budget. </p>
<p>These budget blowouts, and the cost of bidding simply to host the Games, have led to widespread criticism of the mega event. </p>
<p>In response to pressure to become more sustainable, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) introduced a series of reforms called the “new norm”. The IOC’s <a href="https://olympics.com/ioc/new-norm">new norm</a> was designed to reduce the costs of staging the Games by reducing the amount of new infrastructure required and encouraging the use of temporary and reusable venues. </p>
<p>These “new norm” principles are what made the Brisbane bid a more affordable and realistic proposal. </p>
<p>Since securing the Games in July 2021, there has been increasing public debate about whether the state government is keeping to these principles and can deliver a sustainable, legacy-driven event on budget.</p>
<h2>Queensland’s stadium sagas</h2>
<p>Brisbane’s <a href="https://stillmed.olympics.com/media/Documents/International-Olympic-Committee/Commissions/Future-host-commission/The-Games-of-The-Olympiad/Brisbane-2032-FHC-Questionnaire-Response.pdf">IOC Future Host Commission Questionnaire Response</a>, in effect the bid document, projected costs of A$4-5 billion, plus an additional $7.1 billion spend on infrastructure. This included using a refurbished Gabba as the main Olympic venue. </p>
<p>However, the former Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk very quickly introduced a controversial plan to knock down and rebuild the Gabba from scratch. </p>
<p>Following strong criticism, Miles in December 2023 moved to commission an independent <a href="https://www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0029/87581/sport-venue-review-23.pdf">Sport Venue Review</a> led by former Brisbane lord mayor Graham Quirk. </p>
<p>The report was released on March 18, and although the Queensland government accepted 27 of the 30 recommendations, one of its most significant was rejected. Controversially and seemingly in contradiction to the “new norm” principles, the review recommended building an entirely new stadium on a greenfield site at Victoria Park. </p>
<p>It also recommended the demolition of the Gabba once the new stadium was complete.</p>
<p>Miles was quick to rule out that recommendation, revealing he had been working for some weeks on an alternative proposal, instead announcing Suncorp Stadium would be the main stadium hosting the Games’ opening and closing ceremonies. </p>
<p>In another snub for the Quirk Review, it was also announced the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre (QSAC) would be upgraded and serve as the venue for the athletics despite the review finding such as upgrade would not offer legacy benefits.</p>
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<figcaption><span class="caption">There’s no shortage of opinions on the plans for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games.</span></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The choice of Suncorp Stadium appears to be a win for the “new norm”, as it saves around $3.4 billion that was earmarked for the Gabba rebuild, while using an existing venue that will remain as a legacy asset. </p>
<p>Revamping QSAC is also broadly in keeping with new norm principles if it provides a substantially upgraded asset for the community post-Games. </p>
<p>However, using Suncorp is not cost-neutral, with Miles suggesting that if upgrades cost <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-19/2032-brisbane-olympics-stadiums-lang-park-paralympic-games/103601744">upwards of $1 billion</a>, this would be shared “roughly half-half” between Suncorp and the Gabba.</p>
<p>QSAC will also require a significant makeover to bring it up to standard and the venue is currently poorly served by public transport, and likely requiring further investment to enhance noted accessibility issues. </p>
<p>Additionally, costs will remain associated with the upkeep of the Gabba, described by the Quirk review as an “end-of-life” venue. </p>
<p>The Gabba is currently in desperate need of a refurbishment as it is not compliant with modern building codes, particularly in terms of accessibility for people with disabilities. The Queensland government has promised a “modest” refurbishment in consultation with stakeholders (AFL and Cricket Australia) in the range of $500 million. </p>
<p>The longer-term question still to be addressed is whether the redevelopment of these venues will provide Queensland with world class facilities that provide optimal long-term benefits for the community?</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/in-a-year-of-sporting-mega-events-the-brisbane-olympics-can-learn-a-lot-from-the-ones-that-fail-their-host-cities-187838">In a year of sporting mega-events, the Brisbane Olympics can learn a lot from the ones that fail their host cities</a>
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<h2>Lessons and next steps</h2>
<p>What lessons can we draw from this recent experience? </p>
<p>Planning and development of major sporting events is always intensely political. </p>
<p>While it is crucial to avoid majorly expensive venues that will be rarely used after the Games, the IOC’s new norm should not necessarily mean entirely new venues are out of scope for host cities. </p>
<p>New venues may well align with new norm principles if they strongly support the long-term development plans of the host city and provide lasting community use after the Games have come and gone. </p>
<p>In the case of Brisbane 2032, getting the independent coordination authority set up is an urgent priority to provide a solid governance model for planning, design and construction of the proposed venues. </p>
<p>After something of a false start, we can ill afford further delays.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/226121/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Leonie Lockstone-Binney receives funding from the Australian Research Council and the International Olympic Committee.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Judith Mair receives funding from the International Olympic Committee</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Kirsten Holmes receives funding from the Australian Research Council and the International Olympic Committee. </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Paul Burton is a member of the Planning Institute of Australia and the Urban Development Institute of Australia. He receives funding from the City of Gold Coast and participated in the closing ceremony of the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.</span></em></p>Queensland premier Steven Miles is walking a tightrope in trying to deliver a spectacular yet sustainable, legacy-driven 2032 Brisbane Olympics.Leonie Lockstone-Binney, Professor, Griffith UniversityJudith Mair, Associate Professor, The University of QueenslandKirsten Holmes, Professor, School of Management and Marketing, Curtin UniversityPaul Burton, Professor of Urban Management & Planning, Griffith UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2262192024-03-20T04:06:40Z2024-03-20T04:06:40ZTerrorist content lurks all over the internet – regulating only 6 major platforms won’t be nearly enough<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/583026/original/file-20240320-17-wn83c.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=4%2C241%2C2619%2C1761&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/burning-car-unrest-antigovernment-crime-581564755">Bumble Dee/Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Australia’s eSafety commissioner <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-19/social-media-esafety-commissioner-terrorist-violent-extremist/103603518">has sent legal notices</a> to Google, Meta, Telegram, WhatsApp, Reddit and X (formerly Twitter) asking them to show what they’re doing to protect Australians from online extremism. The six companies <a href="https://www.esafety.gov.au/newsroom/media-releases/tech-companies-grilled-on-how-they-are-tackling-terror-and-violent-extremism">have 49 days to respond</a>.</p>
<p>The notice comes at a time when governments are increasingly cracking down on major tech companies to address online harms like <a href="https://theconversation.com/australia-has-fined-x-australia-over-child-sex-abuse-material-concerns-how-severe-is-the-issue-and-what-happens-now-215696">child sexual abuse material</a> or <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mark-zuckerberg-apologizes-parents-victims-online-exploitation-senate-hearing/">bullying</a>.</p>
<p>Combating online extremism presents unique challenges different from other content moderation problems. Regulators wanting to establish effective and meaningful change must take into account what research has shown us about extremism and terrorism.</p>
<h2>Extremists are everywhere</h2>
<p>Online extremism and terrorism have been pressing concerns for some time. A stand-out example was the 2019 Christchurch terrorist attack on two mosques in Aotearoa New Zealand, which was live streamed on Facebook. It led to the <a href="https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/nz-and-france-seek-end-use-social-media-acts-terrorism">“Christchurch Call” to action</a>, aimed at countering extremism through collaborations between countries and tech companies.</p>
<p>But despite such efforts, <a href="https://www.rand.org/pubs/perspectives/PEA1458-2.html">extremists still use online platforms</a> for networking and coordination, recruitment and radicalisation, knowledge transfer, financing and mobilisation to action.</p>
<p>In fact, extremists use the same online infrastructure as everyday users: marketplaces, dating platforms, gaming sites, music streaming sites and social networks. Therefore, all regulation to counter extremism needs to consider the rights of regular users, as well.</p>
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<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/christchurch-attacks-5-years-on-terrorists-online-history-gives-clues-to-preventing-future-atrocities-225273">Christchurch attacks 5 years on: terrorist’s online history gives clues to preventing future atrocities</a>
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<h2>The rise of ‘swarmcasting’</h2>
<p>Tech companies have responded with initiatives like the <a href="https://gifct.org/membership">Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism</a>. It shares information on terrorist online content among its members (such as Facebook, Microsoft, YouTube, X and others) so they can take it down on their platforms. These approaches aim to <a href="https://gifct.org/hsdb/">automatically identify and remove</a> terrorist or extremist content.</p>
<p>However, a moderation policy focused on individual pieces of content on individual platforms fails to capture much of what’s out there.</p>
<p>Terrorist groups commonly use a <a href="https://static.rusi.org/20190716_grntt_paper_06.pdf">“swarmcasting” multiplatform approach</a>, leveraging 700 platforms or more to distribute their content.</p>
<p>Swarmcasting involves using “beacons” on major platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Telegram to direct people to locations with terrorist material. This beacon can be a hyperlink to a blog post on a website like Wordpress or Tumblr that then contains further links to the content, perhaps hosted on Google Drive, JustPaste.It, BitChute and other places where users can download it.</p>
<p>So, while extremist content may be flagged and removed from social media, it remains accessible online thanks to swarmcasting. </p>
<h2>Putting up filters isn’t enough</h2>
<p>The process of identifying and removing extremist content is far from simple. For example, at a recent US Supreme Court hearing over internet regulations, <a href="https://law.stanford.edu/podcasts/the-netchoice-cases-reach-the-supreme-court/">a lawyer argued</a> platforms could moderate terrorist content by simply removing anything that mentioned “al Qaeda”.</p>
<p>However, internationally recognised terrorist organisations, their members and supporters do not solely distribute policy-violating extremist content. Some may be discussing non-terrorist activities, such as those who engage in humanitarian efforts.</p>
<p>Other times their content is borderline (awful but lawful), such as misogynistic dog whistles, or even “hidden” <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/isj.12454">in a different format</a>, such as memes.</p>
<p>Accordingly, platforms can’t always cite policy violations and are compelled to use other methods to counter such content. They report using various content moderation techniques such as redirecting users, <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/google-to-expand-misinformation-prebunking-initiative-in-europe">pre-bunking misinformation</a>, promoting counterspeech and <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-57697779">offering warnings</a>, or <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-is-shadowbanning-how-do-i-know-if-it-has-happened-to-me-and-what-can-i-do-about-it-192735">implementing shadow bans</a>. Despite these efforts, online extremism continues to persist.</p>
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<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/disinformation-threatens-global-elections-heres-how-to-fight-back-223392">Disinformation threatens global elections – here's how to fight back</a>
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<h2>What is extremism, anyway?</h2>
<p>All these problems are further compounded by the fact we lack a <a href="https://www.unodc.org/e4j/en/terrorism/module-4/key-issues/defining-terrorism.html">commonly accepted definition</a> for terrorism or extremism. All definitions currently in place are contentious.</p>
<p>Academics attempt to seek clarity by using <a href="https://www.ijcv.org/index.php/ijcv/article/view/3809">relativistic definitions</a>, such as</p>
<blockquote>
<p>extremism itself is context-dependent in the sense that it is an inherently relative term that describes a deviation from something that is (more) ‘ordinary’, ‘mainstream’ or ‘normal’. </p>
</blockquote>
<p>However, what is something we can accept as a universal normal? Democracy is not the global norm, nor are equal rights. Not even our understanding of <a href="https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/humanrights/2016/09/14/are-human-rights-really-universal-inalienable-and-indivisible/">central tenets of human rights</a> is globally established.</p>
<h2>What should regulators do, then?</h2>
<p>As the eSafety commissioner attempts to shed light on how major platforms counter terrorism, we offer several recommendations for the commissioner to consider.</p>
<p>1. Extremists rely on more than just the major platforms to disseminate information. This highlights the importance of expanding the current inquiries beyond just the major tech players.</p>
<p>2. Regulators need to consider the differences between platforms that resist compliance, those that comply halfheartedly, and those that struggle to comply, such as small content storage providers. Each type of platform <a href="https://ksp.techagainstterrorism.org/">requires different regulatory approaches</a> or assistance. </p>
<p>3. Future regulations should encourage platforms to transparently collaborate with academia. The global research community is well positioned <a href="https://gifct.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/GIFCT-TaxonomyReport-2021.pdf">to address these challenges</a>, such as by developing actionable definitions of extremism and novel countermeasures.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/226219/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Marten Risius is the recipient of an Australian Research Council Australian Discovery Early Career Award funded by the Australian Government. Marten Risius has received project funding from the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (GIFCT). </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Stan Karanasios has received funding from Emergency Management Victoria, Asia-Pacific Telecommunity, and the International Telecommunications Union. Stan is a Distinguished Member of the Association for Information Systems.</span></em></p>Online extremism is a unique challenge – terrorists use methods that can’t be captured by standard content moderation. So, what can we do about it?Marten Risius, Senior Lecturer in Business Information Systems, The University of QueenslandStan Karanasios, Associate Professor, The University of QueenslandLicensed 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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<p>
<em>
<strong>
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>
<blockquote>
<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>
</blockquote>
<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/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>
<figcaption>
<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>
</figcaption>
</figure>
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<p>
<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>
</strong>
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</p>
<hr>
<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>
<hr>
<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>
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</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>
<hr>
<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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<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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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/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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Read more:
<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/2247982024-03-15T11:15:20Z2024-03-15T11:15:20ZPesquisa: Correr ou fazer yoga vencem a depressão, mesmo que exercício físico seja a última coisa que você queira fazer<p>Pelo menos <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.665019/full">uma em cada dez pessoas</a> tem depressão em algum momento de suas vidas, com algumas estimativas apontando para <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0749379720301793">uma em cada quatro</a> pessoas. Depressão representa um dos maiores riscos para o bem-estar individual das pessoas: pior do que dívidas, divórcio ou diabetes.</p>
<p>Dados do último mapeamento sobre a doença realizado pela Organização Mundial de Saúde (OMS, 2021) apontam que <a href="https://g1.globo.com/saude/noticia/2023/11/06/por-que-o-brasil-tem-a-populacao-mais-depressiva-da-america-latina.ghtml">mais de 11 milhões</a> de brasileiros (5.8% da população) sofre de depressão. Além disso, um levantamento epidemiológico conduzido pelo Ministério da Saúde revelou que nos próximos anos até 15,5% da população brasileira pode sofrer depressão ao menos uma vez ao longo da vida.</p>
<p>No Brasil, a comercialização de antidepressivos e estabilizadores de humor cresce a cada ano. Dados do Conselho Federal de Farmácia apontam que, entre os anos de 2017 e 2021, a venda desses medicamentos cresceu <a href="https://g1.globo.com/saude/noticia/2023/11/06/por-que-o-brasil-tem-a-populacao-mais-depressiva-da-america-latina.ghtml">quase 60%</a>, evidenciando a alta e crescente prevalência desse transtorno na população brasileira.</p>
<p>A demanda por psicólogos é igualmente alta. No entanto, um relatório publicado em 2023 pela Organização Pan-Americana da Saúde (Opas) apontou que apenas <a href="https://www.cnnbrasil.com.br/nacional/ansiedade-e-depressao-crescem-mais-de-30-nas-americas-8-em-cada-10-nao-conseguem-tratamento/">2 em cada 10 pessoas</a> (20%) com problemas graves de saúde mental têm acesso ao tratamento necessário. Mesmo em países de alta renda, apenas <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1003901">metade</a> das pessoas com depressão recebem o tratamento adequado.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/384/bmj-2023-075847">Nossa pesquisa</a> ressalta a importância de incorporar o exercício físico como parte integrante do tratamento, juntamente com terapia e antidepressivos. Descobrimos que exercícios físicos podem ser tão eficazes no tratamento da depressão quanto a terapia, por exemplo, dependendo do tipo de exercício e da forma como é realizado.</p>
<h2>Ande, corra, faça treinamento de força, ou dance para longe da depressão</h2>
<p>Encontramos 218 ensaios clínicos randomizados sobre o efeito do exercício físico no tratamento da depressão, com 14.170 participantes. Empregamos um método sofisticado conhecido como meta-análise de rede para examinar esses dados. Essa abordagem nos permitiu avaliar comparativamente diferentes modalidades de exercício, em vez de agrupá-las indiscriminadamente.</p>
<p>Os resultados revelaram que atividades como caminhada, corrida, treinamento de força, yoga e exercícios aeróbicos demonstraram eficácia comparável à <a href="https://theconversation.com/explainer-what-is-cognitive-behaviour-therapy-37351">terapia cognitivo-comportamental</a> - considerada <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00004/full">padrão ouro</a> no tratamento da depressão. Estas modalidades de exercício mostraram-se não apenas mais eficazes do que antidepressivos isoladamente, mas também comparáveis à eficácia do exercício em conjunto com medicamentos antidepressivos. Além disso, treinamento de força e yoga despontaram como as atividades com maior aderência por parte dos participantes.</p>
<p>Os efeitos da dança também foram muito poderosos, embora nossa conclusão tenha se baseado em um número reduzido de estudos, em sua maioria envolvendo mulheres jovens. Para os demais tipos de exercícios, o número de evidências foi mais significativo, o que dá maior respaldo aos resultados.</p>
<p>Os antidepressivos certamente ajudam <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/article/S0140-6736(17)32802-7/fulltext">algumas pessoas</a> a combater a depressão. E, claro, qualquer pessoa em tratamento para depressão deve conversar com seu médico antes de fazer <a href="https://australia.cochrane.org/news/new-cochrane-review-explores-latest-evidence-approaches-stopping-long-term-antidepressants">qualquer alteração</a> no que foi inicialmente prescrito.</p>
<p>Entretanto, nossas evidências mostram que se você tem depressão, você deve procurar tratamento psicológico e aderir a um plano de exercícios personalizado e seguro (elaborado por um profissional de educação fisica), independentemente de você estar ou não tomando antidepressivos.</p>
<h2>Comece um programa de exercício e se dedique (de preferência acompanhado)</h2>
<p>Antes de analisarmos os dados deste estudo, pensávamos que pessoas com depressão talvez precisassem praticar exercícios físicos sempre com muita moderação, atendendo a conselhos genéricos como: “<a href="https://www.who.int/initiatives/behealthy/physical-activity">qualquer atividade física é melhor do que nenhuma</a>”.</p>
<p>No entanto, descobrimos que um programa de exercícios que visa desafiar os seus limites, pelo menos um pouco, pode ser muito mais eficaz. Sendo assim, programas de exercícios com estrutura clara e objetivos bem definidos funcionam melhor em comparação àqueles que oferecem muita liberdade às pessoas.</p>
<p>Exercitar-se sozinho também pode dificultar a escolha do nível de intensidade do exercício, visto que a baixa autoestima é um sintoma da depressão. Ou seja, pessoas com baixa autoestima tendem a se subestimar e realizar os exercícios em uma intensidade muito aquém de suas capacidades físicas. Por isso é importante ter alguém por perto pra te incentivar e te dar suporte durante seus momentos de prática, seja este alguém um profissional de Educação Física, seu (sua) parceiro(a), um amigo, ou um familiar.</p>
<p>Também constatamos que não importa o quanto as pessoas se exercitem, em termos de sessões ou minutos de treino por semana, ou duração do programa de exercícios físicos. O que importa é a intensidade do exercício realizado; quanto maior a intensidade, melhores são os resultados sobre os sintomas depressivos.</p>
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<h2>Sim, é difícil manter-se motivado</h2>
<p>Devemos ter cautela ao interpretar esses resultados. Ao contrário do que acontece em ensaios clínicos com medicamentos, participantes de intervenções à base de exercícios físicos sabem qual “tratamento” foram aleatoriamente designados a receber, o que pode distorcer os resultados.</p>
<p>Muitas pessoas com depressão enfrentam barreiras físicas, psicológicas ou sociais para participar de programas formais de exercícios. E obter apoio para se exercitar não é algo que acontece gratuitamente.</p>
<p>Ainda não sabemos qual é a melhor maneira de manter a motivação para se exercitar, o que pode ser ainda mais difícil se você tiver depressão. Tentamos descobrir, por exemplo, de que forma o estabelecimento de metas de exercícios pode ajudar as pessoas a manterem-se motivadas. Infelizmente, não conseguimos obter um resultado muito claro.</p>
<p>Outras análises descobriram que é importante ter um <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31923898/">plano de exercícios</a> bem definido (por exemplo, agendar o exercício em seu calendário) e <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19916637/">monitorar seu progresso</a> (por exemplo, usando um aplicativo ou smartwatch). Entretanto, prever quais dessas intervenções funcionam melhor é uma tarefa difícil.</p>
<p>Um <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-04128-4">estudo</a> realizado em 2021 com mais de 60.000 frequentadores de academias de ginástica descobriu que até mesmo especialistas nesta área <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-04128-4/figures/1">não conseguem prever</a> quais estratégias podem fazer as pessoas irem à academia com mais frequência. Nem mesmo tornar os treinos mais divertidos pareceu motivar as pessoas. Ouvir audiobooks durante o exercício (algo que nenhum especialista previu), no entanto, apresentou-se como uma estratégia muito eficiente.</p>
<p>Ainda assim, podemos ter confiança de que as pessoas se beneficiam do apoio personalizado e da responsabilidade. O apoio ajuda a superar os obstáculos que certamente surgirão. A responsabilidade mantém as pessoas em movimento mesmo quando seus cérebros dizem para evitá-lo.</p>
<p>Portanto, ao iniciar um plano de exercício, evite fazer isso sozinho. Em vez disso:
» junte-se a um grupo de exercícios, grupo de dança, estúdio de yoga, entre outros
» contrate um personal trainer ou um fisiologista do exercício
» peça a um amigo ou familiar para fazer uma caminhada com você.</p>
<p>Dar alguns passos em direção a obter esse apoio aumenta as chances de você continuar se exercitando por mais tempo.</p>
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Leia mais:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/exercise-is-even-more-effective-than-counselling-or-medication-for-depression-but-how-much-do-you-need-200717">Exercise is even more effective than counselling or medication for depression. But how much do you need?</a>
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<h2>Vamos oficializar isso? Exercícios físicos como elemento essential no tratamento contra depressão</h2>
<p>Em alguns países, o exercício físico é considerado uma opção secundária no tratamento da depressão. Por exemplo, a Associação Americana de Psicologia (<em>American Psychological Association</em>) recomenda o exercício físico apenas <a href="https://www.apa.org/depression-guideline/">condicionalmente</a>, ou seja, como um “tratamento alternativo” apenas quando a psicoterapia ou a farmacoterapia forem ineficazes ou inaceitáveis. Esta abordagem pode resultar na privação de muitas pessoas de um tratamento altamente eficaz, mesmo quando este é mais acessível à população em geral.</p>
<p>Por outro lado, o Colegio Real de Psiquiatras da Austrália e Nova Zelândia (<em>Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists</em>) <a href="https://www.ranzcp.org/getmedia/a4678cf4-91f5-4746-99d4-03dc7379ae51/mood-disorders-clinical-practice-guideline-2020.pdf">recomenda</a> que todas as pessoas com depressão realizem atividade aeróbica vigorosa pelo menos duas a três vezes por semana.</p>
<p>Dada a alta prevalência de depressão no mundo, e o elevado número de pessoas que não recebem cuidados, é crucial que os sistemas de saúde em todo o mundo, incluindo o Brasil, sigam este exemplo. É preciso integrar os exercícios físicos como parte complementar e essencial do plano de tratamento para a depressão, sejam este terapêutico ou medicamentoso.</p>
<p>Uma abordagem mais holística sobre esse fenômeno pode oferecer uma resposta mais abrangente e eficaz ao desafio global da depressão.</p>
<p><em>Gostaríamos de agradecer aos demais autores do <a href="https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2023-075847">artigo</a> no qual este texto se baseia.</em></p>
<p><em>Se este artigo despertou algumas questões em você ou se você está preocupado com alguém que conhece que possa estar demonstrando comportamentos depressivos, procure ajuda profissional.</em></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/224798/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Os autores não prestam consultoria, trabalham, possuem ações ou recebem financiamento de qualquer empresa ou organização que se beneficiaria deste artigo e não revelaram qualquer vínculo relevante além de seus cargos acadêmicos.</span></em></p>Pelo menos uma em cada dez pessoas tem depressão em algum momento de suas vidas, com algumas estimativas apontando para uma em cada quatro pessoas. Depressão representa um dos maiores riscos para o bem-estar…Roberta Pires Vasconcellos, PhD Student, Australian Catholic UniversityMichael Noetel, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, The University of QueenslandLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2248482024-03-11T19:14:05Z2024-03-11T19:14:05ZWe looked at all the recent evidence on mobile phone bans in schools – this is what we found<p>Mobile phones are currently banned in all Australian state schools and many Catholic and independent schools around the country. This is part of a <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/08/online-learning-digital-divide-mobile-phone-school-education/">global trend</a> over <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/earl-grey-public-school-cell-phones-1.3992597">more than a decade</a> to restrict phone use in schools.</p>
<p>Australian governments say banning mobile phones will <a href="https://www.education.wa.edu.au/mobile-phones">reduce distractions in class</a>, allow students to <a href="https://education.nsw.gov.au/news/latest-news/mobile-phones-now-banned-in-all-nsw-public-schools#:%7E:text=%E2%80%9CThis%20ban%20creates%20a%20level,opportunities%20for%20distraction%20and%20cyberbullying">focus on learning</a>, improve <a href="https://www.education.sa.gov.au/mobile-phones#:%7E:text=The%20State%20Government%20has%20banned,watches%2C%20in%20all%20public%20schools">student wellbeing</a> and <a href="https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/98137#:%7E:text=Education%20Minister%20Grace%20Grace%20has,%2D%20from%20Term%201%2C%202024">reduce cyberbullying</a>. </p>
<p>But previous research has shown there is <a href="https://theconversation.com/no-education-minister-we-dont-have-enough-evidence-to-support-banning-mobile-phones-in-schools-151574">little evidence</a> on whether the bans actually achieve these aims. </p>
<p>Many places that restricted phones in schools before Australia did have now reversed their decisions. For example, <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/earl-grey-public-school-cell-phones-1.3992597">several school districts in Canada</a> implemented outright bans then revoked them as they were too hard to maintain. They now allow teachers to make decisions that suit their own classrooms. </p>
<p>A ban was similarly revoked in <a href="https://www.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/news/013-15/mayor-de-blasio-chancellor-fari-a-lift-school-cell-phone-ban">New York City</a>, partly because bans made it harder for parents to stay in contact with their children.</p>
<p>What does recent research say about phone bans in schools? </p>
<h2>Our study</h2>
<p>We conducted a “scoping review” of all published and unpublished global evidence for and against banning mobile phones in schools. </p>
<p>Our review, which is pending publication, aims to shed light on whether mobile phones in schools impact academic achievement (including paying attention and distraction), students’ mental health and wellbeing, and the incidence of cyberbullying.</p>
<p>A scoping review is done when researchers know there aren’t many studies on a particular topic. This means researchers cast a very inclusive net, to gather as much evidence as possible. </p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/why-a-ban-on-cellphones-in-schools-might-be-more-of-a-distraction-than-the-problem-its-trying-to-fix-211494">Why a ban on cellphones in schools might be more of a distraction than the problem it’s trying to fix</a>
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<p>Our team screened 1,317 articles and reports as well as dissertations from masters and PhD students. We identified 22 studies that examined schools before and after phone bans. There was a mix of study types. Some looked at multiple schools and jurisdictions, some looked at a small number of schools, some collected quantitative data, others sought qualitative views. </p>
<p>In a sign of just how little research there is on this topic, 12 of the studies we identified were done by masters and doctoral students. This means they are not peer-reviewed but done by research students under supervision by an academic in the field. </p>
<p>But in a sign of how fresh this evidence is, almost half the studies we identified were published or completed since 2020.</p>
<p>The studies looked at schools in Bermuda, China, the Czech Republic, Ghana, Malawi, Norway, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States. None of them looked at schools in Australia.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="A young boy looks at his smart phone in class." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/580312/original/file-20240307-22-3expkn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/580312/original/file-20240307-22-3expkn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/580312/original/file-20240307-22-3expkn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/580312/original/file-20240307-22-3expkn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/580312/original/file-20240307-22-3expkn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/580312/original/file-20240307-22-3expkn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/580312/original/file-20240307-22-3expkn.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">We looked at 22 studies where phones had been banned in schools around the world.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/boy-sitting-on-his-desk-while-using-his-smartphone-6936143/">RDNE Stock Project/ Pexels</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Academic achievement</h2>
<p>Our research found four studies that identified a slight improvement in academic achievement when phones were banned in schools. However, two of these <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0927537116300136?casa_token=bQMfigICJMsAAAAA:9nJN9s6erMz4p7W2ptjJm-7gc3KW0D2O1IQpEeChbemsIhinE2frGQCN8BvLw1_r5XRJT3Pq-1LE">studies</a> found this improvement only applied to disadvantaged or low-achieving students. </p>
<p>Some <a href="https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/AEA-05-2021-0112/full/pdf">studies</a> compared schools where there were partial bans against schools with complete bans. This is a problem because it confuses the issue.</p>
<p>But three studies found no differences in academic achievement, whether there were mobile phone bans or not. Two of these studies used very large samples. This <a href="https://openaccess.nhh.no/nhh-xmlui/bitstream/handle/11250/2586497/masterthesis.PDF">masters thesis</a> looked at 30% of all schools in Norway. Another study used a nationwide cohort <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272775719303966?casa_token=nYpA_ewpFy4AAAAA:H5jddXYmWEIHwtoMkStQqM-BU8sjVHFAXJO2y5ba-QYVBY5OihqZWXOFrWbt2cC4JTjX_RHOdtpN">in Sweden</a>. This means we can be reasonably confident in these results. </p>
<h2>Mental health and wellbeing</h2>
<p>Two studies in our review, including this <a href="https://www.proquest.com/docview/2724707016?pq-origsite=gscholar&fromopenview=true&sourcetype=Dissertations%20&%20Theses">doctoral thesis</a>, reported mobile phone bans had positive effects on students’ mental health. However, both studies used teachers’ and parents’ perceptions of students’ wellbeing (the students were not asked themselves). </p>
<p>Two other <a href="https://openaccess.nhh.no/nhh-xmlui/bitstream/handle/11250/3119200/DP%2001.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y">studies</a> showed no differences in psychological wellbeing following mobile phone bans. However, three <a href="https://openaccess.nhh.no/nhh-xmlui/bitstream/handle/11250/2586497/masterthesis.PDF">studies</a> reported more harm to students’ mental health and wellbeing when they were subjected to phone bans. </p>
<p>The students reported they felt more anxious without being able to use their phone. This was especially evident in one <a href="https://www.proquest.com/docview/2689199188?pq-origsite=gscholar&fromopenview=true&sourcetype=Dissertations%20&%20Theses">doctoral thesis</a> carried out when students were returning to school after the pandemic, having been very reliant on their devices during lockdown. </p>
<p>So the evidence for banning mobile phones for the mental health and wellbeing of student is inconclusive and based only on anecdotes or perceptions, rather than the recorded incidence of mental illness.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="A person with painted nails and rings holds a mobile phone." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/580313/original/file-20240307-22-w25u9z.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/580313/original/file-20240307-22-w25u9z.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/580313/original/file-20240307-22-w25u9z.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/580313/original/file-20240307-22-w25u9z.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/580313/original/file-20240307-22-w25u9z.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/580313/original/file-20240307-22-w25u9z.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/580313/original/file-20240307-22-w25u9z.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">Some studies on the impact of mobile phone bans on mental health are based on parent and teacher perceptions – not students’ own views.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://unsplash.com/photos/person-using-smartphone-BjhUu6BpUZA">Priscilla Du Preez/Unsplash</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Bullying and cyberbullying</h2>
<p>Four <a href="https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/AEA-05-2021-0112/full/pdf">studies</a> reported a small reduction in bullying in schools following phone bans, especially among older students. However, the studies did not specify whether or not they were talking about cyberbullying.</p>
<p>Teachers in two other studies, including this <a href="https://www.proquest.com/docview/2647342474?pq-origsite=gscholar&fromopenview=true&sourcetype=Dissertations%20&%20Theses">doctoral thesis</a>, reported they believed having mobile phones in schools increased cyberbullying. </p>
<p>But two other <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/17439884.2014.994219?casa_token=Xz1CdFpDezkAAAAA:MLdDDogmCgLtK2gl_VNf4S3z0LDvwgXCVEBq2TjKMz-rMbhZQkqBp_cq7NwguMlsHh7UbO3zS3_yAYY">studies</a> showed the number of incidents of online victimisation and harassment was greater in schools with mobile phone bans compared with those without bans. The study didn’t collect data on whether the online harassment was happening inside or outside school hours. </p>
<p>The authors suggested this might be because students saw the phone bans as punitive, which made the school climate less egalitarian and less positive. Other research has <a href="https://theconversation.com/our-new-study-provides-a-potential-breakthrough-on-school-bullying-195716">linked</a> a positive school climate with fewer incidents of bullying. </p>
<p>There is no research evidence that students do or don’t use other devices to bully each other if there are phone bans. But it is of course possible for students to use laptops, tablets, smartwatches or library computers to conduct cyberbullying.</p>
<p>Even if phone bans were effective, they would not address the bulk of school bullying. A 2019 Australian <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0004867419846393">study</a> found 99% of students who were cyberbullied were also bullied face-to-face.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/banning-mobile-phones-in-schools-beneficial-or-risky-heres-what-the-evidence-says-119456">Banning mobile phones in schools: beneficial or risky? Here's what the evidence says</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>What does this tell us?</h2>
<p>Overall, our study suggests the evidence for banning mobile phones in schools is weak and inconclusive. </p>
<p>As Australian education academic Neil Selwyn <a href="https://bera-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1111/bjet.12943?casa_token=AVdtXqL3axkAAAAA:LvtTstPg1Y631NnNTmj__y2j-fG2R-brH-288C_lwebO14P-RxclPkyS7ld7cDqQE5cFg6lxlNBkIsQ">argued in 2021</a>, the impetus for mobile phone bans says more about MPs responding to community concerns rather than research evidence. </p>
<p>Politicians should leave this decision to individual schools, which have direct experience of the pros or cons of a ban in their particular community. For example, a community in remote Queensland could have different needs and priorities from a school in central Brisbane. </p>
<p>Mobile phones are an integral part of our lives. We need to be teaching children about appropriate use of phones, rather than simply banning them. This will help students learn how to use their phones safely and responsibly at school, at home and beyond. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/school-phone-bans-seem-obvious-but-could-make-it-harder-for-kids-to-use-tech-in-healthy-ways-204111">School phone bans seem obvious but could make it harder for kids to use tech in healthy ways</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/224848/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>Our study suggests the evidence for banning mobile phones in schools is weak when you look at the impact on academic results, student wellbeing and cyberbullying.Marilyn Campbell, Professor, School of Early Childhood & Inclusive Education, Queensland University of TechnologyElizabeth J Edwards, Associate Professor in Education, The University of QueenslandLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2251752024-03-08T05:46:43Z2024-03-08T05:46:43Z80% of Australians think AI risk is a global priority. The government needs to step up<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/580606/original/file-20240308-24-slblqs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=332%2C718%2C5407%2C3269&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/neon-metaverse-futuristic-concept-closeup-on-2261355289">Alliance Images/Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>A new nationally representative survey has revealed Australians are deeply concerned about the risks posed by artificial intelligence (AI). They want the government to take stronger action to ensure its safe development and use.</p>
<p>We <a href="https://aigovernance.org.au/survey/">conducted the survey</a> in early 2024 and found 80% of Australians believe preventing catastrophic risks from advanced AI systems should be a global priority on par with pandemics and nuclear war.</p>
<p>As AI systems become more capable, decisions about how we develop, deploy and use AI are now critical. The promise of powerful technology may tempt companies – and countries – to <a href="https://www.cold-takes.com/racing-through-a-minefield-the-ai-deployment-problem/">race ahead</a> without heeding the risks.</p>
<p>Our findings also reveal a gap between the AI risks that media and government tend to focus on, and the risks Australians think are most important.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/demand-for-computer-chips-fuelled-by-ai-could-reshape-global-politics-and-security-224438">Demand for computer chips fuelled by AI could reshape global politics and security</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Public concern about AI risks is growing</h2>
<p>The development and use of increasingly powerful AI is still on the rise. Recent releases such as <a href="https://blog.google/technology/ai/google-gemini-ai/">Google’s Gemini</a> and <a href="https://www.anthropic.com/news/claude-3-family">Anthropic’s Claude 3</a> have seemingly near-human level capabilities in professional, medical and legal domains.</p>
<p>But the hype has been tempered by rising levels of public and expert concern. Last year, more than 500 people and organisations made submissions to the Australian government’s <a href="https://consult.industry.gov.au/supporting-responsible-ai">Safe and Responsible AI discussion paper</a>.</p>
<p>They described AI-related risks such as biased decision making, erosion of trust in democratic institutions through misinformation, and increasing inequality from AI-caused unemployment.</p>
<p>Some are even worried about a particularly powerful AI causing <a href="https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2024/1/10/24032987/ai-impacts-survey-artificial-intelligence-chatgpt-openai-existential-risk-superintelligence">a global catastrophe</a> or <a href="https://forecastingresearch.org/s/XPT.pdf">human extinction</a>. While this idea is heavily contested, across a series of <a href="https://wiki.aiimpacts.org/doku.php?id=ai_timelines:predictions_of_human-level_ai_timelines:ai_timeline_surveys:2016_expert_survey_on_progress_in_ai">three</a> <a href="https://wiki.aiimpacts.org/ai_timelines/predictions_of_human-level_ai_timelines/ai_timeline_surveys/2022_expert_survey_on_progress_in_ai#population">large</a> <a href="https://aiimpacts.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Thousands_of_AI_authors_on_the_future_of_AI.pdf">surveys</a>, most AI researchers judged there to be at least a 5% chance of superhuman AI being “extremely bad (e.g., human extinction)”.</p>
<p><iframe id="vzx6s" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/vzx6s/1/" height="400px" width="100%" style="border: none" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p>The potential benefits of AI are considerable. AI is already leading to <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03819-2">breakthroughs in biology and medicine</a>, and it’s used to <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07024-9">control fusion reactors</a>, which could one day provide zero-carbon energy. Generative AI <a href="https://www.nber.org/papers/w31161">improves productivity</a>, particularly for learners and students.</p>
<p>However, the speed of progress is raising alarm bells. People worry we aren’t prepared to handle powerful AI systems that could be misused or behave in unintended and harmful ways.</p>
<p>In response to such concerns, the world’s governments are attempting regulation. The European Union <a href="https://theconversation.com/eu-approves-draft-law-to-regulate-ai-heres-how-it-will-work-205672">has approved a draft AI law</a>, the United Kingdom <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ai-safety-institute-overview/introducing-the-ai-safety-institute">has established an AI safety institute</a>, while US President Joe Biden recently signed an executive order to promote <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2023/10/30/executive-order-on-the-safe-secure-and-trustworthy-development-and-use-of-artificial-intelligence/">safer development and governance of advanced AI</a>.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/who-will-write-the-rules-for-ai-how-nations-are-racing-to-regulate-artificial-intelligence-216900">Who will write the rules for AI? How nations are racing to regulate artificial intelligence</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Australians want action to prevent dangerous outcomes from AI</h2>
<p>To understand how Australians feel about AI risks and ways to address them, we surveyed a nationally representative sample of 1,141 Australians in January and February 2024.</p>
<p>We found Australians ranked the prevention of “dangerous and catastrophic outcomes from AI” as the number one priority for government action.</p>
<p><iframe id="yzst1" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/yzst1/1/" height="400px" width="100%" style="border: none" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p>Australians are most concerned about AI systems that are unsafe, untrustworthy and misaligned with human values.</p>
<p>Other top worries include AI being used in cyber attacks and autonomous weapons, AI-related unemployment and AI failures causing damage to critical infrastructure.</p>
<p><iframe id="cg9ds" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/cg9ds/1/" height="400px" width="100%" style="border: none" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<h2>Strong public support for a new AI regulatory body</h2>
<p>Australians expect the government to take decisive action on their behalf. An overwhelming majority (86%) want a new government body dedicated to AI regulation and governance, akin to the <a href="https://www.tga.gov.au/">Therapeutic Goods Administration</a> for medicines.</p>
<p>Nine in ten Australians also believe the country should play a leading role in international efforts to regulate AI development.</p>
<p>Perhaps most strikingly, two-thirds of Australians would support hitting pause on AI development for six months to allow regulators to catch up.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/i-used-to-work-at-google-and-now-im-an-ai-researcher-heres-why-slowing-down-ai-development-is-wise-202944">I used to work at Google and now I'm an AI researcher. Here's why slowing down AI development is wise</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Government plans should meet public expectations</h2>
<p>In January 2024, the Australian government published an <a href="https://storage.googleapis.com/converlens-au-industry/industry/p/prj2452c8e24d7a400c72429/public_assets/safe-and-responsible-ai-in-australia-governments-interim-response.pdf">interim plan for addressing AI risks</a>. It includes strengthening existing laws on privacy, online safety and disinformation. It also acknowledges our currently regulatory frameworks aren’t sufficient.</p>
<p>The interim plan outlines the development of voluntary AI safety standards, voluntary labels on AI materials, and the establishment of an advisory body.</p>
<p>Our survey shows Australians support a more safety-focused, regulation-first approach. This contrasts with the targeted and voluntary approach outlined in the interim plan.</p>
<p>It is challenging to encourage innovation while preventing accidents or misuse. But Australians would prefer the government prioritise preventing dangerous and catastrophic outcomes over “bringing the benefits of AI to everyone”.</p>
<p><a href="https://arxiv.org/abs/2307.03718">Some ways to do this include</a>:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>establishing an AI safety lab with the technical capacity to audit and/or monitor the most advanced AI systems</p></li>
<li><p>establishing a dedicated AI regulator</p></li>
<li><p>defining robust standards and guidelines for responsible AI development</p></li>
<li><p>requiring independent auditing of high-risk AI systems</p></li>
<li><p>ensuring corporate liability and redress for AI harms</p></li>
<li><p>increasing public investment in AI safety research</p></li>
<li><p>actively engaging the public in shaping the future of AI governance.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>Figuring out how to effectively govern AI is one of <a href="https://theelders.org/news/elders-and-future-life-institute-release-open-letter-calling-long-view-leadership-existential">humanity’s great challenges</a>. Australians are keenly aware of the risks of failure, and want our government to address this challenge without delay.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/225175/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Michael Noetel has received funding from the Australian Research Council, the Medical Research Future Fund, Sport Australia, Open Philanthropy, and the National Health and Medical Research Council. He is a director of Effective Altruism Australia.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Alexander Saeri has received funding from the Effective Altruism Infrastructure Fund and the FTX Future Fund. He is affiliated with Good Ancestors Policy.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Jess Graham 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>Increasingly powerful AI is everywhere. But the hype is tempered by public and expert concerns – they want stronger regulation before it’s too late.Michael Noetel, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, The University of QueenslandAlexander Saeri, Research Project Manager, The University of QueenslandJess Graham, Research officer, The University of QueenslandLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2234652024-03-08T05:42:34Z2024-03-08T05:42:34Z‘Definitions are often very western. This excludes us.’ Our research shows how to boost Indigenous participation in STEM<p>Australian politicians and major government reports keep emphasising the importance of STEM (or science, technology, engineering and maths) skills for our economy and society. </p>
<p>As the Universities Accord report <a href="https://www.education.gov.au/australian-universities-accord">noted last month</a>, engineering and and science are experiencing “significant skill shortages”. Then there is a <a href="https://www.minister.industry.gov.au/ministers/husic/media-releases/number-aussie-tech-workers-rise">federal goal</a> to have 1.2 million tech-related jobs by 2030. </p>
<p>This comes amid a growing discussion about how the current STEM workforce tends to be white and male. </p>
<p>Last month’s <a href="https://www.industry.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-02/pathway-to-diversity-in-stem-review-final-report.pdf">Diversity in STEM Review</a> noted how in 2021, only 36% of STEM university students identified as female, while only 5% were living with a disability. In the same year, 0.5% of Indigenous peoples held a university STEM qualification, compared to 4.9% of the Australian population. </p>
<p>We recently conducted <a href="https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:9fddf34">research</a> for the diversity review about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ views on STEM. This included how we can increase the use of Indigenous STEM knowledge, as well as grow the number of Indigenous peoples in STEM. </p>
<p>Indigenous STEM knowledge is vast and includes many things such as astronomy, weather knowledge, medicinal plant knowledge and animal classification systems. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/first-peoples-knowledge-of-mysterious-fairy-circles-in-australian-deserts-has-upended-a-long-standing-science-debate-202956">First Peoples' knowledge of 'mysterious fairy circles' in Australian deserts has upended a long-standing science debate</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Mob have a lot to say about STEM</h2>
<p>In 2023, we did an online survey of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults’ views on STEM. This is the largest survey of its kind. </p>
<p>We asked both multiple choice and open-ended questions and received 204 responses from diverse Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, representing 98 different mobs across the nation. </p>
<p>We did this as part of a <a href="https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:9fddf34">broader body of work</a> for the Diversity in STEM review. We also did literature reviews, case studies and interviews on Indigenous contributions to STEM and barriers to participating.</p>
<h2>Mob perspectives on STEM</h2>
<p>Almost one quarter (23%) of our respondents had not heard the term “STEM”. This needs to change if we want to increase Indigenous participation in STEM. It is difficult to promote STEM opportunities to our communities if terminology and language aren’t relatable or understood well.</p>
<p>Of those surveyed, 83.3% saw a connection between STEM and Indigenous culture. This also came up in the literature reviews and qualitative interviews we did: western ideas of STEM and Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing should not be seen as separate, but as complimentary. </p>
<p>Almost everyone surveyed (98%) believed it was important to have Indigenous people represented in STEM fields. Having Indigenous role models in STEM is critical if we hope more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples will pursue these careers: we must be able to see a place for ourselves in these fields.</p>
<p>As one participant shared:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>I think it’s important that as an Indigenous person growing up you can see other people in STEM fields so you are aware of the opportunities you have.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Almost all (97.5%) of respondents either strongly agreed or agreed STEM could benefit community. Many mob have strong motivations to give back and this finding can be used in designing policies and programs that incorporate the connections between STEM and community.</p>
<h2>Indigenous people are not being supported</h2>
<p>Only one in three participants felt Indigenous people are being supported to pursue STEM careers. </p>
<p>They said racism, discrimination and individual and financial challenges are all barriers. Some of the individual barriers identified are a lack of support, opportunities or confidence.</p>
<p>As one participant shared:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>We are often told we are not good enough or smart enough to pursue STEM because we don’t fit certain moulds of what people think should be STEM people.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>One participant observed the way STEM is talked about and defined is also an issue:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Definitions of STEM are often very western. This excludes us.</p>
</blockquote>
<h2>There is a lot of positivity</h2>
<p>We know there are Indigenous people who are thriving in their STEM careers, despite the challenges. There is also enormous positivity about the possibilities of STEM for individual careers and for Indigenous communities more broadly. As one survey respondent told us: </p>
<blockquote>
<p>I believe STEM can provide more opportunities for our future generations in education, cultural equality and industry advancement.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>One person elaborated on the possibilities for sustaining Country and communities:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Protecting Country and community both require STEM skills and are necessary in supporting our future generations.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>But our respondents noted it was essential to listen to Indigenous peoples. Our voices need to be at the centre of decision making moving forward. As one participant said: </p>
<blockquote>
<p>the more involvement and engagement we have, the more it opens the door for future generations.</p>
</blockquote>
<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>How can we increase Indigenous participation in STEM?</h2>
<p>Our <a href="https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:9fddf34">final report</a> outlines 22 key findings and 15 recommendations based on our research. This is both evidence-based and <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13384-022-00581-w">Indigenous-informed</a>. This is important, as our research found most published research to date on Indigenous participation in STEM and Indigenous STEM knowledge has been undertaken by non-Indigenous researchers.</p>
<p>Some of our recommendations include:</p>
<ul>
<li><p><strong>A place to advance Indigenous STEM knowledges:</strong> This should include a platform for schools and universities to access quality sources on Indigenous STEM knowledges and knowledge holders, as well as investment to grow the Indigenous STEM research workforce.</p></li>
<li><p><strong>A campaign to increase Indigenous peoples’ awareness about STEM:</strong> This should include what STEM is, as well as opportunities to be involved. It should also break down language barriers (by being published in multiple languages) and be Indigenous-led.</p></li>
<li><p><strong>Establish an Office for Indigenous STEM:</strong> This would coordinate and promote policy initiatives from governments to increase Indigenous participation in STEM and would be similar to the existing Office for Women in STEM.</p></li>
<li><p><strong>Community-based STEM programs:</strong> To date, governments have invested in many programs but few of these are community based or use existing STEM knowledge within communities.</p></li>
<li><p><strong>Align Indigenous STEM goals with broader Indigenous education policies:</strong> Unless <a href="https://www.niaa.gov.au/sites/default/files/reports/closing-the-gap-2019/education.html">education outcomes</a> improve for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, increasing Indigenous participation in STEM will be challenging.</p></li>
<li><p><strong>Include STEM perspectives in early childhood programs:</strong> this will provide opportunities to experience STEM from an early age, including Indigenous perspectives on STEM. </p></li>
</ul>
<hr>
<p><em>The authors acknowledge the rest of the <a href="https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:9fddf34">Big Mob: STEM It Up</a> research team: Suraiya Abdul Hameed, Pedram Rashidi, Zoe Ockerby, Amanda Hurley, Lisa Harvey-Smith and Lisa Williams.</em></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/223465/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Marnee Shay receives funding from the Australian Government, the Australian Research Council and AIATSIS. She is a member of QATSIETAC with the Department of Education Queensland. The new research in this article was supported by a grant to UNSW Sydney as part of the federal government's Women in STEM Ambassador initiative via the Department of Industry, Science and Resources.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Amy Thomson receives funding from the Australian Government.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Antoinette Cole receives funding from the Australian Government. She is appointed as the Chair of the Queensland Catholic Education Commission's First Nations Education Committee and the Deputy Chair and member of the CQUniversity First Nations Council of Elders and Leaders.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Jodie Miller receives funding from the Australian Government and the Australian Research Council.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Ren Perkins 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>A survey of Indigenous people found almost one quarter had not heard of STEM. But more than 80% saw a connection between science, technology, engineering, maths and Indigenous culture.Marnee Shay, Associate Professor, Principal Research Fellow, The University of QueenslandAmy Thomson, PhD candidate, Senior Research Assistant, School of Education, The University of QueenslandAntoinette Cole, PhD Candidate, Senior Research Assistant, School of Education, The University of QueenslandJodie Miller, Associate Professor in Mathematics Education, The University of QueenslandRen Perkins, Lecturer, Griffith UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2225952024-03-08T05:41:05Z2024-03-08T05:41:05ZTattoo regret? How to choose a removal service<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/577250/original/file-20240222-30-6z69d0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C0%2C998%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/young-blonde-woman-tattoo-wearing-summer-1891174123">Krakenimages.com/Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10043702/">About one in four</a> people regret at least one of their tattoos. Almost half of those go on to have their unwanted tattoo removed or camouflaged with a new one.</p>
<p>So it’s no wonder people are <a href="https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?geo=AU&q=%2Fg%2F11sx2710yh&hl=en">searching for</a> laser tattoo removal services.</p>
<p>Here’s what to consider when choosing the best clinic and what to expect when you get there.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/thinking-of-a-nother-tattoo-this-summer-what-you-need-to-know-about-sunburn-sweating-and-fading-216078">Thinking of a(nother) tattoo this summer? What you need to know about sunburn, sweating and fading</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Why are tattoos permanent?</h2>
<p>You can still see tattoos on the 5,300-year-old ice mummy <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1296207415000023#bib0200">Ötzi</a>. That’s because tattoo artists use needles to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10485912/">deposit ink in the dermis</a>, the <a href="https://dermnetnz.org/topics/the-structure-of-normal-skin">layer of skin</a> under the outer layer (or epidermis).</p>
<p>When this happens, the body recognises ink particles as “foreign”. So <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cup.12023">immune cells</a> in the dermis, such as <a href="https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10103-022-03576-2.pdf">macrophages</a>, take them up. </p>
<p>But the particles are too large for these specialised cells to break down and remove via the lymphatic system. Instead, the particles remain “locked” permanently in macrophages in the dermis.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/563548/original/file-20231205-29-8elmtu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Cross-section of human skin showing epidermis and dermis" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/563548/original/file-20231205-29-8elmtu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/563548/original/file-20231205-29-8elmtu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=300&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/563548/original/file-20231205-29-8elmtu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=300&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/563548/original/file-20231205-29-8elmtu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=300&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/563548/original/file-20231205-29-8elmtu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=377&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/563548/original/file-20231205-29-8elmtu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=377&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/563548/original/file-20231205-29-8elmtu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=377&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Tattoo inks are inserted into the dermis, and tend to stay there.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-illustration/normal-skin-layers-crosssection-human-structure-2339540305">zonn hong/Shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/what-otzi-the-prehistoric-iceman-can-teach-us-about-the-use-of-tattoos-in-ceremonial-healing-or-religious-rites-168058">What Ötzi the prehistoric iceman can teach us about the use of tattoos in ceremonial healing or religious rites</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>How do lasers remove tattoos?</h2>
<p>To remove a tattoo, a laser device delivers high-intensity laser pulses to the ink. These incredibly short pulses are delivered in a billionth or trillionth of a second (<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25949016/">nanosecond or picosecond pulses</a>), confining the laser energy to the tiny ink particles, minimising damage to the surrounding skin. </p>
<p>Once the ink particles absorb the laser energy, a thermal reaction takes place, increasing the particles’ internal pressure and causing them to <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25949016/">expand</a>, then <a href="https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10103-022-03576-2.pdf">fragment</a>.</p>
<p>The macrophages can now remove these smaller particles via the lymphatic system. That’s when your tattoo starts to fade.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/thinking-of-laser-hair-removal-heres-what-you-need-to-know-113561">Thinking of laser hair removal? Here's what you need to know</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Can all inks be removed?</h2>
<p>Most inks can be removed, but several factors affect the result.</p>
<p><strong>Colours</strong></p>
<p>Each colour absorbs a <a href="https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10103-022-03576-2.pdf">different wavelength of light</a>, so each colour requires a specific laser to be removed effectively. This may require using several different machines over the course of the treatment.</p>
<p>Some colours are much more challenging to remove than others. For instance, black ink is much easier to remove than yellow, which is easier to remove than <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33068020/">white</a>. This is because different pigments (such as black) are more likely to absorb the laser’s energy than others (yellow or white).</p>
<p>As a result, tattoos with white ink particles often need extra therapies. These include ablative laser treatments, which vaporise the tissue containing the tattoo ink, and tattooing over the original tattoo with a saline solution, which helps to draw the tattoo out of the skin.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/579109/original/file-20240301-30-zeap0m.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Laser treatment to remove leg tattoo" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/579109/original/file-20240301-30-zeap0m.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/579109/original/file-20240301-30-zeap0m.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/579109/original/file-20240301-30-zeap0m.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/579109/original/file-20240301-30-zeap0m.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/579109/original/file-20240301-30-zeap0m.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=501&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/579109/original/file-20240301-30-zeap0m.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=501&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/579109/original/file-20240301-30-zeap0m.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">You may need several laser treatments to remove your tattoo.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/laser-tattoo-removal-leg-443862091">damiangretka/Shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p><strong>Combination of colours</strong></p>
<p>Tattoo inks can also be made up of many colours to achieve the desired shade.</p>
<p>For example, a red ink may have touches of yellow ink to create a poppy red. As the red particles are broken down, the yellow appears and must be treated with a different wavelength, sometimes requiring a different machine and extra sessions.</p>
<p><strong>Your skin colour</strong></p>
<p>Any laser that can target and destroy an ink particle can also <a href="https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10103-022-03576-2.pdf">target natural skin pigment</a> and the cells that produce them. This can result in overheating of the skin, and in severe cases, damage or destruction of the cells that produce pigment. This causes the skin to either darken or lighten in response to the injury, sometimes permanently. </p>
<p>So it’s important to choose a tattoo removalist who not only knows how to operate the laser, but how to choose the right wavelengths and modify the treatment plan as the tattoo changes.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/thinking-of-getting-a-minor-cosmetic-procedure-like-botox-or-fillers-heres-what-to-consider-first-161271">Thinking of getting a minor cosmetic procedure like botox or fillers? Here's what to consider first</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Choosing a tattoo removalist</h2>
<p>Laser tattoo removal creates a <a href="https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10103-022-03576-2.pdf">controlled wound</a> in your skin, so it’s important to choose the right service to get the result you want, without increasing your risk of complications.</p>
<p>But in Australia, there is no national regulation for laser tattoo removal services, so standardising practitioners’ education and the treatments they offer is an ongoing challenge. Instead, each state and territory either licenses its own practitioners, or has no licensing at all.</p>
<p>As there are no licensing requirements in Victoria, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, South Australia and the Northern Territory, anyone can legally own and operate laser devices to remove tattoos there.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/579114/original/file-20240301-18-lofsm1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Young person with tattoos on arms sitting at desk using laptop" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/579114/original/file-20240301-18-lofsm1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/579114/original/file-20240301-18-lofsm1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/579114/original/file-20240301-18-lofsm1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/579114/original/file-20240301-18-lofsm1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/579114/original/file-20240301-18-lofsm1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/579114/original/file-20240301-18-lofsm1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/579114/original/file-20240301-18-lofsm1.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">Not all tattoo removal services are licensed, so you’ll have to do some research before booking yourself in.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/young-man-tattoo-using-laptop-table-437656087">Africa Studio/Shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>But in <a href="https://www.health.qld.gov.au/public-health/industry-environment/personal-appearance/laser-licensing">Queensland</a>, <a href="https://www.health.tas.gov.au/health-topics/radiation-protection/applying-new-licence-or-amending-current-radiation-licence">Tasmania</a> and <a href="https://www.radiologicalcouncil.wa.gov.au/%7E/media/RadiologicalCouncil/Documents/PDFs/Notices/lasers-cosmetic-fact-sheet.pdf">Western Australia</a>, tattoo removal providers need a licence to operate and must have studied infection control, laser safety and tattoo removal. They also need to have many hours of supervised practical experience. </p>
<p>In unregulated states and territories, look for a practitioner with similar education and extensive practical experience, such as a bachelor-qualified <a href="https://www.dermalclinicians.com.au/dermal-locator">dermal clinician</a>.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/more-than-skin-deep-beauty-salons-are-places-of-sharing-and-caring-127006">More than skin deep, beauty salons are places of sharing and caring</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>How long will it take and how much will it cost?</h2>
<p>Most tattoos require multiple sessions to be effectively removed. The <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4411587/">inks and art style</a>, as well as the tattoo size, play a big role in how many sessions it will take – and how much it will cost.</p>
<p>An experienced practitioner will use the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2923953/">Kirby-Desai</a> scale – which includes noting your skin colour, body site, scarring, ink colour and density, and layering of ink – to estimate how many sessions your specific tattoo will need. </p>
<p>Typically, black fine-line tattoos are easier to remove than coloured high-density tattoos, such as a portrait or sleeve.</p>
<p>You’ll also need to allow time between sessions for your tattoo to recover, since the wound needs to heal before the next treatment. </p>
<p>After your laser treatment, your practitioner will advise you on how to manage the health of your skin. In many circumstances you will be asked to <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/287123713_Laser_Treatment_of_Tattoos">keep the area cool</a>, and depending on the tissue response, you may need topical aftercare products (such as emollient creams and a protective hydrogel dressing) to keep the area clean and hydrated. </p>
<p>There are many variables that influence how quickly your tattoo will heal after treatment. This includes where the tattoo is (for instance, a chest tattoo heals faster than an ankle tattoo), the devices used, and your general health. The more compromised your health, the longer it will take to heal. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/tattoos-have-a-long-history-going-back-to-the-ancient-world-and-also-to-colonialism-165584">Tattoos have a long history going back to the ancient world – and also to colonialism</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Watch out for allergies</h2>
<p>Depositing tattoo ink in the dermis can cause <a href="https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10103-022-03576-2.pdf">acute and chronic skin reactions</a>, including allergic or inflammatory reactions, infections, and hypersensitivity responses. So it’s important to tell your practitioner how your skin responded to the initial tattoo. That’s because you might be at risk of the same response again when the laser breaks down the tattoo ink. </p>
<p>An experienced practitioner will conduct a <a href="https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10103-022-03576-2.pdf">thorough consultation</a> to ensure they identify any treatment risks. If necessary, they will work with your GP or dermatologist to ensure the safe removal of your tattoo.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/222595/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Katie Lee receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council. </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Claire Coulstock and Samantha Reeve 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>Not all tattoo removal services are licensed, so you’ll have to do some research before booking yourself in. Here’s what to look out for.Katie Lee, PhD Candidate, Dermatology Research Centre, The University of QueenslandClaire Coulstock, Lecturer in dermal science, Victoria UniversitySamantha Reeve, Course Chair and Lecturer, Bachelor of Dermal Sciences, Victoria UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2248622024-03-07T22:57:33Z2024-03-07T22:57:33ZToo much heat in the kitchen: survey shows toxic work conditions mean many chefs are getting out<p>Chefs are in hot demand. “Chefs, chefs, chefs! Virtually impossible to find anyone,” <a href="https://www.mbie.govt.nz/business-and-employment/employment-and-skills/regional-skills-leadership-groups/tamaki-makaurau/regional-workforce-plans/regional-workforce-plan-2023/regional-highlights/our-economy-industry-and-business-highlights/">lamented one Auckland restaurant owner</a> recently. Australia is seeing a similar gap, with chefs ranked the <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/australia-jobs-the-20-most-in-demand-professions-national-skills-commission/818fc635-6828-40e0-944b-385a0caef7d4#12">eighth most in-demand occupation</a>. Given this culinary skills shortage, we might expect such sought-after employees to be highly valued. </p>
<p>Apparently not. Our <a href="https://openrepository.aut.ac.nz/items/90384000-13f2-40ed-9809-70e2324410d6">new report</a> on chef wellbeing and working conditions shows chefs in Australia and New Zealand experience significant financial hardship and mental health issues, with many wishing to leave their jobs. </p>
<p>This has major implications for tourism, too, as jobs such as cheffing are “<a href="https://ojs.aut.ac.nz/7experiencessummit/7ES/article/view/36/36">keystone</a> occupations” in major destinations. When jobs can’t be filled, these places lose money. </p>
<p>Tourism <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/03/06/nz-is-tourism-booming-but-what-do-visitors-want-more-of/">revenue is booming</a>, with visitors reportedly seeking more scenery, history and culture. The food chefs prepare in cafés and restaurants forms an integral part of the tourist experience. But despite the laws of supply and demand, the situation for chefs is unlikely to improve without radical changes to work practices.</p>
<p>Our study is the first quantitative survey to examine working conditions and mental health issues among chefs in both Australia and New Zealand. The survey was distributed through professional culinary associations, and final responses were captured as Australasia emerged from COVID restrictions. </p>
<p>The survey also followed up previous Australian studies, which indicated <a href="https://theconversation.com/all-these-celebrity-restaurant-wage-theft-scandals-point-to-an-industry-norm-131286">exploitation was an industry norm</a>, with chefs experiencing <a href="https://intellectdiscover.com/content/journals/10.1386/hosp_00030_1">burnout and wage theft</a>.</p>
<h2>‘Banter, bollockings and beatings’</h2>
<p>The kitchen environment is well documented to be particularly harsh. As <a href="https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-01-2017-0030">one British study</a> titled “Banter, bollockings and beatings” made clear, an often macho culture can prevail, including <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/29/top-chef-leaves-french-hotel-du-palais-biarritz-after-alleged-naked-hazing-of-kitchen-staff">bizarre induction rituals</a>. </p>
<p>An <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00127-022-02229-7">Australian study</a> published in 2022 showed chefs were significantly more likely than the general population to commit suicide. And even before the pandemic, the industry’s <a href="https://www.restaurantnz.co.nz/2019/06/24/mental-health-in-the-workplace-the-last-frontier/">“toxic” workplace culture</a> was blamed for mental health issues and high suicide rates among employees.</p>
<p>Most of our chef respondents were men, with an average age of 37. They had been chefs for 16 years on average. Of these, 42% originally came from outside Australia and New Zealand, underlining the profession’s high mobility. </p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/the-bear-gets-the-suffering-and-self-sacrifice-of-a-top-flight-kitchen-just-right-210023">The Bear gets the suffering and self-sacrifice of a top-flight kitchen just right</a>
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<p>The results reveal disturbing insights into chefs’ working conditions. It was surprising to find nearly half (44%) of our sample were in precarious employment, given the skills shortage. </p>
<p>Two-thirds (67%) of respondents worked more than 38 hours weekly, but a fifth of the chefs worked 52-61 hours. Of these, 6.33% worked 62 hours or more – well above New Zealand’s <a href="https://www.stats.govt.nz/news/8-hour-workday-remains-commonplace-in-new-zealand/">still commonplace</a> 40-hour work week, and Australia’s <a href="https://www.fairwork.gov.au/tools-and-resources/fact-sheets/minimum-workplace-entitlements/introduction-to-the-national-employment-standards#:%7E:text=The%20minimum%20entitlements%20of%20the,to%20change%20their%20working%20arrangements.">legally prescribed</a> 38 hours. Despite the fast-paced environment, a quarter did not get their legally entitled breaks. </p>
<p>Economic insecurity was very evident. Financial hardship was reported by almost one in five chefs (15-20%), and a quarter of respondents went without meals due to financial pressure. That those who feed others struggle to feed themselves seems a dark irony.</p>
<p>Two-thirds also reported working when sick, an average of nine days each a year. Post-COVID, this should concern health professionals, policy makers and the broader community.</p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/toxic-work-cultures-start-with-incivility-and-mediocre-leadership-what-can-you-do-about-it-204198">Toxic work cultures start with incivility and mediocre leadership. What can you do about it?</a>
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<h2>Leaving the industry</h2>
<p>The 2023 <a href="https://umbrella.org.nz/umbrellawellbeingreport/">Umbrella Wellbeing</a> report, which recorded New Zealanders’ perceptions of their workplaces and wellbeing, warns that long working hours and poor workplace cultures have adverse health outcomes, with New Zealand faring worse than Australia. </p>
<p>Nearly one in ten of the chefs surveyed suffered mental distress. Results showed high levels of physical and mental fatigue (“exhausted at work”, “emotionally drained”, “becoming disconnected”). </p>
<p>Respondents reported disrupted sleep and unhealthy lifestyles. Almost 15% of the sample consumed alcohol five or more days weekly, with 11.4% saying they had consumed hard drugs (LSD, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine or ecstasy) in the past year.</p>
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<p>One in five hospitality professionals experiences depression according to charity <a href="https://www.theburntchefproject.com/">The Burnt Chef Project</a>. In a spoken-word performance for the project, poet and writer Joe Bellman describes “defeated faces and lifeless eyes” behind the kitchen door, where “breaking the human spirit is just company policy”. </p>
<p>The majority of respondents said they were likely (with 20% extremely likely) to look for a new employer during the next year. Many of these new jobs will be outside hospitality (which is classified within the overall tourism sector).</p>
<p>Another <a href="https://aut.ac/hetangata">report</a> commissioned last year by the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) found a third of hospitality and tourism workers had high intentions of completely quitting the industries. Reasons included low pay and conditions, stress and toxic work environments.</p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/all-these-celebrity-restaurant-wage-theft-scandals-point-to-an-industry-norm-131286">All these celebrity restaurant wage-theft scandals point to an industry norm</a>
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<h2>Mental health and healthy hospo</h2>
<p>Maybe not surprisingly, our survey showed intention to quit a job declines with better management support. Failure to improve working conditions for chefs, however, will have lasting consequences for the industry. </p>
<p>The Better Work Action Plan, the first phase of New Zealand’s <a href="https://www.mbie.govt.nz/immigration-and-tourism/tourism/tourism-projects/tourism-industry-transformation-plan/">Tourism Industry Transformation Plan</a>, was launched by MBIE in 2023 under the previous government. It followed extensive consultation with representatives from hospitality and tourism, Māori, unions, workers and government. </p>
<p>Its aim was to develop a sustainable tourism workforce by addressing longstanding issues of low pay and poor conditions across the sector.</p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/how-did-abuse-get-baked-into-the-restaurant-industry-204993">How did abuse get baked into the restaurant industry?</a>
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<p>The first step involved hospitality and tourism workers receiving government approval to negotiate an <a href="https://thespinoff.co.nz/kai/31-05-2023/explained-hospitality-gets-the-fair-pay-agreement-green-light">industry-wide fair pay agreement</a>. However, the current coalition government immediately <a href="https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/22-12-2023/the-hard-won-and-swiftly-lost-dream-of-fair-pay-agreements">scrapped fair pay legislation</a>. </p>
<p>The Australian government’s post-COVID tourism recovery strategy, <a href="https://www.austrade.gov.au/en/how-we-can-help-you/programs-and-services/thrive-2030-strategy">THRIVE 2030</a>, has committed to “promote employment standards” regarding compliance obligations and fair work. If effective, these would address the breaches evident in our study.</p>
<p>The hospitality industry relies on young people actively choosing a culinary career. But <a href="https://www.mbie.govt.nz/business-and-employment/employment-and-skills/regional-skills-leadership-groups/tamaki-makaurau/regional-workforce-plans/regional-workforce-plan/our-economy-industry-and-business/services/">MBIE forecasts</a> show students are less likely to seek hospitality jobs given these problems in the sector. </p>
<p>By chance, however, New Zealand’s new <a href="https://www.beehive.govt.nz/minister/biography/matt-doocey#:%7E:text=Matt%20Doocey%20is%20the%20Minister,Waimakariri%20since%20the%202014%20election.">minister for mental health</a>, Matt Doocey, is also tourism and hospitality minister. It is now up to him to make the connection between his portfolios, and work to reduce the heat in the nation’s commercial kitchens.</p>
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<p><em>The authors acknowledge the assistance of the AUT Hospitable Futures Research Fund.</em></p>
<hr><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/224862/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>Stress, poor pay and job insecurity are driving professional chefs away from the hospitality industry in Australia and New Zealand. Tourism is also feeling the impact of the looming skill shortage.Shelagh K. Mooney, Associate Professor, School of Hospitality & Tourism, Faculty of Culture and Society, Auckland University of TechnologyMatthew Brenner, Lecturer, The Hotel School Australia, Southern Cross UniversityRichard Robinson, Associate Professor, School of Business, The University of QueenslandLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2231912024-03-07T19:23:16Z2024-03-07T19:23:16ZThink short-stay rentals like Airbnb are out of control? Numbers are down, especially in our biggest cities<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/579082/original/file-20240301-22-rcaneg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=7%2C275%2C4951%2C3285&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/person-looking-places-stay-on-digital-372864868">Kaspars Grinvalds/Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><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><a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/tax-on-airbnb-stayz-accommodation-could-boost-nsw-housing-supply-20240214-p5f50s.html">Further restrictions</a> on short-term rental properties listed on platforms such as Airbnb and Stayz are on the table in Australia. Public pressure to ease the housing crisis is mounting. This makes quick-fix solutions to make housing more affordable increasingly attractive to governments. </p>
<p>But any policy should be evidence-based. So what can we learn from the <a href="https://www.airdna.co/">latest data</a> on short-term rentals? The findings of our analysis might surprise you: </p>
<ul>
<li>short-stay listings in Australia are down more than 15% on pre-pandemic numbers</li>
<li>the number of active short-term rentals is a small fraction of the total number of dwellings in Australia and roughly equivalent to the number of new dwellings built each year</li>
<li>there has been a shift in listings to regional areas, as major city numbers have dropped sharply.</li>
</ul>
<p>It appears higher rents and property prices in our big cities could be making short-term rentals less attractive for owners and investors. Because housing market conditions and short-term rental impacts vary from place to place, there is no one-size-fits-all solution.</p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/urbanisation-and-tax-have-driven-the-housing-crisis-its-hard-to-see-a-way-back-but-covid-provides-an-important-lesson-223548">Urbanisation and tax have driven the housing crisis. It's hard to see a way back but COVID provides an important lesson</a>
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<h2>How have the numbers changed?</h2>
<p>Short-term rental numbers have fallen significantly in Australia since December 2019. Numbers in Australia haven’t returned to pre-pandemic levels, despite a <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/dde65da6-7da2-45fb-935c-c13b339ce45e">global rebound</a>.</p>
<p>Our latest <a href="https://www.airdna.co/">data</a> show 278,788 unique short-term rentals were listed in Australia in December 2023. That’s well down from roughly 330,000 on the eve of the pandemic. </p>
<p>Of these listings, 191,123 (69%) were “active” rentals (available or booked at least one night a month). That’s down 13% from roughly 220,000 before the pandemic. </p>
<iframe title="Short-term rental listings, July 2016 to December 2023" aria-label="Interactive line chart" id="datawrapper-chart-ZPCJf" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/ZPCJf/3/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border: none;" width="100%" height="500" data-external="1"></iframe>
<p>Of the active rentals in December 2023, 167,955 (88%) were “entire home” listings. These are rented without a host present. </p>
<p>The proportion of such listings has risen steadily since Airbnb emerged as a “sharing economy” phenomenon. However, many of these already existed as purpose-built, short-term accommodation. An example would be holiday lettings on Queensland’s Gold Coast. </p>
<p>All up, active unhosted short-term rentals comprise about 1.5% of Australia’s <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/economy/price-indexes-and-inflation/total-value-dwellings/latest-release">11.1 million dwellings</a> at any given time. This is roughly equivalent to the <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/1051836/australia-new-home-buildings-starts/">number of new dwellings</a> built each year.</p>
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<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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<h2>How have locations shifted?</h2>
<p>Our research team has observed significant shifts in the short-term property market since the eve of the pandemic.</p>
<p>The most obvious was the pandemic’s impact on the geography of short-term rentals.</p>
<p>As mobility restrictions and the loss of tourists affected cities the most, short-term tenants flocked to the regions. We saw a sharp drop in listings in many metropolitan areas. Short-term listings grew in “sea change” and “tree change” regions.</p>
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<p>It’s unclear whether the balance of short-term rentals in major cities compared to regions will return to pre-pandemic levels. What we can see is that property owners have begun to respond to policy and price signals, especially in New South Wales.</p>
<p><a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/tesg.12588">Our research</a> indicates the price difference between short-term and long-term rentals is highly localised. This suggests short-term listings are only lucrative for hosts under certain conditions. Location, size and property type all have an effect. </p>
<p>Both rents and dwelling prices are up by <a href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/weekly-rents.php?national=1&t=1">48% nationwide</a> since the pandemic began. The increases have been greatest on the urban fringes and in high-amenity coastal regions. </p>
<p>Logically, many dwellings in these areas have been “reconverted” to long-term rentals. High rents encourage owners to avoid the bother of having to clean properties and change the sheets and soap after each stay.</p>
<iframe title="Top 20 local areas for listings gains and losses 2019–2023" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-3gKOO" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/3gKOO/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border: none;" width="100%" height="715" data-external="1"></iframe>
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<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/what-is-negative-gearing-and-what-is-it-doing-to-housing-affordability-223823">What is negative gearing and what is it doing to housing affordability?</a>
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<h2>Regulations must reflect local conditions</h2>
<p>Much of the debate about short-term rentals has become polemic. Both communities and <a href="https://planning.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/planning-issues-and-interests/short-term-rental-accommodation-review">policymakers</a> have been divided on the appropriate level of regulation and what the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-06/short-term-rentals-airbnb-housing-crisis/103400820">actual impacts</a> would be. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.fool.com/the-ascent/mortgages/articles/4-reasons-airbnbs-are-partly-to-blame-for-the-housing-crisis/">Some blame</a> short-term rentals for contributing to a lack of longer-term rental housing, or for local <a href="https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4199574">price increases</a>. Others conclude short-term rental restrictions <a href="https://hbr.org/2024/02/what-does-banning-short-term-rentals-really-accomplish">aren’t effective</a> for resolving structural issues of housing supply and affordability. It’s also <a href="https://therealdeal.com/new-york/2024/02/10/nyc-hotels-flourish-post-airbnb-ban-housing-market-stalls/">suggested</a> restrictions may have unintended consequences, such as allowing <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1354816620918769">hotels to charge more</a>.</p>
<p>What is clear from our analysis is that different regions need different regulations. </p>
<p>New South Wales has the most stringent <a href="https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/policy-and-legislation/housing/short-term-rental-accommodation">short-term rental regulation</a> in Australia. The state has brought in several varieties of place-based caps, adapted to the needs of the local council area. </p>
<p>In Greater Sydney, unhosted short-term rentals can be occupied up to 180 days per year. (This limit excludes stays of 21 days or more.) In the Clarence Valley (North Coast) and Muswellbrook (Hunter Valley) council areas, the cap applies mainly in neighbourhoods characterised by low-density housing. In Byron Bay, a <a href="https://www.byron.nsw.gov.au/Development-Business/Land-Use-Zoning/Short-Term-Rental-Accommodation#section-2">forthcoming measure</a> to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/sep/26/byron-bay-shire-nsw-60-day-short-term-holiday-rental-airbnb-cap-approved">restrict certain areas to 60 days</a> a year may be the final straw for some short-term rental hosts.</p>
<p>While such restrictions might ensure peace and quiet for residents of areas like Byron Bay’s exclusive hinterland estates, we are unconvinced at this stage that caps and levies <em>significantly</em> move the needle on housing supply or affordability in Australia. What’s more, such measures may reflect thinly veiled <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/how-a-perfect-storm-of-covid-19-influencers-and-airbnb-created-byron-bay-s-housing-crisis-20210422-p57lmw.html">NIMBY efforts</a> by residents of <a href="https://theconversation.com/who-wins-and-who-loses-when-platforms-like-airbnb-disrupt-housing-and-how-do-you-regulate-it-106234">affluent suburbs</a> to restrict access to their neighbourhoods by non-locals.</p>
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<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/will-taxing-short-stays-boost-long-term-rental-supply-other-policies-would-achieve-more-213989">Will taxing short stays boost long-term rental supply? Other policies would achieve more</a>
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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/223191/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Thomas Sigler receives funding from the Australian Research Council.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Zhenpeng (Frank) Zou 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 number of active short-term rental listings is a small fraction of the total number of dwellings in Australia – and many listings are not in the city areas of great housing need.Thomas Sigler, Associate Professor of Human Geography, The University of QueenslandZhenpeng (Frank) Zou, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, School of the Environment, The University of QueenslandLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2219832024-03-06T19:14:31Z2024-03-06T19:14:31ZFrom micro to macro, Andrew Leigh’s accessible history covers the economic essentials<p>Andrew Leigh’s <a href="https://www.blackincbooks.com.au/books/shortest-history-economics">The Shortest History of Economics</a> is the latest in a series of such histories, mostly focused on particular countries. </p>
<p>It begins with a striking mini-history of household lighting, focusing on the amount of labour required to produce the light now given off by a standard lightbulb: 58 hours for a wood fire, five hours for a candle based on animal fat, a few minutes for an early electric lightbulb, and less than one second for a modern light-emitting diode.</p>
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<p><em>The Shortest History of Economics – Andrew Leigh (Black Inc.)</em></p>
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<p>Importantly, what is true of labour hours is also true of material inputs. Older technologies required felling a tree or killing an animal, but an LED uses the photoelectric properties of common crystals. It only needs tiny quantities. The input of electricity is similarly modest. </p>
<p>Meanwhile, because workers in all kinds of activities have become more productive, the purchasing power of their wages, expressed in terms of services like lighting, has risen. The result is that services like lighting have become exceptionally cheap.</p>
<p>As this example shows, The Shortest History of Economics is not, as might be supposed, a history of economic thought (a topic primarily suited to retired economists like the author of this review). Rather, it is primarily a history of economic life, from Paleolithic times to the COVID pandemic. </p>
<p>The history is, however, informed by modern economics, included in the narrative in palatable doses.</p>
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<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/576942/original/file-20240221-22-3jsbds.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/576942/original/file-20240221-22-3jsbds.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/576942/original/file-20240221-22-3jsbds.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=929&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/576942/original/file-20240221-22-3jsbds.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=929&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/576942/original/file-20240221-22-3jsbds.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=929&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/576942/original/file-20240221-22-3jsbds.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1167&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/576942/original/file-20240221-22-3jsbds.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1167&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/576942/original/file-20240221-22-3jsbds.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1167&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
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<h2>Standards of living</h2>
<p>The first half of the book, covering the period up to the Industrial Revolution, is mostly about technology. Leigh begins with the transition from hunter-gatherer societies – made up of relatively small groups of people, who followed their food sources around – to agriculture, which permitted and required larger settled populations. </p>
<p>The effect on living standards was ambiguous at best. Farmers were less likely than hunter-gatherers to suffer violent deaths or starve in winter, but they were almost permanently undernourished. They overworked to produce a surplus that enabled a small stratum of priests and warriors to live relatively luxurious lives.</p>
<p>The millennia following the agricultural revolution are covered pretty quickly, with a focus on developments in transport (mostly water transport) and trade. Leigh traces the gradual emergence of a global economy, culminating in the rise of European empires, whose reach depended on sail. </p>
<p>There are lots of interesting vignettes, covering topics such as social mobility. There wasn’t much, as can be seen by the persistence over centuries of the same surnames in high-status positions. More depressing is the discussion of the central role of the slave trade, which was a major source of labour in the Americas and income for European nations.</p>
<p>The second half of the book, covering the period after the Industrial Revolution, shifts the focus from technology to economic institutions and policy. The 19th century saw the rise of the corporation and the concentration of economic power. </p>
<p>This produced responses in the form of “anti-trust” legislation in the United States, usually referred to as “competition policy” in Australia. This remains an issue of central concern to Leigh in his day job, as assistant minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury. </p>
<p>The 19th century also saw the rise of the trade union movement and the beginning of an era of continuous struggle over the distribution of income between capital labour. The balance has ebbed and flowed. </p>
<p>As Leigh shows, labour has been losing ground since the 1970s in most countries, while those at the top of the income distribution have gained massively. The offsetting positive development is that the very poorest people in the world have generally improved their lot, thanks to the belated arrival of modern technology.</p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/income-redistribution-or-social-insurance-a-federal-mp-considers-the-future-of-the-welfare-state-187603">Income redistribution or social insurance? A federal MP considers the future of the welfare state</a>
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<h2>Macroeconomics</h2>
<p>The issues I have discussed so far have mostly concerned markets and prices, the topics studied by economists under the label “microeconomics”. But the 20th century also saw the emergence of “macroeconomics”, the analysis of booms, depressions, inflation and mass unemployment. </p>
<p>The key figure here was English economist John Maynard Keynes, whose <a href="https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/125515/1366_keynestheoryofemployment.pdf">General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money</a> (1935) provided the theoretical basis for the use of public expenditure and taxation (fiscal policy) to stabilise the economy. </p>
<p>As Leigh notes in his introduction, The Shortest History of Economics is unusual among recent popular works on economics in covering both microeconomics and macroeconomics.</p>
<p>Despite proceeding briskly through millennia of economic history, Leigh manages to convey the essential points in a way that does not leave the reader feeling rushed through an incomplete argument. While it makes sense to begin by reading the book from beginning to end, it is also enjoyable to dip into it, more or less at random.</p>
<p>Inevitably, I have some points of disagreement. At a couple of points, Leigh gives uncritical credence to beliefs widely held among economists, but not supported by the evidence. </p>
<p>He repeats Adam Smith’s creation story for money as a more efficient alternative to barter. But a hundred years of anthropological evidence, beginning with my namesake <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alison_Hingston_Quiggin">Alison Hingston Quiggin</a> and continuing to the work of the late <a href="https://davidgraeber.org/about-david-graeber/">David Graeber</a>, suggests that money first emerged as a way of discharging debts (owed to the king whose face appeared on coins or as recompense for private injuries). It was only later adapted to use in commerce.</p>
<p>In his discussion of Keynesian macroeconomics, Leigh cites <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0nERTFo-Sk">a popular rap video presenting a dispute between Keynes and Friedrich von Hayek</a>, two of the great economists of the 20th century. </p>
<p>But in reality, although Hayek had criticised Keynes’ earlier <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/65278">Tract on Monetary Reform</a> (1923), he did not even review his General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money. Arguably the most effective critic was <a href="https://www.econlib.org/library/Enc/bios/Pigou.html">A.C. Pigou</a>, best known nowadays as the inventor of pollution taxes. </p>
<p>And Keynes was <a href="https://www.economist.com/free-exchange/2014/03/14/prophets-for-today">quite sympathetic</a> to the arguments against economic planning Hayek presented in <a href="https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/R/bo4138549.html">The Road to Serfdom</a> (1944). </p>
<p>The idea of Hayek as Keynes’ primary antagonist is largely a piece of retroactive continuity (“retconning” in the jargon of genre fiction). The myth was created in the 1970s, following Hayek’s Nobel Prize in Economics in 1974 and his influence on political leaders, including Margaret Thatcher and Augusto Pinochet. </p>
<p>But these are quibbles, which will be of little concern to the general readership at which the book is aimed. As with all of the dozen or so books Leigh has produced since his election to Parliament (while also raising three children and maintaining a strenuous athletic regime – how does he do it?), The Shortest History of Economics is an engaging read, conveying economic insights to readers who would find a standard economics text both boring and impenetrable.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/221983/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>John Quiggin is a friendly professional colleague of Andrew Leigh, in his capacity as an academic economist</span></em></p>The Shortest History of Economics is not just a history of economic thought, but a history of economic life.John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of QueenslandLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.