We are constantly outsourcing social tasks, child care, aged care, any care actually. Our level of tolerance and sense of community is constantly diminishing, causing more depression and social problems. Why aren’t we encouraging mothers to spend time with their kids instead of putting them in care? Why aren’t we supporting adult children in looking after their aging parents. Why don’t we help each other more? Is it all about money? Appearances? Lack of tolerance?

22 years of riding trains, not once have I stopped there. It only saves 5 minutes to skip it. Why does nearly every train skip it?

We’re pushing for gender equality, but will it ever be achieved if we don’t remove the damaging labels and restrictions the gender binary holds in place? Where do transgender, agender and gender fluid individuals fit in?

From first impressions to ‘finding your tribe’, identities are formed, projected, assumed and reinforced in an increasingly image-conscious world. How would our experience of identity (ethnic, gender, sexual, ableness, age etc.) differ in a hypothetical non-physical world where we were not constantly assuming identities – voluntarily or otherwise – based on aspects of our physical appearance?

I guess I find it a fascinating question because, if the answer is ‘yes’ (and I think it probably is), that runs quite contrary to the current obsession with science and truth and makes story-telling and art-play far more important.

There are varying degrees of mental illness – some are profoundly affected where others are not. In the lesser cases, some of these people display signs of a difficult personality or difficult behaviour, but use the label of mental illness. How do we define which is which, and navigate the tricky terrain where their behaviour affects families, workplaces and relationships?

Mostly because it’s fun, but I wonder about the benefits of unstructured, inclusive and spontaneous activities that allow people to experience themselves without purpose.

Because life is beautiful… my part in it is small… what is there to fear?

Public discourse on politically contested matters—like climate change, refugees, distribution of resources, etc.—seems to be at a low ebb. We need to find ways to address these issues constructively if we are to have any hope of meeting the challenges of the coming years. But how can we be a part of the solution and not just a part of the problem?

This is the current internal debate I am struggling with as a student about to graduate and go out into the competitive and soul-crushing work force world. There is often this moral vs. wealth and success debate when thinking about the person I want to be and whether I can truly make an impact in this world. How can we break free from the ideals in place by our society and comfortably be ourselves without giving up certain parts of who we are and how we think?

I was watching a flock of birds and I wondered at their perfect movement.

Because this is cradle of all the other issues.

Our society professes to be concerned about animal welfare but sanctions very different treatment of animals according to their perceived utility and the vested interests that benefit from their use. The law as it stands reflects this contradiction. As a result millions of animals suffer routinely, whether it be for live export, domestic agricultural use, feral animal control, research or entertainment purposes. Not even companion animals are immune from suffering; treated as disposable property and with little or no restriction on their breeding and sale, hundreds of thousands are euthanased every year in Australia. All of this is both inhumane and dishonest. Either we believe in the humane treatment of animals or we don’t. If the latter, let’s be honest about it; if the former, we need significant legal change. A good start would be the creation of independent statutory bodies to administer and enforce animal welfare laws instead of the current primary industries departments with their conflicts of interest.