Why can’t we stay childlike for longer?
    3+

    I’ve found it hard to remember how to play after having my kids, and wonder why I ‘grew out’ of it. I’ve loved relearning it but it’s been hard. I think we’d probably be nicer to each other if we kept more of our sense of wonder and joy and curiosity.

    Asked by:
    Hilary Harper
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    What knowledge is the most useful?
    8+

    Because life is short and I was considering how to make the most of my time here. Since learning holds a large part of the value of living- at least in my eyes- I am wondering what knowledge I shall gain and share that will be most beneficial to me and my fellow earthlings.

    Asked by:
    Abel
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    For a nation of immigrants why have we become a less welcoming country in the last 10 or so years?
    40+

    I’m annoyed by the illogical and racist emails that I receive from friends whose parents or grandparents came here as so called economic migrants or refugees. Ever since people like Pauline Hanson have come on the scene I’ve seen a change in our culture. I’m sure most Australians don’t want to live in a racist country.

    Asked by:
    Stephen Schmideg
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    Why don’t people convert carbon dioxide into something else to reduce climate change?
    0

    It concerns global warming and climate change. Others should care about it because it will be the end of the world if we don’t resolve the issue.

    Asked by:
    Kimberley
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    The tragic picture of the drowned Syrian toddler, or Kevin Carter’s picture of the starving Sudanese child with a vulture waiting to pounce, lead to compassionate letters about how we deal with the aftermath of the world’s tragedies. But where are the ideas for how we stop these tragedies at their source?
    20+

    Can you tell us how we, the people, convince the United nations to act as a genuine force for good in the world by bringing together the might of the world’s most powerful nations to rectify, at its source, the trauma these individuals are enduring? Or can you suggest other ways we can act? I’m asking this question out of sheer frustration that we can do nothing more than be compassionate to the world’s victims AFTER the event. People power has achieved results before, so perhaps those caring people can do more now – but how?

    Asked by:
    Robyn Maggs
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    Why do those with the power to make a decision so rarely involve those who will be affected by the decision in the decision making process?
    2+

    How much is the mental health epidemic due to lack of meaning in contemporary society?
    Why are there so many bored people resorting to (legal/illegal) drugs nowadays?
    How can we expect people to think and make good decisions in times of crisis (eg.bushfire) when they have little experience of thinking and making decisions in every day life?
    Individuals grow and develop when having the opportunity to work out problems with others.

    Asked by:
    Martin Butcher
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    Why do our laws permit routine cruelty to animals where society deems it expedient despite their acknowledged sentience?
    49+

    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.

    Asked by:
    Elizabeth Ellis
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    Why is it that the likes of George Bush are seemingly untouchable in terms of holding them to account for disastrous self-serving decisions like the iraq war?
    6+

    If someone steals something they are arrested but if someone sends in troupes under dubious pretence killing thousands of civilians, ruining the lives of their own combatants why is it that they just float off to a life of ease? Shouldn’t high office hold high accountability. There must be factors that give them immunity. What are they?

    Asked by:
    Tracy Merchant
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    Why be good?
    2+

    We often have a choice between doing what we know is right, and doing what will gratify or benefit ourselves (even at the expense of others). So, why be good?

    Asked by:
    Chris Gill
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    What are the problems that money solves? Are there other solutions?
    7+

    Climate change and the arts are two prime examples of areas where seems difficult to apply this metric-based approach. I am curious about alternatives. What if everyone had a smartphone? Could we something radically different emerge?

    Asked by:
    Emmanuel
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    If a piece of meat is grown in a lab (and was never part of an animal) is it actually still ‘meat’?
    13+

    As a constantly-lapsing vegetarian, I am interested in both the science and philosophy of meat. I know many others are too.

    Asked by:
    @samuelcooney
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    Why is a raven like a writing desk ?
    3+

    (In Memoriam Lewis Carroll.)

    Asked by:
    Robert Tuttleby
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    Why is society so uncomfortable with asexual people, that we continue to consider their orientation is a pathology?
    12+

    Because I know far too many asexual people damaged by prejudice and discrimination not only in everyday life, but by health professionals attempt to ‘cure’ their natural sexual orientation.

    Asked by:
    Jo
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