We drive cars, heat houses, cook, manufacture and do many other things which make the earth hotter. We should be concerned about things that heat the earth other than the greenhouse effect.

Why not?

The Government and Labor Opposition often cite the importance of “national security”, most frequently in the context of countering terrorism and Islamic extremism. But there is no extant national security policy and strategy, and little public debate on this critical topic that should concern all Australians.

Scientists tell us about the big bang and how this world began but I’m not sure about the ending. Do scientists know?

The huge increase in standard of living for two centuries has been driven, and is measured by, economic growth. To continue to progress without destroying the planet we need a replacement or significant morphing of growth.

I’m a traveller, and as an Indian, I find travelling beyond India quite challenging due to Visa restrictions. This is a symptom of a larger problem. Till the time there are boundaries, there are going to be conflicts. The direction of history has been towards unification, we have far less independent political sovereignities today in the world than ever in history, but world unification still seems elusive. Is it going to happen anytime soon?

I am fascinated by individuals’ inability/unwillingness to take full responsibility for their choices, especially when it comes to looking after themselves.

How far should religion
be separated from
our daily lives?

afraid of touching the question

It’s a global issue and no country has found a workable answer.

In Australia we’ve got the dominant view that hung parliaments and large cross benches are ‘unworkable’ and ‘feral’. Why? In Europe hung parliaments are normal, and there are often many parties represented in the parliament.

Would we benefit from more diverse parties and viewpoints in parliament?

As a first world country, Australians experience a high quality of life. Yet everybody suffers and hurts, and could our experience of suffering, through illness, abuse, loss, break-up, poverty, discrimination, fear etc be put into a different framework where it is recognised for what it can bring and enable, individually and on a bigger scale? The biggest national identities of white Australia seem to be based on and through hardship and suffering.