Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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Dialogue in a Deeply Fractured World by Joseph Camilleri OAM
Dialogue is needed in international affairs to engage with the other in a common search for truth. Commonality makes dialogue possible while difference makes it essential. (Joseph Camilleri, Australian Institute of International Affairs). Read more …
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Trump cuts funding to UN’s Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA)
Below is an extract from Jonathan Cook’s article entitled ‘There was a deeper, darker agenda afoot when the US administration cut UNRWA funding’, published in The National, September 2, 2018. Shatila Palestinian refugee camp on the outskirts of Beirut. Palestinians have reacted angrily to the US decision amid fears it undermines their cause. (Anwar Amro/AFP). Left click […]
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Catholic Support for War: Another Child Abuse Scandal
The Church cannot condemn child abuse by pedophiles and yet bless the government’s murder of children in its wars, if it wants to be consistent and faithful to Christ. Below is an extract from an article by Brian Terrell on this theme: On August 14, a report from a grand jury investigation in Pennsylvania identified […]
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Pax Christi Australia (NSW) Convenor’s Report
The August Report includes information about meetings with the Inter-Congregational Voice on Climate Change and the Pacific Islands. This is a group of Catholic congregations with historical and ongoing involvement among peoples in Pacific Island nations in the areas of education, health, community development and climate justice. The group participated in the ‘Inquiry into the strategic effectiveness […]
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People’s Peace Movement (PPM ) in Afghanistan
In his article, ‘In Afghanistan, Our Need to Rethink the Institution of War’, author Dr Hakim writes, “We’ve been thinking that we need armies to stop ‘terrorists’, but armies don’t stop ‘terrorists’. Instead, they give ‘terrorists’ reason to keep fighting”. Dr Hakim says that it is “frustrating that whereas all human beings wish to live […]
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Senator Pat Dodson’s response to Fraser Anning’s maiden speech
In his maiden speech, Katter’s Australian Party senator Fraser Anning called for an end to Muslim immigration and a return to the White Australia policy. Below is Patrick Dodson’s response: Senator DODSON (Western Australia) (10:21): I wasn’t intending to say anything, and I won’t say anything that will be better than what my leader has said […]
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New Zealand ratifies the Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons
Recently, New Zealand became the 14th state to ratify the Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons. Pax Christi Aotearoa-New Zealand, our member organisation in New Zealand, issued the following statement upon ratification: Pax Christi Aotearoa New Zealand has been a strong advocate against the possession, testing and use of nuclear weapons since our beginnings in the […]
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Destruction of Australian War Sales Catalogue event held in Sydney 30 June 2018
A public rally to protest against the Coalition government’s Defence Export Strategy and the Australian Military Sales Catalogue took place on June 30 outside the Queen Victoria Building in Sydney’s CBD. Below is an extract from one of the speeches. “By this public destruction of the Australian Military Sales Catalogue today, we symbolically protest against […]
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NAIDOC Week – 8 to 15 July 2018
A ‘Reflection’ presented by Peter Griffin (Pax Christi NSW) at St Vincent’s Church in Redfern, Sunday 8 July 2018. Good Morning. As we gather today, let us bring to mind that we are on Aboriginal land. It is not easy for non-Aboriginal people to appreciate the difference between owning land and being owned by the […]
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The Australian Government Appears Determined to Cover Israel’s Crimes
The killings of 106 Palestinians and the injuring of 10,000 should be investigated. As the world continues to be horrified by unarmed Palestinians being killed and maimed by Israeli snipers in Gaza, it is unconscionable for Australia to have voted against sending […] Read more of this post
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