Think Again

The coronavirus has taken us all by surprise and revealed certain fault lines in our health system and all the other parts and processes connected to and sustaining that system. These fault lines include the systematic cuts in the resourcing of our public health system and the shift to privatisation, the casualisation of our workforce, and the neoliberal focus on people as 'mere' individuals rathe...

This is the third program focusing on community development (with some initial discussion about the federal government's economic stimulus package). An overview of trends in international community development over the last 60 years is provided, along with the impacts of these changes. Finally a brief overview is given of current community development initiatives.

Jennifer continues her interview with Jacques about community development and its relevance today. What is it? Is it something inherently conservative, such as helping people make friends, or does it offer possibilities for systemic change? Does the idea of healthy 'relationality' (with each other and nature) form a basis for doing both?

Following previous programs on community participation in the directions we are taking as a society, this program explores community development as an approach. Jennifer interviews Jacques about his thoughts and experience with community development, starting in the 60s. System-change and the fostering of healthy relationality are both seen to be important in community development.

In this program, Moreland Councillor Sue Bolton shares her perspective on the capacity for democratic participation through local government.

Many people have experienced or witnessed the devastating top-down, command-and-control approach of our 'democratic' governments, where the views and interests of ordinary people are often treated with disdain or disregard. This program begins an exploration of different types of attempt to integrate the views of the people - or at least to give the appearance that this is happening.

While governments use Public Private Partnerships (known as PPPs) to provide infrastructure, companies run off with the profit and the government and the people wear the risks and costs. This is certainly the case with the Westgate Tunnel, with builders threatening to walk away from the project due to the cost of disposing contaminated soil (which they knew about well in advance). The history of P...

If passed by Parliament, the Religious Discrimination Bill would privilege concerns about religious discrimination over concerns about other forms of discrimination, for example against women, people with disabilities, and gay people. It would 'sustain nastiness and hostility that [Australia] can well do without', [former high court justice Michael Kirby] with provisions that 'appear to be motivat...

While bushfires rage across Australia, Prime Minister Scott Morrison prays for rain and waits for the Rapture - but he doesn't 'hold the hose' he said as he was leaving for a Hawai holiday.... This program explores the scary ways in which Australia's public policy is being guided - or simply put on hold - by our PM's Pentecostalist faith. Most serious is the federal government's inaction on climat...

While bushfires ravage large areas across several Australian states, our federal leaders deny that climate change is happening and that they have anything to do with the fires. Fake news spread by the Murdoch press and social media offer a range of phony reasons for the disaster, all of which have been debunked by climate scientists and fire chiefs in the relevant states. And meanwhile, our PM dec...

James Conlan talks about a local campaign to bring about the community's vision for redevelopment of the Upfield railway line in Coburg, in the inner north of metropolitan Melbourne. The railway line is being raised to do away with railway crossings, however the community wants to have a real say in what happens in the spaces below, and to improve bike paths and public transport linkages.

The commons as an approach offers a way to better organise our lives for the common good and the sustainability of our planet. In this program the history, meaning and practice of the commons is discussed, including a need to look to Aboriginal knowledge to deal with climate change and the current fires in Victoria and Australia. References:Bauman,  (1998) Work, Consumerism and the New Poor. UK: O...

Jennifer interviews Jacques about the global inequities in access to food, and the associated disempowerment of people in relation to food production and distribution (as featuring in the latest edition of New Community, # 67). While half the world is 'stuffed' and obsessed with food, the other half is 'starving'. Jacques talks a bit about some of the root causes, as well as the sort of projects t...

Jennifer and Jacques talk about climate change and the absolute abrogation of responsibility by our leaders. And their dedication to fossil fuels is really astounding... or is there a more plausible reason behind it...?The spectacle of governmental shennanigans around all aspects of global warming, climate change and anything 'ecological' is just astaunding...

Pablo Gimenez talks about his work in setting up and running social enterprises, and he shares some of the challenges and enablers. Refs:Mansfield, C. and Gregory, D. (2019) Capitalism in crisis? Transforming our economy for people and planet. UK: Social Enterprise UK (www.socialenterprise.org. UK)Social Enterprise UK (2019 The hidden revolution: Size and scale of social enterprise in 2018. UK: So...

David Craig from VALID talks about his work in the disability field, especially with peer action groups.

In this episode, Bob Pease talks about men, gender, family violence, and developments in the men's movement over the last few decades. Bob was one of the founders of the White Ribbon campaign in Australia and offers some interesting insights. Ref: Pease, B. (2019) Facing patriarchy. London: Zed Books.

This program continues the teme of 'sociogeneic' and governogenic' mental illness - with addiction being generated by the design, proliferation and regulation of high-intensity poker machines for private profit and government revenue. Refs:Borrell, J. (2008) Understanding problem gambling: the interaction of personal and stuctural processes. Germany: VDM Verlag. Costello, T. & Millar, R. (2000) Wa...

Jacques and Jennifer have a conversation about mental illness, particularly those generated by and within current social circumstances. Some of the misguided notions about causes and remedies are explored, with a focus on one man's journey. Ref:Hari, J. (2018) Lost connections: Uncovering the real causes of depression - and the unexpected solutions. London: Bloomsbury Publishing.

The presenters explore how narcissism as a 'disorder' is the perfect fit for our current version of capitalism: greed is still 'good'... and 'I' deserve all I got and still can get... and 'wealth is god's gift (to me)'...Refs:Manne, A. (2015) The Life of I: The new culture of narcissism. Melbourne: Melbourne University Press. Also see references for previous program: 'Psychopathic behaviour and po...

Why has psychopathic (or sociopathic) behaviour taken root in the upper and middle levels of management in the community sector in recent times, a sector where we should least expect this to happen? This is explored, with some reference to neoliberal ideology and managerialism. Refs: See previous program on psychopathic behaviour and power.

Jacques and Jennifer talk about socio- and psychopathic behaviour and power, and how psychopathic behaviour is encouraged and rewarded in our society. ReferencesClarke, J. (2005) Working with monsters: How to identify and protect yourself from the workplace psychopath. Sydney: Random House Australia. Manne, A. (2015) The life of I: The new culture of narcissism. Melbourne: Melbourne University Pre...

The economist Manfred Max-Neef died in August 2019. He was referred to as the 'barefoot economist' - a title conferred on him when he received the Alternative Nobel Proze for economics or the Right Livelihood Award. He received this for 'revitalising small and medium-sized communities through "Barefoot Economics"'. There is evidently much we can learn from his work and thinking. Ref:Max-Neef, M. (...

This episode looks at the fragmented and uncoordianted way in which we are governed and how our lives are organised. The consequences for our personal and social wellbeing and for the health of the planet are serious. In particular, consumerism as a solution to bolster a flagging economy is in direct contravention of what is needed for environmental sustainability. The episode ends with informatio...

In this program public and societal values are discussed. What values are promoted by our public figures? What values are rewarded? What values do we think are important in our lives? Are these changing?