Keith Suter’s Global Insights

On October 31 2009 there was a Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Margaret Holmes. It took place at a packed St Luke's Anglican Church, Mosman, NSW (where Margaret and her late husband "Tag" had been active members). I was among the speakers who were asked to say a few words about her. I spoke on her involvement in the peace and social justice movements. I had reviewed her biography on Radio 2GB when she turned a 100 earlier this year and I spoke at an event to mark her 100th birthday at the Women's International League for Peace... Full article »

Posted by: Webeditor at 5:23 PM Comment

Tags: Australasia, peace

Friday December 4th 2009 2009 has been another turbulent year, with Australia's involvement with the world's superpowers creating as many problems as opportunities. Among the topics to be reviewed this morning are: • How is Barack Obama doing? • Global Economy: Breakdown or breakthrough? • Global Environment: Winning battles but losing the war? • 21st Century: "The Asian Century"? Course No. 94HM381 1 session 10 am - 12.30 pm Cost: $39 (No Concession) Morning Tea included WEA House, 72 Bathurst St, Sydney 2000 Tel: (02) 9264 2781 Fax: (02) 9267 6988 Internet: www.weasydney.nsw.edu.au A non-profit organisation established 1913... Full article »

Posted by: Amanda Foxon-Hill at 3:41 PM Comment

Tags: Australasia, business, economics

A few points on the asylum seeker issue: The basic problem is that the conflict has gone on for over half a century (with roots going even further back) with no clear system for now resolving it. The Hindu Tamil dominated north should have been given a measure of local autonomy when the country became independent of Britain in 1948. Instead, an increasingly nationalistic majority Buddhist Sinhalese government in Colombo has ignored the local community demands. This has brought on its own adverse reaction from the Tamil community. As with other localized conflicts, one thing led to another in a... Full article »

Posted by: Webeditor at 9:20 PM Comment

Tags: sociology

Witchcraft is now on the agenda of the United Nations. The UN itself - as a secular organization on the church/state split of the United States Constitution -cannot get involved in the official propagation of witchcraft or any other sort of religion. But witches who are persecuted for their religious belief may become "refugees" and so very much a matter for the UN. Like all other humans, they have basic human rights. In my current radio interviews I am making three points 1. Witches as Victims The current media interest (September/ October 2009) comes from discussions at the UN refugee... Full article »

Posted by: Webeditor at 7:28 PM 1 comment

Tags: Africa, Europe, religion, sociology