Opinion pieces

111 - 120 of 143 results

Bittersweet story of chocolate

Monday, April 9, 2012

No doubt after Easter Sunday, there are a few of us feeling a bit guilty about overindulging in one or two too many chocolates. Yet most of us will be shocked to learn that there is another unfortunate impact from our annual splurge on chocolate eggs and bunnies every Easter.

Opinion Pieces, Child labour, Poverty, Africa, Child Labour, Chocolate, Cocoa Industry, Easter, Tim Costello, West Africa

Immediate action on West Africa food crisis can save lives

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Last year the world waited and watched as thousands of people starved to death and millions went hungry as a result of a devastating food crisis that gripped East Africa. Some 13 million people in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya went hungry and even six months after a famine was officially declared by the United Nations in Somalia 250,000 still faced imminent death.

Opinion Pieces, Famine, Africa, Famine, Foreign Aid, Tim Costello, United Nations, West Africa Food Crises

“I hope to be someone who can make a difference in people's lives, whether through my work or through my personal relationships"

Thursday, March 8, 2012

In my line of work as a gender advisor for World Vision Australia, I hear a lot about the hopes and dreams of girls and women in the developing world. And yet, when World Vision recently asked female staff from around the world to share their aspirations, I still found myself a little surprised by how much their answers resonated with my own views of the future.

Opinion Pieces, Transforming lives, Poverty, Africa, Gender Equality, International Women's Day, Michelle Lokot, Women's Rights

Schools neglect Pacific cultures

Monday, February 27, 2012

The new ACARA geography curriculum fails to include any study of our own Pacific region. Despite our important trade, aid, migration, sporting, military and tourism links with countries like Papua New Guinea, Fiji, New Zealand and the Solomon Islands, the region is never explicitly mentioned.

Opinion Pieces, Asia and the Pacific, Australian Government, Education, Fiji, New Zealand, Pacific, PNG, Solomon Islands, Tim Costello, Young People

Coles, Woolies shoot each other, but farmers get shot

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Last week Coles announced that it plans to cut the price of fruit and vegetables by up to 50 per cent. Its major competitor, Woolworths soon followed. The price war sounds like great news for Australian consumers. But while it may provide relief to hip-pockets around the country in the short-term, questions are now being asked about the true impact of bargain basement pricing.

Opinion Pieces, Poverty, Asia and the Pacific, Australian Government, Fair Value, Farmers, Tim Costello

Myanmar deserves all our support

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

I recently returned from Myanmar. The last time I was in the impoverished country it was in the wake of Cyclone Nargis in 2008. What I saw then was utter devastation, what I experienced was extreme frustration.

Opinion Pieces, Poverty, Middle East, Eastern Europe & Central Asia, Foreign Aid, Kevin Rudd, Myanmar, Tim Costello

Kind hearts or a dead giveaway?

Friday, December 23, 2011

Every little bit helps in a needy world, but surely we could do better, writes, Tim Costello.

Opinion Pieces, Poverty, Asia and the Pacific, Foreign Aid, Microsoft, Philanthropy, Tim Costello

Climate reports strengthen action and support efforts

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

In the muddied, often toxic climate change debate, it is difficult from media reports to work out the significance of the latest round of expert findings. But on the eve of the next international climate change forum at Durban in South Africa we have seen in recent weeks the release of three key reports. And what is clear is that each report challenges some of the justifications made for delaying decisive action against climate change.

Opinion Pieces, Climate change, Asia and the Pacific, Australian Government, Climate Change, David Lansley, Global Energy Crises

Asia-Pacific aid boost makes sense

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

It took the international ‘summit season’, a visit by President Obama and the prospect of a reversal on our ban on sales of uranium to India to finally put foreign affairs on the national political landscape.

Opinion Pieces, Poverty, Asia and the Pacific, Andrew Hewett, Australian Government, Foreign Aid, Kevin Rudd, Oxfam, President Obama, Tim Costello

Dollar-for-dollar hope for the Horn of Africa

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Media coverage has swirled around virtually every movement of Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd. Yet amid the substantial media coverage, last week there was one announcement that got rather scant attention: the Federal Government’s commitment to match the donations of individuals to Australian aid agencies responding the East African famine, dollar for dollar, during October and November.

Opinion Pieces, Poverty, Asia and the Pacific, Australian Government, East Africa, Foreign Aid, Kevin Rudd, Philanthropy, Tim Costello