Opinion pieces

81 - 90 of 143 results

G20 Leaders Summit needs to look to balanced, inclusive growth as the answer to the economic (and investment) confidence question

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

The world of today is doing its best to give the impression that it is falling apart. We are witnessing outbreaks of fundamentalism in many destructive forms. Some nations are retreating in fear from the Ebola epidemic instead of contributing to prevention and treatment efforts. And more and more ordinary citizens are loudly demanding that policy-makers incorporate the notion of fairness into their deliberations on global economic reform.

Opinion Pieces, Poverty, Child labour, Asia and the Pacific, C20, G20, Tim Costello

Childhood is the forgotten casualty of relentless war

Friday, August 1, 2014

On Thursday July 10 I was watching our local news in Gaza and heard there had been a missile attack which resulted in several deaths in the El Halabi family. Seven of my family members had been killed. In that moment the day’s news instantly shocked me to the core.

Opinion Pieces, Emergencies, Middle East, Eastern Europe & Central Asia, Child Deaths, Children's Rights, Conflict, Gaza, Israel, Mohammed El Halabi, Palestine

South Sudan anniversary is no cause for celebration

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Three years ago there was dancing on the streets of South Sudan as a new nation was born with hopes and dreams for a free and independent future. Finally there was to be a future of democracy and peace, with plans for rapid development and construction of infrastructure funded by newly found oilfields. More than 1 million South Sudanese, including many who had been living in Australia, returned to their homeland full of hope and expectation.

Opinion Pieces, Africa, Child Violence, Refugee Crisis, Sexual Assault, South Sudan, Tim Costello, United Nations

Slashing foreign aid reflects poorly on Australia

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Much is made of the need for a changed 'mindset' in the budget rhetoric. But what if the decisions outlined in this statement of government priorities appear to change a mindset that is beneficial, even admired?

Opinion Pieces, Poverty, Asia and the Pacific, Australian Government, Budget Cuts, C20, Foreign Aid, G20, Tim Costello, Tony Abbott, United Kingdom

The lessons still to be learnt from Rwanda

Monday, April 7, 2014

The killing was on a terribly efficient scale, much of it accomplished not with bullets but machetes. It was 100 days of frenzied violence and merciless killing that left more than 800,000 Rwandans dead, the world struggling to comprehend, and the international community disastrously slow to act.

Opinion Pieces, Emergencies, Africa, Conflict, Rwanda, Rwandan Genocide, South Sudan, Syria, Tim Costello

It’s our duty to help the lost people of Syria

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Imagine half the suburbs of Australia deserted; comfortable middle-class houses abandoned or burnt out; neighbours, their pets and cars nowhere to be seen. Think what life would be like if we were no longer able to enjoy our own prosperity, to work, to shop or send our children to school.

Opinion Pieces, Syrian Refugee Crisis, Emergencies, Middle East, Eastern Europe & Central Asia, Australian Government, Helen Szoke, Oxfam, Refugee Crisis, Security Council, Syria, Tim Costello, United Nations

Australia's aid charities need clarity over cuts

Monday, January 13, 2014

Since announcing their $4.5bn cut to Australia’s aid program, the Federal Government have insisted that it is all about ensuring our aid dollars are effectively deployed in the service of Australia’s best interests. In most cases this appears to boil down to encouraging economic development in our poorest neighbours.

Opinion Pieces, Poverty, Asia and the Pacific, Australian Government, Budget Cuts, Foreign Aid, NGO, Tim Costello

The vision to give kids a real future

Monday, January 13, 2014

I sponsor a number of children through World Vision, one of whom is a 10-year-old girl in Zimbabwe called Tatendra, whom I have sponsored for half her life now. Like News Corp columnist Tim Blair, I receive letters and pictures from her once or twice a year that are up on my wall. As I was in Zimbabwe with World Vision in 2010, I had the privilege of visiting her in her community.

Opinion Pieces, Transforming lives, Africa, Child Sponsorship, Philanthropy, Tim Costello, World Vision, Zimbabwe

Diverting foreign aid sets dangerous precedent

Thursday, December 12, 2013

The federal government has dropped a bombshell on poor communities in developing countries, just in time for Christmas. After delaying its promise on aid at the May budget, the government now plans to divert $375 million of Australia's much-needed aid budget to fund domestic refugee programs, making Australia the third largest recipient of Australian aid.

Opinion Pieces, Poverty, Asia and the Pacific, Australian Government, Budget Cuts, Caritas, Foreign Aid, Jack de Groot, Tim Costello

We must stay the distance after Typhoon Haiyan

Monday, November 18, 2013

Typhoon Haiyan was more than a typhoon. In Tacloban, it was also a tsunami. Collecting so much water as it hurtled towards land, Haiyan formed an eight metre wall of water, smashing the city flat, drowning people even as they sheltered in their homes.

Opinion Pieces, Asia and the Pacific, Disaster relief, Emergency, Foreign Aid, Philippines, Tim Costello, Tsunami, Typhoon Haiyan, United Nations