Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Saman Khalesi, Senior Lecturer and Discipline Lead in Nutrition, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, CQUniversity Australia

The holiday season can be a time of joy, celebration, and indulgence in delicious foods and meals. However, for many, it can also be an emotional and stressful period.

This stress can manifest in our eating habits, leading to what is known as emotional or stress eating.

There are certain foods we tend to eat more of when we’re stressed, and these can affect our health. What’s more, our food choices can influence our stress levels and make us feel worse. Here’s how.

Why we might eat more when stressed

The human stress response is a complex signalling network across the body and brain. Our nervous system then responds to physical and psychological events to maintain our health. Our stress response – which can be subtle or trigger a fight-or-flight response – is essential and part of daily life.

The stress response increases production of the hormones cortisol and insulin and the release of glucose (blood sugars) and brain chemicals to meet demand. Eating when we experience stress is a normal behaviour to meet a spike in energy needs.

But sometimes our relationship with food becomes strained in response to different types of stress. We might attach shame or guilt to overeating. And anxiety or insecurity can mean some people under-eat in stressful times.

Over time, people can start to associate eating with negative emotions – such as anger, sadness, fear or worry. This link can create behavioural cycles of emotional eating. “Emotional eaters” may go on to develop altered brain responses to the sight or smell of food.

What stress eating can do to the body

Stress eating can include binge eating, grazing, eating late at night, eating quickly or eating past the feeling of fullness. It can also involve craving or eating foods we don’t normally choose.
For example, stressed people often reach for ultra-processed foods. While eating these foods is not necessarily a sign of stress, having them can activate the reward system in our brain to alleviate stress and create a pattern.

Short-term stress eating, such as across the holiday period, can lead to symptoms such as acid reflux and poor sleep – particularly when combined with drinking alcohol.

In the longer term, stress eating can lead to weight gain and obesity, increasing the risks of cancer, heart diseases and diabetes.

While stress eating may help reduce stress in the moment, long-term stress eating is linked with an increase in depressive symptoms and poor mental health.

What we eat can make us more or less stressed

The foods we choose can also influence our stress levels.

Diets high in refined carbohydrates and sugar (such as sugary drinks, sweets, crackers, cakes and most chocolates) can make blood sugar levels spike and then crash.

Diets high in unhealthy saturated and trans fats (processed foods, animal fats and commercially fried foods) can increase inflammatory responses.

Rapid changes in blood sugar and inflammation can increase anxiety and can change our mood.

Meanwhile, certain foods can improve the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain that regulate stress and mood.

Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish and flaxseeds, are known to reduce inflammation and support brain health. Magnesium, found in leafy greens and nuts, helps regulate cortisol levels and the body’s stress response.

Vitamin Bs, found in whole grains, nuts, seeds, beans and animal products (mostly B12), help maintain a healthy nervous system and energy metabolism, improving mood and cognitive performance.

5 tips for the holiday table and beyond

Food is a big part of the festive season, and treating yourself to delicious treats can be part of the fun. Here are some tips for enjoying festive foods, while avoiding stress eating:

1. slow down: be mindful about the speed of your eating. Slow down, chew food well and put down your utensils after each bite

2. watch the clock: even if you’re eating more food than you normally would, sticking to the same timing of eating can help maintain your body’s response to the food. If you normally have an eight-hour eating window (the time between your first meal and last meal of the day) then stick to this even if you’re eating more

3. continue other health behaviours: even if we are eating more food or different food during the festive season, try to keep up other healthy behaviours, such as sleep and exercise

4. stay hydrated: make sure to drink plenty of fluids, especially water. This helps our body function and can help with feelings of hunger. When our brain gets the message something has entered the stomach (what we drink) this can provide a temporary reduction in feelings of hunger

5. don’t restrict: if we have a big day of eating, it can be tempting to restrict eating in the days before or after. But it is never a good idea to overly constrain food intake. It can lead to more overeating and worsen stress.

Plus 3 bonus tips to manage holiday stress

1. shift your thinking: try reframing festive stress. Instead of viewing it as “something bad”, see it as “providing the energy” to reach your goals, such as a family gathering or present shopping

2. be kind to yourself and others: practise an act of compassion for someone else or try talking to yourself as you would a friend. These actions can stimulate our brains and improve wellbeing

3. do something enjoyable: being absorbed in enjoyable activities – such as crafting, movement or even breathing exercises – can help our brains and bodies to return to a more relaxed state, feel steady and connected.

For support and more information about eating disorders, contact the Butterfly Foundation on 1800 33 4673 or Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800. If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. In an emergency, call 000.

Saman Khalesi was previously supported by a Postdoctoral Fellowship (Award No. 102584) from the National Heart Foundation of Australia.

Talitha Best is affiliated with Australian Psychological Society.

Charlotte Gupta does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. You could be stress eating these holidays – or eating your way to stress. 5 tips for the table – https://theconversation.com/you-could-be-stress-eating-these-holidays-or-eating-your-way-to-stress-5-tips-for-the-table-244156

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ari Mattes, Lecturer in Communications and Media, University of Notre Dame Australia

Marketing is critical to the success of commercial films, and companies will often spend half as much again on top of the production budget to let people know about a film. But this is usually not the case with the local industry.

Frequently, Australian films will do well enough on the festival circuit to be picked up by a theatrical distributor who spends virtually nothing on marketing – and then pulls the film when it doesn’t prove to be the next Muriel’s Wedding.

This is painfully in the back of my mind as I try to compile a list of my top five Australian films of 2024. Top five? Did I even see five? It turns out I did. Did I miss many? A few, because they never crossed my radar – no posters, no advertising, no social media presence.

Out of the, let’s say ten, Australian films I did manage to see in 2024, this is my top five (which isn’t to say they are, necessarily, five films that I would recommend).

1. Late Night with the Devil

Written and directed by Colin and Cameron Cairnes, Late Night with the Devil is a solid genre film.

The narrative frames the film as found footage. We watch an episode of a late night talk show from Halloween 1977, in which a supposedly possessed girl becomes the centre of the show, unleashing (or not?) various demonic events.

David Dastmalchian is commandingly goofy in the lead as ratings-hungry host Jack Delroy, and the supporting cast provide some nice character touches.

The production design is first rate, with everything we love about 1970s horror cinema – and television culture – recreated in vivid strokes.

Starved of unpretentious and non-didactic cinema, one is tempted to declaim the brilliance of this enjoyable romp. But, at the end of the day – and despite Stephen King’s comment it’s “absolutely brilliant” – it’s just a good horror film, sure to please fans of well-made cinema with a retro bent.

2. Christmess

Though released at select cinemas at the end of 2023, I’m including the well-made (and low budget) Christmess on the list, as it secured a mainstream release in 2024.

The film follows a trio of recovering addicts in a halfway house during the holiday period, centred around once-famous actor Chris (beautifully played by Steve Le Marquand) as he successfully – and unsuccessfully – deals with his demons.

Christmess is sentimental without being overly schmaltzy, the characters are rendered with nuance while still containing a recognisably mythical dimension, and it feels hopeful while still making sense.

Writer-director-producer Heath Davis does exactly what is needed for a low budget film. It is economically but effectively shot in the Sydney suburbs, the writing is razor sharp, and the performances are (mostly) excellent. Films like Christmess give hope independent Australian cinema has life yet.

3. Force of Nature: The Dry 2

Now we’re getting into trickier territory for a top five list. Force of Nature is the sequel to The Dry from 2020, and treads similar ground, with Eric Bana returning as federal police detective Aaron Falk.

This time it’s a mystery surrounding a hiking trip and a disappearing informant.

As with the first film, Force of Nature is an engaging genre film with some arresting moments and effectively handled elements (the cinematography, music, performances are all fine). But it’s also totally forgettable and uninspired, pale in comparison to some of the great variations on the cop-mystery theme of the past.

4. Birdeater

Popular at SXSW, Birdeater makes the list by virtue of its style alone.

What begins as an intriguing look at the horrors of group dynamics when a bunch of youngsters leave the city for a buck’s party quickly fizzles into nothing, the early gestures towards Ted Kotcheff’s masterful Wake in Fright proving little more than hot air.

But it looks and sounds amazing, one of the most stunningly shot Australian films I’ve seen – actually warranting that haphazardly thrown about adjective “cinematic” – and is worth watching for this dimension alone.

5. The Moogai

Some may think writer-director Jon Bell’s The Moogai is an impressive horror film, cleverly integrating a critique of Australian colonisation into a possession story about motherhood and the anxieties of the parent-child relationship.

I found its treatment of a potentially engaging story humdrum and forgettable, the critique of colonisation obvious and uninteresting, and the performances strained.

Unlike Jennifer Kent’s excellent The Babadook, which anchors its allegorical dissection of parenthood to specific and weird horrific moments, The Moogai depends too much on the abstract, on the viewer’s knowledge of events and the world outside the film, and suffers as a work of art for this.

The best of the rest (perhaps)

Before you attack my evident myopia, there were a handful of Australian films released in 2024 I haven’t seen and that look like they might be worthwhile. Don’t blame me, blame the marketers!

Sting, directed by Aussie genre maestro Kiah Roache-Turner, looks like a rousingly trashy monster film (there hasn’t been a good giant spider film for years).

The Rooster, written and directed by actor Mark Leonard Winter, looks like a potentially solid character mystery (and has received great reviews).

In the Room Where He Waits – which looks like a disturbing Repulsion-like thriller about a queer actor losing his marbles in a hotel room – has also received excellent reviews.

And this isn’t to discount the potential mirth of a film like Runt, a sweet-looking kids’ film about a ten-year-old girl and her friendship with a dog.

The biggest Australian film of the year was George Miller’s latest Mad Max endeavour, Furiosa. While some swear by Fury Road, as a long-time fan of the Mad Max films I found it shrill and incomprehensible, a senseless assault on the viewer with little payoff and no dynamism. Well, Furiosa is this, but a little worse.

How can Screen Australia ensure 2025 (well, 2026 now) has a more robust offering of Australian films? Less money invested in American productions, more on Australian films with lower budgets – and more spent on marketing!

Ari Mattes does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. I was asked to come up with my top 5 Aussie films of 2024. It was a difficult task – https://theconversation.com/i-was-asked-to-come-up-with-my-top-5-aussie-films-of-2024-it-was-a-difficult-task-243922

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Francisco Jose Testa, Lecturer in Earth Sciences (Mineralogy, Petrology & Geochemistry), University of Tasmania

As a kid, it was tough for me to grasp the massive time scale of Earth’s history. Now, with nearly two decades of experience as a geologist, I think one of the best ways to understand our planet’s history and evolution is by condensing the entire timeline into a single calendar year.

It’s not a new concept, but it’s a powerful one.

So, how do we go about this? If we consider Earth’s age as 4.54 billion years and divide it by 365 days, each day of the Gregorian calendar represents about 12.438 million years.

Let’s say we want to calculate what “day” the Paleozoic started in our new Earth calendar. We just need to subtract 541 million years from the age of the planet and divide it by 12.438 million years. Simple, right?

As I ran these equations, I noticed something amusing. Some of the most significant events in Earth’s history coincide with major holidays in the Western world. By this reckoning, the dinosaurs went extinct on Christmas Day.

The Earth calendar

View the events in the infographic above, or scroll down to read about the entire year in order.

January 1

4.54 billion years ago: Formation of proto-Earth as part of the Solar System

Dust and gas in the early Solar System collide and combine under gravity. This process eventually leads to the formation of a molten planet, our proto-Earth.

January 3

4.5 billion years ago: Theia’s impact and the formation of the Moon

A Mars-sized planet, Theia, collides with the proto-Earth, changing the composition of our planet forever. This massive impact ejects a significant amount of material into orbit around Earth, which eventually coalesces to form the Moon.

February 4

4.1 billion years ago: Beginning of the Late Heavy Bombardment

Earth, the Moon and other inner bodies of our Solar System experience intense asteroid and comet impacts, which shape their surfaces. Unlike Earth, the Moon still retains these craters today because it lacks an atmosphere, water and tectonic activity. The bombardment continues until the very end of February – 3.8 billion years ago.

February 14

3.97 billion years ago: Beginning of the Archean Eon

By Valentine’s Day, the hottest period in Earth’s history – the Hadean Eon – has finally come to an end. With these hostile conditions in the past, the stage is lovingly set for life to emerge as the Archean Eon begins.

March 16

3.6 billion years ago: Formation of the first supercontinent, maybe

For a couple of weeks now, Earth has been cool enough to form stable continental crusts. Vaalbara is a theorised supercontinent consisting of two cratons (ancient, stable and thick blocks that form the cores of continents): Kaapvaal in eastern South Africa, and Pilbara in north-western Western Australia. While still under debate, this would make Vaalbara 3.6 to 2.7 billion years old, one of the oldest supercontinents we know of.

March 26

3.48 billion years ago: Earliest direct evidence of life

Right before the end of the first quarter of the year, simple prokaryotic organisms appear during the Paleoarchean. These are the earliest direct evidence of life recorded as microfossils (stromatolites).

May 27

2.7 billion years ago: Cyanobacteria become the first oxygen producers

Blue-green algae called cyanobacteria develop oxygenic photosynthesis. They use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into organic compounds, releasing oxygen as a byproduct. It’s a milestone for the development of our current atmosphere.

June 16

2.46 billion years ago: The Great Oxygenation Event

A dramatic rise in oxygen levels occurs in shallow seas and in Earth’s atmosphere, driven by oxygenic photosynthesis from cyanobacteria. This event lasts approximately 400 million years, transforming Earth’s environment and paving the way for more complex life forms to thrive on a radically changed planet.

September 17

1.3 billion years ago: Formation of the supercontinent Rodinia

One of the first supercontinents to form on Earth, Rodinia brings together most of the planet’s landmasses. During its 550 million years of existence, Earth is predominantly inhabited by simple life forms, including prokaryotes and early eukaryotes.

October 31

750 million years ago: Breakdown of Rodinia and Snowball Earth events

By Halloween, Rodinia begins to crack apart just like candies in a kid’s trick-or-treat bag. The breakup of Rodinia dramatically influences the planet’s climate and ocean circulation, potentially triggering Snowball Earth events. These two major global glaciations, lasting approximately 70 million years, play a significant role in shaping Earth’s history.

November 9

635 million years ago: The Ediacaran Period begins

Right before the start of the Paleozoic, the first large, complex, multi-cellular marine life forms appear. The Ediacaran biota includes diverse, soft-bodied organisms – early animals, algae and other complex life. Today, curious visitors to the Flinders Ranges in South Australia might be lucky enough to spot some Ediacaran fossils.

November 17

538.8 million years ago: The Cambrian Explosion

The Cambrian Explosion lasts no more than two days (25 million years). During this time, sudden development of complex life occurs in the oceans. Almost all present-day animal phyla appear, and other groups diversify in major ways. Undoubtedly, this is a critical period for life on our planet.

November 23

470 million years ago: Plants first colonise Gondwanaland during the Ordovician Period

Early land plants are simple, non-vascular organisms that colonise moist environments – much like moss today. Over time, plants evolve more complex structures, including vascular tissue specialised for transporting water, nutrients and food, allowing them to thrive in a wider range of terrestrial habitats.

December 1

370 million years ago: First vertebrates move onto land

On the very first day of December, four-limbed animals called tetrapods are the first animals with backbones (vertebrates) to transition to a life on land during the Late Devonian period. These are the ancestors of all land-dwelling vertebrates, living and extinct.

December 10

252 million years ago: Permian-Triassic mass extinction

Life is almost entirely obliterated after a series of massive Siberian volcanic eruptions trigger global warming and a lack of oxygen in the oceans. The Great Dying is the largest extinction in Earth’s history, wiping out more than 90% of marine species and about 70% of terrestrial species.

December 12

230 million years ago: The rise of dinosaurs

The very first dinosaurs are small, bipedal reptiles that eventually evolve into the diverse group of animals that dominate Earth during the Mesozoic Era. Dinosaurs reign over our planet for 13 days, meaning their kingdom endures for an epic 165 million years.

December 25

66 million years ago: Cretaceous-Paleogene mass extinction

Christmas Day is not a joyful day for dinosaurs: they go extinct. The current leading hypothesis for their demise is an asteroid impact in the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico. A massive space lump of coal from Santa, if you will.

December 26

56 million years ago: The rise of mammals

Boxing Day is a good day for mammals. During the Palaeocene, right after the extinction event, mammals begin to grow in size and diversity. By noon, when the Eocene starts 56 million years ago, they have evolved into the first large herbivores and carnivores.

December 31: midday

~7 to 6 million years ago: The planet of the apes

The very first hominids, either Sahelanthropus or Orrorin, appear by noon on December 31. These species represent some of the earliest common ancestors of humans and other great apes, such as gorillas, orangutans and chimpanzees.

December 31: 11:25pm

300,000 years ago: Modern humans finally arrive

The very first Homo sapiens emerge in Africa, marking the beginning of anatomically modern humans.

The final ten minutes

We’re almost at midnight, and nearly all of humanity’s history can be condensed into the last ten minutes of the year.

11:50pm

~86,377 years ago: Homo sapiens migrate out of Africa into Eurasia. Thus begins a significant global colonisation by early modern humans.

11:51pm

~77,740 years ago: The first symbolic art. Engraved ochre in South Africa’s Blombos Cave is considered one of the earliest symbolic artworks created by humans, indicating the development of cognitive and cultural sophistication.

11:52pm

~69,102 years ago: The Last Glacial Period. An ongoing global cooling event intensifies, forcing humans to adapt to harsher climates.

11:53pm

~60,464 years ago: Humans reach Australia. This marks the earliest known migration across sea, and settlement on a new isolated continent.

11:54pm

~51,826 years ago: Upper Paleolithic Revolution. Humans arrive at a capacity for well-developed language, more complex social structures, and highly specialised tools.

11:55pm

~43,119 years ago: The Neanderthals go extinct. Multiple factors cause their demise, including violence, diseases, natural catastrophes and being outcompeted by Homo sapiens, the only remaining hominid species on Earth.

11:56pm

~34,551 years ago: Symbolic art flourishes and culture emerges globally among modern humans. This time is characterised by significant advancements in creativity and social organisation.

11:57pm

~25,913 years ago: The Last Glacial Maximum. Ice sheets reach their greatest extent, covering large parts of North America, Europe and Asia. This is the peak of the most recent ice age, affecting both ecosystems and human migration.

11:58pm

~17,275 years ago: Warming begins after the Last Glacial Maximum. Ice sheets gradually retreat, leading towards the end of the last ice age.

11:59pm

~8,638 years ago: Significant events take place globally. The Agricultural Revolution has started, with humans cultivating crops and domesticating animals, leading to the first permanent settlements and village life.

Midnight

8,638 years ago to today: A great deal happens in the last few seconds of the year. From the Bronze and Iron Age, to the rise and fall of major empires, the Renaissance, the Industrial Revolution, world wars, space exploration, the internet and artificial intelligence.

Francisco Jose Testa does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Interactive: What Earth’s 4.54 billion-year history would look like in a single year – https://theconversation.com/interactive-what-earths-4-54-billion-year-history-would-look-like-in-a-single-year-245373

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Scully, Professor in Modern History, University of New England

Michael Leunig – who died in the early hours of Thursday December 19, surrounded by “his children, loved ones, and sunflowers” – was the closest thing Australian cartooning had to a prophet. By turns over his long career, he was a poet, a prophet and a provocateur.

The challenge comes in attempting to understand Leunig’s significance: for Australian cartooning; for readers of The Age and other papers past; and for the nation’s idea of itself.

On this day, do you remember the gently philosophical Leunig, or the savagely satirical one? Do you remember a cartoon that you thought absolutely nailed the problems of the world, or one you thought was terribly wrong-headed?

Leunig’s greatness lay in how intensely he made his audiences think and feel.

There is no one straightforward story to tell here. With six decades of cartooning at least weekly in newspapers and 25 book-length collections of his work, how could there be?

The light and the dark

One thread is an abiding fondness for the whimsical Leunig. Mr Curly and Vasco Pyjama live on in the imaginations of so many readers.

Particularly in the 1980s and 90s, Leunig’s work seemed to hold up a moral and ethical mirror up to Australian society – sometimes gently, but not without controversy, such as his 1995 “Thoughts of a baby lying in a childcare centre”.

Another thread is the dark satirist.

In the 1960s and 70s, he broke onto the scene as a wild man in Oz and the Nation Review who deplored Vietnam and only escaped the draft owing to deafness in one ear.

Then he apparently mellowed to become the guru of the Age, still with a capacity to launch the occasional satirical thunderbolt. Decidedly countercultural, together with Patrick Cook and Peter Nicholson, Leunig brought what historian Tony Moore has called “existential and non-materialist themes to the Australian black-and-white tradition”.

By 1999, he was declared a “national living treasure” by the National Trust, and was being lauded by universities for his unique contributions to the national culture.

But to tell the story of Leunig’s significance from the mid 90s on is to go beyond the dreamer and the duck. In later decades you could see a clear distinction between some cartoons that continued to console in a bewildering world, and others that sparked controversy.

Politics and controversy

Leunig saw 9/11 and the ensuing “War on Terror” as the great turning point in his career. He fearlessly returned to the themes of the Vietnam years, only to receive caution, rebuke and rejection from editors and readers.

He stopped drawing Mr Curly and Vasco Pyjama. The world was no longer safe for the likes of them.

Then there was a cartoon refused by the Age in 2002, deemed by editor Michael Gawenda to be inappropriate: in the first frame, a Jew is confronted by the gates of the death camp: “Work Brings Freedom [Arbeit Macht Frei]”; in the second frame an Israeli viewing a similar slogan “War Brings Peace”.

Rejected, it was never meant to see the light of day, but ABC’s Media Watch and Crikey outed it because of the constraint its spiking represented to fair media comment on the Middle East.

That the cartoon was later entered, without Leunig’s knowledge, in the infamous Iranian “Holocaust Cartoon” competition of 2006, has only added to its infamy and presaged the internet’s era of the uncontrollable circulation of images.

A decade later, from 2012, he reworked Martin Niemöller’s poetic statement of guilt over the Holocaust. The result was outrage, but also acute division within the Australian Jewish community.

Dvir Abramovich (chairperson of the Anti-Defamation Commission) made a distinction between something challenging, and something racist, believing it was the latter.

Harold Zwier (of the Australian Jewish Democratic Society) welcomed the chance for his community to think critically about Israel’s policies in Gaza and the West Bank.

From 2019 – a mother, distracted, looking at her phone rather than her baby. Cries of “misogyny”, including from Leunig’s very talented cartoonist sister, Mary.

Then from 2021 – a COVID-19 vaccination needle atop an armoured tank, rolling towards a helpless citizen.

Leunig’s enforced retirement (it is still debated whether he walked or was pushed) was long and drawn-out. He filed his last cartoon for the Age this August. By then, he had alienated more than a few of his colleagues in the press and the cartooning profession.

Support of the downtrodden

Do we speak ill of the dead? We hope not. Instead, we hope we are paying respect to a great and often angry artist who wanted always to challenge the consumer society with its dark cultural and geopolitical secrets.

Leunig’s response was a single line of argument: he was “Just a cartoonist with a moral duty to speak”.

You don’t have to agree with every provocation, but his purpose is always to take up the cause of the weak, and deploy all the weaponry at his disposal to support the downtrodden in their fight.

“The role of the cartoonist is not to be balanced”, said Leunig, but rather to “give balance”.

For Leunig, the weak were the Palestinian civilians, the babies of the post-iPhone generation, and those forced to be vaccinated by a powerful state; just as they were the Vietnamese civilians, the children forced to serve their rulers through state-sanctioned violence, the citizens whose democracy was undercut by stooges of the establishment.

That deserves to be his legacy, regardless of whether you agree or not about his stance.

The coming year will give a great many people pause to reflect on the life and work of Leunig. Indeed, he has provided us with a monthly schedule for doing just that: Leunig may be gone, but 2025 is already provided for, via his last calendar.

Richard Scully receives funding from the Australian Research Council. He is affiliated with Australian Cartoonists’ Association.

Robert Phiddian receives funding from the Australian Research Council for the Cartoon Nation Discovery Project. He is affiliated with the Australian Cartoonists’ Association.

Stephanie Brookes receives funding from receives funding from the Australian Research Council. She is affiliated with Australian Cartoonists’ Association.

– ref. The closest thing Australian cartooning had to a prophet: the sometimes celebrated, sometimes controversial Michael Leunig – https://theconversation.com/the-closest-thing-australian-cartooning-had-to-a-prophet-the-sometimes-celebrated-sometimes-controversial-michael-leunig-246409

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Flora Hui, Research Fellow, Centre for Eye Research Australia and Honorary Fellow, Department of Surgery (Ophthalmology), The University of Melbourne

Australians are exposed to some of the highest levels of solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation in the world.

While we tend to focus on avoiding UV damage to our skin, it’s important to remember our eyes as well.

Last summer, only six in ten Australians who spent time outside during peak UV exposure times said they wore sunglasses.

But sunglasses are much more than a fashion statement. Here’s why they’re important for our eye health (and our skin) – and some tips on how to choose a pair that works.

What is UV radiation?

UV radiation is a type of energy produced by sources like the sun. There are three types: UVA, UVB, UVC. UVA and UVB are responsible for the sun-related damage to our skin and eyes.

UV can be direct, scattered or reflected, bouncing off surfaces such as water, sand and snow. But unlike the other types of energy the sun makes (visible light and infrared radiation), we can’t see or feel UV radiation.

This is why we can’t rely on clear skies or hot temperatures to work out if UV levels are high.

Instead, we use the UV Index, a scale from low (1–2) to extreme (11+).

Official guidelines recommend sun protection when the UV index is 3 or higher. This includes protecting our eyes.

How does UV light affect our eyes?

Excessive UV radiation can have both short and long-term effects on our eyes and surrounding skin.

In the short term, you might become sensitive to light or develop photokeratitis, sometimes known as “snow blindness”.

Photokeratitis is like a sunburn to the cornea (the clear, dome-shaped part at the front of the eye that lets light in) and makes the eyes sore, red and sensitive to light. Photokeratitis usually resolves with rest from light and eyedrops.

But the long-term effects of chronic UV exposure can be more severe.

It can lead to a fleshy growth on the eye called a pterygium, also known as “surfer’s eye”. This growth can obstruct vision if it grows over the cornea, requiring surgical removal.

Excessive UV exposure can also speed up the development of cataracts (where the lens inside the eye becomes cloudy and blurs the vision) or lead to skin cancers on the eye and eyelid.

Excessive UV exposure can be particularly harmful to children as the lens in their eyes aren’t able to filter UV light as well as adults – so it’s important for children to wear sunglasses too.

What about the skin?

UV radiation can also accelerate skin ageing.

It breaks down proteins in the skin which keep it elastic, such as elastin and collagen, and can trigger low-grade inflammation.

Without sunglasses, we also tend to squint more to try and reduce the amount of light entering our eyes. These repeated movements can contribute to the development of wrinkles and “crow’s feet” around the eyes.

What sunglasses should I choose?

In Australia and New Zealand, every pair of spectacles with tinted lenses must be be labelled to show the category of protection they offer. They are regulated by Australian/New Zealand Standards.

There are five categories for lenses:

• categories 0–1 are “fashion spectacles”. They look like sunglasses but in fact offer little or no UV protection

• category 2 provide a medium level of sun glare reduction and good UV protection

• category 3 provide a high level of sun glare reduction and good UV protection

• category 4 lenses are very dark and only recommended for use in extreme levels of glare, such as mountaineering, or at sea. These lenses are too dark to be used for driving.

What else should I know?

Good sunglasses don’t have to be expensive. The category of protection is more important than the price tag – so always check the label to see how well they block UV radiation.

Sunglasses that fit close to eyes, with good wrap around the face, provide the best protection in reducing both direct and reflected UV radiation.

Lenses can also be polarised, blocking any light waves coming from a horizontal direction. This reduces glare from reflective surfaces while increasing contrast – especially useful for water activities such as fishing.

Some sunglasses may also use the term “eye protection factor” (EPF). The EPF rating is based on how well a pair of sunglasses can protect your eyes from UVA and UVB based on the lenses and frame design. Look for an EPF of 9 or 10.

The label “UV400” is also useful, as it means the lenses block almost 100% of UV.

Protecting your eyes year round

Sunlight can also be beneficial to our eyes.

For example, morning sunlight can help us reset our body clocks and promote proper eye development in children to prevent shortsightedness. It is also important for the body’s production of vitamin D.

But moderation is key. The safest way to get the benefits of sunlight during summer is a few minutes of mid-morning or mid-afternoon sunlight. In late autumn and winter when the UV index is below 3, spending time outdoors during midday is beneficial.

As we’re exposed to UV radiation all year round, sunglasses are a good idea in any season. In summer, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and sunscreen, and limiting outdoor time during peak UV exposure, will also help protect your eyes and skin.

Flora Hui does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Sunglasses don’t just look good – they’re good for you too. Here’s how to choose the right pair – https://theconversation.com/sunglasses-dont-just-look-good-theyre-good-for-you-too-heres-how-to-choose-the-right-pair-245270

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Terry, Professor of Business Regulation, University of Sydney

Even if you’ve no idea how the business model underpinning franchises works, there’s a good chance you’ve spent money at one.

Franchising is essentially a strategy for cloning a branded business by replicating proven management and business systems.

McDonald’s, KFC, Pizza Hut, Dominos, and Taco Bell are prominent multinational examples. But franchising isn’t limited to fast food, and not all franchise systems are American.

The model has transformed the business landscapes of most countries. Not least Australia, which has more franchising outlets per capita than any other country except New Zealand.

It can have some real benefits for both the franchisor – the entrepreneurial enterprise looking to expand, and the franchisee – the aspiring owner-operator seeking to enter an industry.

But it can also pose some unique challenges, including what might happen to you as a franchisee if the brand you’ve partnered with is sold.

What is franchising?

Franchising is essentially a strategy for marketing and distribution.

A small company with a successful business that is seeking to expand will face real financial and management challenges in scaling up organically. Franchising provides an increasingly popular alternative.

Under the franchising model, a company’s expansion is, in effect, outsourced to legally and financially independent operators called franchisees.

Franchisees are granted the right to develop and operate their own business using the brands, systems and know-how of the parent company, called the franchisor.

In return, franchisees pay franchisors a fee (usually a percentage of turnover) and enter an agreement for a fixed term.

The rights and obligations of the parties are recorded in a franchise agreement – a complex and lengthy document which addresses the intricate commercial relationship between both parties over the life of the agreement.

What are the benefits?

As noted by a 1990 US House of Representatives Committee, franchising provides a means for:

merging the seemingly conflicting interests of existing businesses with those of aspiring entrepreneurs in a single process that promotes business expansion, entrepreneurial opportunity and shared cost and risk.

The franchisor, looking to grow their business, benefits from more rapid market expansion than would be possible through organic growth.

Outlets are financed and managed by the franchisees, who provide them with a regular source of income. Most commonly, through the payment of fees based on a percentage of turnover.

The franchisee benefits from participating in a proven brand with established recognition, reputation and goodwill. They also receive training and ongoing support.

Beyond fast food

Australia’s franchise systems operate across virtually all consumer goods and services. Many business-to-business services are also offered through franchised systems.

An independent review of the Franchising Code of Conduct in 2023 recorded that Australia’s franchise sector comprised 1,144 franchise systems and more than 70,000 franchisees.

Collectively, the entire sector employed more than half a million people and generated about A$135 billion in annual revenue.

The expansion of the US fast food giants to Australia – McDonald’s, KFC, Pizza Hut – in the early 1970s undoubtedly introduced Australian consumers to distinctive fast food concepts.

But it also introduced the franchising concept to local entrepreneurs who were quick to adopt and adapt it.

Today, according to the US Trade Commission, close to 90% of franchises operating in Australia are Australian-developed. US brands (not individual units) account for 3-5% of the market here.

Still relatively young

The remarkable success of franchising perhaps disguises its relative infancy as a method of business operation. Franchising in its contemporary business format only developed in the 1950s.

The expanding US Interstate Highway system, implemented by President Dwight Eisenhower in the mid-1950s, led to a demand for convenient and cheap food and accommodation offerings.

Franchise systems developed at that time took advantage of this opportunity. Harland Sanders adopted franchising in 1952 to expand his roadside fried chicken restaurant today known as KFC. Kemmons Wilson’s first Holiday Inn was franchised in 1954.

And in 1955 Ray Kroc developed a franchising strategy to exploit the massively successful hamburger stand developed by Richard and Maurice McDonald in San Bernardino, California.

Bigger and bolder

Franchising may have started as an expansion strategy for small businesses with a proven concept and the ambition to grow. But somewhere along the way, it got big.

The model has now evolved from its original form, where a national franchisor makes agreements with single unit franchisees, to increasingly innovative strategies.

Multi-unit franchising is where franchisees own and operate multiple units of the franchise system – for example, multiple stores.

Multi-brand franchising is where a company owns multiple franchise brands.

There’s even master franchising, where a franchisor grants an entrepreneur the rights to franchise the system in an entire country or territory.

However, these increasing complexities only deepen when companies list on the stock exchange – or when a franchise brand is sold.

Changing ownership

Changing ownership of a franchise brand will always present challenges.

When a franchisee running an individual store wants to transfer ownership of their business, they require their franchisor’s consent (although the mandatory Franchising Code of Conduct states this consent cannot be unreasonably withheld).

On the other hand, if a franchisor wants to sell the overarching brand, they aren’t required to get the consent of their franchisees, unless required under the franchise agreement (which would be highly unusual).

An announcement last month, that Queensland-based Retail Food Group would acquire boutique South Australian coffee franchise Cibo Espresso from its parent company, Retail Zoo, caused some controversy.

Cibo stores are set to be rebranded as Gloria Jean’s stores, one of Retail Food Group’s 11 franchise brands.

Retail Food Group expects to invest about $1.3 million into the Cibo network to help existing franchisees “accelerate their transition to Gloria Jean’s”.

Perhaps predictably, though, the announcement was not universally welcomed by all Cibo franchisees. Some expressed regret at the loss of a local South Australian brand.

Existing franchisees would face substantial financial hurdles in challenging the transition. In these and similar cases, experience suggests abundant goodwill is required on both sides for a workable commercial outcome.

This article is part of The Conversation’s “Business Basics” series where we ask experts to discuss key concepts in business, economics and finance.

Andrew Terry has previously served in unpaid roles as director of the Franchising Council of Australia, and as a member of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s Small Business and Franchising Consultative Committee. In 2016, he was inducted into the Franchise Council of Australia’s Franchising Hall of Fame for his contributions to franchise sector education.

– ref. How does franchising work? – https://theconversation.com/how-does-franchising-work-243585

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By William A. Stoltz, Lecturer and expert Associate, National Security College, Australian National University

US President-elect Donald Trump has named most of the members of his proposed cabinet. However, he’s yet to reveal key appointees to America’s powerful cyber warfare and intelligence institutions.

These include positions like national cyber director, director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and National Security Council cyber lead. These figures will be vital in securing America’s cyber security at a crucial time.

We believe there are three flashpoints that could be particularly troublesome for the incoming administration:

• how Trump will balance his economic and security priorities
• how his administration can effectively deter Chinese digital disruption
• how it will address the suspicions among some MAGA supporters of the powers of the intelligence “deep state”.

Intensifying Chinese cyber espionage

Chinese electronic surveillance and espionage activities against the US have reached an all-time high in terms of level of effort and, most importantly, effectiveness.

These espionage activities have been successfully targeting:

• the key intellectual property that provides the US with an economic and national security advantage
• the personal communications of senior US government and military officials, and
• the personal data of tens of millions of Americans.

As has recently been reported, the Chinese government has exploited vulnerabilities in America’s ageing telecommunications infrastructure to target secret government systems.

Hackers from the group “Salt Typhoon” were able to access the personal communications of high-ranking officials (including Trump) and expose the identities of US intelligence targets and sources in the US and overseas.

Salt Typhoon also appears to have extracted US telecommunications companies’ call data records. These detail the call history and associated phone numbers of all users of the network.

These sophisticated breaches follow years of brazen cyber operations to steal US intellectual property and state secrets concerning strategically significant technologies. These include artificial intelligence, next-generation aircraft, biotechnology and energy systems.

Indeed, researchers have found the majority of Chinese espionage activities against the US since 2000 have focused on stealing commercial technologies and information.

Alongside this, the US government believes Beijing is seeking to expand its ability to capture digital information on Americans.

The Biden administration responded to this threat with a number of measures to harden America’s technology ecosystem against Chinese-made devices and software that may contain backdoors or hidden surveillance features. The response included bans and restrictions on products made by Hikvision, Dahua and Hytera, as well as the social media platform Tiktok.

This all sets the scene for showdowns between Trump and China, as well as between Trump and America’s tech sector.

For example, the Trump administration will almost certainly have to compel telecommunications giants AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and others to address longtime deficiencies in their infrastructure. This includes the persistent use of unshielded components dating back to the 1970–80s.

Simultaneously, the personal targeting of Trump, his Cabinet, and senior government officials and their sources will require a forceful response to deter future operations.

But how much will the Trump administration be prepared to do in response to Chinese aggression?

President Joe Biden has hit back against China by targeting its semiconductor industry and curtailing its access to other strategic technologies. In any negotiations between Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping over trade and tariffs, Beijing is likely to seek to have these measures removed.

If it does, Trump’s desire for a better economic “deal” with China may come into conflict with national security concerns.

Cyber sabotage on critical infrastructure

Chinese agencies have also been infiltrating American and allied critical infrastructure (including the cyber security centres in the “Five Eyes” partners) for the purposes of sabotage.

The aim is to pre-position themselves in target networks, installing sophisticated malware that can be activated to disrupt and degrade essential systems. This includes in a time of war.

The most noteworthy of these efforts has come from Volt Typhoon, a Chinese state-sponsored hacker group.

These efforts to infiltrate and cripple vital infrastructure are consistent with China’s long-standing doctrine of covert action intended to “win without fighting”.

These sabotage efforts are widely expected to intensify as we approach 2027. This is the crucial window when China’s People’s Liberation Army is expected to reach military readiness to attempt an invasion of Taiwan.

The greatest risk of this digital sabotage campaign is a possible escalation into a military conflict between the US and China.

If Chinese malware is used to target the celebrations for America’s 250th birthday in 2026 or the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, for example, how much restraint would Trump have?

Renewing America’s cyber espionage law

The final flashpoint will be a legislative one.

The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) has long been the subject of passionate debate in the US. Most of this centres on Section 702, the basis for much of America’s cyber intelligence collection efforts on foreign targets.

This section allows US intelligence agencies to intercept phone calls, emails and other digital communications on non-Americans outside the US.

Congress has mandated these agencies to “minimise” the collateral collection of data on Americans. In practice, however, this has been difficult to achieve in the age of digital anonymity and transnational threats.

Bipartisan supporters of FISA consider it essential to national security agencies that are fighting to keep America and its allies safe. The MAGA-aligned House Freedom Caucus, however, has cast the act in a different light. They believe it empowers an unaccountable deep state intent on surveilling ordinary citizens.

Trump has at times aligned himself with this view. In April of this year, he posted that Congress should “kill FISA” due to allegations it enabled spying of his 2020 presidential campaign.

Section 702 will lapse in April 2026 unless Congress votes to authorise it again. While both houses of Congress will have Republican majorities, the disparate views within the party do not guarantee passage.

Raising the stakes further are the intensifying national security threats a second Trump administration will face.

Intelligence officials will argue the demand for FISA-sourced intelligence has never been higher. However, outsiders like Tulsi Gabbard (presumptive director of national intelligence), Kash Patel (presumptive FBI director), Pam Bondi (presumptive attorney-general) and Kristi Noem (presumptive secretary of homeland security) may oppose re-authorising the legislation.

Furthermore, America’s allies rely heavily on intelligence shared by US agencies using FISA warrants. Just as Trump looks set to demand NATO and other allies pay more for their own defence, he may well insist that Five Eyes and other intelligence partners do more of their own surveillance operations, too.

William A. Stoltz is a senior manager in strategy and consulting at CyberCX. He has received Australian government funding via projects conducted at the ANU National Security College, where he is currently an expert associate. He is an advisory board member of the Asia-Pacific Defence, Diplomacy, and Development Dialogue (AP4D), a council member of the Australian Institute of International Affairs (Vic), and a visiting fellow at the Robert Menzies Institute at the University of Melbourne. He has previously been employed by Australia’s Department of Defence.

Admiral Mike Rogers (retired) is a member of the Global Advisory Board for CyberCX, Australia’s leading cyber security firm. Rogers served as the director of the National Security Agency and as commander U.S. Cyber Command between 2014 and 2018 for US presidents Obama and Trump. He is also a senior advisor at both the Brunswick Group and Bondi Partners.

– ref. As China expands its cyber espionage and sabotage operations, how will the Trump administration respond? – https://theconversation.com/as-china-expands-its-cyber-espionage-and-sabotage-operations-how-will-the-trump-administration-respond-244738

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jon Whittle, Director, Data61

I’m a computer scientist and a bad Christmas shopper. Over the weekend, I wondered whether AI systems might be able to help me out.

Could I just prompt ChatGPT to pick a personalised gift for my cousin Johnny and have it shipped in time to reach him? Alas, the cheerful chatbot couldn’t help, telling me it “can’t make purchases or handle shipping directly”.

In the two years since ChatGPT launched, we have seen wave after wave of AI products and features promising to save us from mundane tasks. Yet so far, gift shopping is beyond them – apart from the odd built-in chatbot on a shopping site or app.

However, things may be different by next Christmas. One thing many experts expect in 2025 is the rise of AI agents: bots that can take actions on your behalf in the real world.

Agents are already here

An AI agent can do more than just suggest where you can get a Santa suit. It can buy it for you and have it delivered to your door.

And the vision for “agentic AI” is that teams of AI agents will work together. You would give your team of agents a prompt:

I’m cooking Christmas dinner this year. Find my closest Facebook friends, send them invites, make sure one of them is a chef and tell them to bring the turkey.

The agents would sort it all, without you ever having to lift a finger. Crucially, AI agents should have the ability to coordinate across multiple websites.

In fact, limited AI agents are already here. A report by AI developer Langchain claims 51% of respondents to its survey already use AI agents in production.

In 2024, venture funds invested an estimated US$1.8 billion in AI agent projects. Deloitte’s latest Global Predictions Report argues 25% of companies that use generative AI will launch agentic AI projects in 2025.

Research firm Gartner predicts that by 2028, 15% of day-to-day work decisions will be made by AI agents.

Agents for everybody?

We are also seeing agents for consumers beginning to emerge. These are systems that could potentially automate many browser-based tasks (including shopping).

In October, Anthropic – the company behind the popular Claude generative AI bot – released a “computer use” feature that allows the AI to take over a user’s mouse and keyboard to browse and take actions on any website.

Education expert Leon Furze created a demo using computer use to automatically browse to a learning management system, open the page for an assignment, create text for the assignment, and click the submit button. All done automatically from a single text prompt.

More recently, Google Deepmind released its own version, Project Mariner, which similarly allows an AI to autonomously navigate and carry out actions in the Chrome browser.

Both these systems are still early versions, with Project Mariner only available to a trusted set of testers. But they hint at what’s to come.

You can’t use either of these tools today to automate your Christmas shopping – at least, not easily. So what would be needed to make a truly useful Christmas shopping AI agent?

The technology exists

The technology side of a shopping agent is relatively straightforward. As a user, I might want to give a prompt such as

Send photo gifts to my family in England. Select some fun family photos from my phone, search for a website that does photo gifts, order appropriate gifts for each family member, and send using my address book.

Executing this would require multiple AI agents: one to find the photos, one to find the shopping sites, one to personalise the gifts, a credit card agent to buy them, and an address-finding agent.

Whether through computer use, Project Mariner, or some other AI agent platform, there is no technological reason why this can’t be done today.

The trust problem

However, there are two significant barriers to making AI agents useful.

First, and most obvious, is trust. Would you trust an AI agent with your credit card details?

Despite two years of advances in AI since ChatGPT, hallucinations – where the AI doesn’t know an answer and so simply makes something up – are still a problem.

A recent study showed that even in AI programming – one of the most popular and valuable uses of AI – 52% of AI-generated answers to coding questions contained errors.

It only takes one error from the AI to send Aunty Molly’s gift to Uncle Joe. And let’s just hope it’s a harmless error such as poor gift matching, not leaking your bank account details.

What agents need to know

The second and less obvious barrier is that for AI agents to be useful, they need to understand context. Even with something relatively simple like buying gifts, context is everything.

I have years of knowledge about what my mother likes. I won’t always get it right, but I’ll do a lot better than a generic AI response. This knowledge is usually tacit and there’s simply no way ChatGPT can have access to the rich history of human interactions that lead to that perfect gift.

Having said that, AI bots are already recording information about their users. To prove this, just ask ChatGPT, “What do you know about me?” Depending on your settings, you might be surprised by the answer.

Perhaps at some point the AI systems we use regularly will know enough about us and our family that Christmas shopping can be fully automated.

But this year, I will still have to attend to it myself. Bah humbug!

Jon Whittle works at CSIRO which receives R&D funding from a wide range of government and industry clients.

– ref. AI can’t do your Christmas shopping just yet – but next year might be different – https://theconversation.com/ai-cant-do-your-christmas-shopping-just-yet-but-next-year-might-be-different-246132

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Crosby, Professor of Economics, Monash University

This week, the value of the Australian dollar fell to 62 US cents, its lowest level since October 2022.

The acute cause? A revelation by the United States Federal Reserve that it expected interest rates to bottom out at higher-than-expected levels in two years time, due to fewer rate cuts in 2025.

Typically, higher interest rates in the US mean a stronger US dollar. The Australian dollar plummeted despite the fact that the Federal Reserve has recently cut rates three times.

Many – not least those Australians about to travel overseas – will be asking an obvious question: where will the dollar go next?

Unfortunately, short run movements in the exchange rate are nearly impossible to predict. For Australia, however, the bigger picture is what’s happening in China’s economy.

Ongoing economic weakness there has weighed on the Australian dollar, as has speculation about a new trade war, with the looming return of US President Donald Trump. All eyes are on what might happen next.

A proxy for the rest of the world

While the current level of the Australian dollar is a little low, historically, it isn’t highly unusual.

It has visited the 60 US cent range several times over the past couple of decades. In the early 2000s, it even dipped below 50 US cents.

In the short term, movements in the Australian dollar tend to be driven by market expectations of how well the global economy – and in particular China’s economy – is travelling.

This is because our economy is heavily dependent on commodity exports, such as iron ore. Road, rail and buildings are all very iron ore intensive.

When there’s strong growth in China or the rest of the world, commodities prices also go up, pushing up the value of the Australian dollar.

Why? because it creates greater demand for our currency. To buy Australian commodities, you typically first have to convert your own currency into Australian dollars.

On the flip side, pessimism about global – and in particular Chinese – economic growth prospects are likely to see commodity prices fall and weaken the Australian dollar.

This link between the Australian dollar and China’s economy was very evident shortly after the global financial crisis in 2008.

A Chinese infrastructure-led stimulus package led to a booming Chinese economy and demand for commodities, which over following years pushed the Aussie dollar up from the 60 US cents range to the US$1 mark.

China remains unsteady

Knowing this relationship between Chinese growth and the exchange rates helps us to unpack the Australian dollar’s recent weakness.

There’s been serious uncertainty surrounding China’s economy and the extent to which it can continue to grow strongly.

The Chinese government’s plans to stimulate its economy remain tentative. There also seems to be a willingness to allow the commodity-intensive construction sector to remain weak.

The broader outlook for global commodities remains cloudy, and the Australian economy does not have other drivers to support stronger economic growth. Hence, our weak dollar.

What about interest rates?

The other key factor impacting foreign exchange rates is interest rates. Normally, higher interest rates will cause money to flow to an economy and strengthen its exchange rate.

On this basis, the current movements might seem unusual at first glance. The US is already cutting rates, but our own Reserve Bank of Australia is holding steady and not expected to move them for a while yet.

So why did the Australian dollar fall against the US dollar? It’s all about changing expectations.

Markets had already priced in expectations about the pace of US rate cuts over the coming year, which is now expected to be slower.

How markets think interest rates will change in the future matters just as much for cross-border money flows as what they are right now.

However, China’s economic weakness over the past few years has overwhelmed interest rate impacts as far as the Australian dollar is concerned.

Winners and losers

A weaker exchange rate might seem like a bad thing. Australians about to head overseas will be bracing to spend more. On top of this, many of the products we import – such as cars, electronics and fuels – will become more expensive for Australians.

But a weak Australian dollar isn’t a problem for everyone. For some groups, it’s highly beneficial.

Australian exporters may benefit from becoming more internationally competitive because their goods become relatively cheaper. It can also make it cheaper both to visit Australia as a tourist, or pay international student fees to study here.

Overall, the long-term effect of a weak dollar on the Australian economy is often positive, with more jobs and spending in export sectors giving the economy a major boost.

Mark Crosby does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Heading on an overseas holiday? The Australian dollar tumbled this week – but that’s not bad news for everyone – https://theconversation.com/heading-on-an-overseas-holiday-the-australian-dollar-tumbled-this-week-but-thats-not-bad-news-for-everyone-246321

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anne Quain, Senior Lecturer, Sydney School of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney

Around one third of Australian households live with at least one cat, yet surveys tell us the cats’ needs are not being met.

Cats may rule the internet, but humans often misconstrue feline behaviour. Earlier this year, the Washington Post boldly declared cat’s arent jerks – they’re just misunderstood. This was prompted by research showing that, contrary to unhelpful stereotypes, cats are not antisocial. They can and do bond closely with humans.

The more we learn about cats, the more we realise they are complex individuals with unique personalities and preferences, capable of learning.

From understanding your cat’s language to keeping them safe and healthy – here are science-backed tips to improve the lives of your feline flatmates.

1. Pay attention to body language

Cats communicate with humans using body language and vocalisation. However, while cats direct meows at humans, and the meows vary depending on the context, humans are not great at decoding them. But we can read cat body language.

For example, slow blinking is likely to indicate a positive emotional state. Cats who are not happy (for example, don’t want to be touched) will freeze, move away, flatten their ears, hiss, or – if they feel they have no other option – scratch or bite.

It is better to allow cats to approach you on their terms, rather than pushing for social interaction. A cat approaching you with their tail up is giving a friendly signal, while a tail swishing from side to side signals annoyance.

Cats should always have the option to opt out of any interaction, like being touched. If you aren’t sure, just “ask”: stop patting them. If they walk away, they’re not keen. If they rub their head against you, they want to continue the interaction.

2. Provide a healthy environment

The American Association of Feline Practitioners and the International Society of Feline Medicine have agreed upon five pillars of a healthy feline environment:

1. A safe space so that cats can retreat if frightened.

2. Multiple, separated key resources (food, water, toileting areas, scratching areas, play areas and resting or sleeping areas) so that cats can comfortably conduct their daily activities.

3. Opportunity for play and predatory behaviour, such as games with wand toys that simulate hunting.

4. Positive, consistent and predictable human-cat interactions, respecting a cat’s choice about whether and how they interact.

5. Respecting the importance of a cat’s senses by avoiding undesirable stimuli (strong smells and loud noises), and providing desirable sensory stimulation (for example, use of catnip or silver vine).

These pillars provide a useful checklist. If you read this and realise your cat’s food and water are right next to the litter tray, you can improve your cat’s environment (and their experiences of eating and toileting) by separating these resources right now.

3. Clean the litter tray!

A litter tray may represent an unpleasant chore to you, but the importance of a spacious litter tray to your cat cannot be overstated. Cats prefer using a clean litter tray, even if they are the only cat in the household.

Cats like to spend time in the tray before, during and after toileting, and they generally prefer a large tray.

Poor litter hygiene is associated with a risk of urinary problems, which can be life-threatening.
A survey of over 12,000 Australian cat owners found that urinary problems were more common in households with a low number of litter trays per cat, less frequent removal of faeces from the trays, and the use of crystal-type cat litter.

If you switch the type of litter you provide, a slow transition is recommended to allow cats to get used to the change.

4. Read the room

Do you have more than one cat? Tension between household cats is common but often overlooked, as it’s not always physical fighting. Signs of inter-cat tension can include prolonged staring, or even blocking the use of resources such as the litter tray or cat door, to prevent other cats from using them.

In their 2024 intercat-tension guidelines, the American Association of Feline Practitioners note this can case chronic fear, anxiety and stress-related illnesses in cats.

Learning to recognise and manage tension between household cats can improve the welfare of all parties.

When you love your cat, it is tempting to seek to amplify the joy by adopting another. But many cats prefer to be the only cat in the household, and don’t cope well with a feline flatmate. If they have positive interactions with familiar, trusted humans, they’re unlikely to be lonely.

5. Keep cats and other animals safe

Historically, domesticated cats earned their keep protecting grain stores from rodents. But what constitutes responsible cat ownership has changed. Around 65% of Australia’s cat owners confine their cats indoors always, while 24% keep their cats confined at night.

A major driver for indoor-only housing of cats is their predation of wildlife. Another is concerns about roaming-associated risks to cats, including cat fights, infectious diseases (such as feline immunodeficiency virus or FIV), misadventure and motor vehicle trauma. But owners of cats kept entirely indoors were more likely to report “problem” behaviours.

Ideally, cats shouldn’t be allowed to free-roam unsupervised where they can harm wildlife, even within the bounds of the property where you live. More than a third of local councils in Australia now require cats to be contained overnight or 24 hours a day.

Outdoor access provides sensory stimulation, with different sights, sounds and smells. Alternatives to free roaming include providing access to a well-designed cat run, harness-training your cat, or supervising your cat.

Cats who don’t leave home unless they’re moving house or being taken to the vet, quickly learn to associate the cat carrier with a trip to an unfamiliar environment. It doesn’t take a genius to work out that a vet visit is imminent when the carrier comes out.

But that negative association can be changed. Cats who were rewarded with treats when they approached, stepped inside or rested in the carrier for six weeks were much less stressed during veterinary visits.

Cats are intelligent, and contrary to popular opinion, can be trained. The process can be enriching for cats and humans alike. With patience and commitment, you can train your cat – from a simple “sit” to voluntarily stepping into the cat carrier.

In short, give cats choice, respect their “cat-ness”, pay attention to their needs and try to see our world from their point of view. Your cat will be happier for it.

Anne Quian has previously consulted to iCatCare, and works at Potts Point Veterinary Hospital. She has donated to several charities including the Cat Protection Society of NSW and the RSPCA NSW.

– ref. How can I keep my cat happy? 5 tips from a vet to help your feline friend live their best life – https://theconversation.com/how-can-i-keep-my-cat-happy-5-tips-from-a-vet-to-help-your-feline-friend-live-their-best-life-242774

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robyn J. Whitaker, Associate Professor, New Testament & Director of the Wesley Centre, University of Divinity

Those beautiful white and gold angels you see on Christmas trees were originally monsters. At least, that is the claim made by scholar Esther Hamori in her book God’s Monsters. Hamori writes that angels “have acquired the soft-edged glow of a Hallmark card, but are some of the deadliest shapeshifters in a universe teeming with bizarre figures”.

Hamori, a scholar of the Jewish and Christian scriptures, demonstrates how angels in the biblical tradition destroy entire towns, unleash plagues, lead armies, and sometimes wield swords.

Biblical angels can be terrifying and monstrous. They appear covered in fire and can also cause fire. Their appearance is sometimes closer to that of a giant fiery, multi-winged serpent than anything human or cherubic. Even when they are more anthropomorphic in form, their faces might be bronzed or shining and their skin like gemstones, clues they transcend the normal created order.

The word angel (Greek: angelos; Hebrew: malach) simply means “messenger”. A messenger can be human, but angelos in the Bible usually refers to a messenger from another realm.

Other types of creatures grouped in the angel category include seraphs and cherubs. Seraphim are essentially burning creatures, probably serpents or dragons, that appear in Isaiah as six-winged heavenly creatures. Even cherubs – usually depicted today as chubby angel babies – did not start out that way.

In the first book of the Bible, Genesis, cherubs (cherubim) are warrior sentinels with fiery swords who guard the gate to the Garden of Eden and, later, the Ark of the Covenant.

There is not much physical description of them in the Bible, but we should not assume they are human-like or small. In one passage their wings span something like four metres (1 Kings 6); in another they are multi-faced creatures with wheels that move in all directions (Ezekiel).

These biblical angels are so different from contemporary angel Christmas decorations, that numerous amusing memes have been spawned using anatomically “correct” biblical angels.

Conversely, angels in the Bible can also be bringers of life. They save life by leading people to food or water and protecting them from wild beasts or enemies. They issue messages from God, including declarations to women who have previously been unable to have children that they will now have a child. Mary, the mother of Jesus, is not the only woman in the Bible to have an encounter with an angel that leaves her pregnant.

As mediators and representatives of God, angelic creatures are capable of giving life or taking it. Perhaps this is why angels in the Bible spend a lot of time saying “do not fear” to terrified humans who are unsure whether angelic presence is going to bring life or death.

As beings who change shape, transverse realms, and exert incredible power, angels in the Bible function in a similar way to monsters in mythical stories and science fiction.

Why would we put such a creature on our Christmas tree? As usual, the answer is not always straightforward. For many, the angel at Christmas is a reminder of Gabriel, who visited Mary to announce she would bear a child called Jesus.

You do not need to be a regular church goer to have seen a nativity play with the angel Gabriel appearing to a young Mary telling her “you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus”. The promise to Mary is that her son will “be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High”. Gabriel in these plays is usually dressed in a long white robe, perhaps with some white feather wings and a gold tinsel halo and accompanied by similarly clad little angel children – a thoroughly domesticated angelic throng compared with the biblical version.

In the Christian tradition, angels usher in the birth of Jesus, the one Christians believe to be saviour of the world. An angel on the tree serves as a reminder that God reaches out to God’s people and promises them good things, much as was promised to Mary.

For others, the angel might represent something a little more mystic, such as the presence of divine creatures who bring messages of hope and peace; things desperately needed in our world.

And while it might be tempting to dismiss the whole thing as pre-scientific nonsense, many religions have similar non-human divine messengers who play important roles in mediating the space between the divine and human world in antiquity.

Even monstrous beings function to help explain the chaos of the world or the presence of death and disease. In Monster Theory, monsters assume a cultural role in embodying our fears and desires, challenging our categories, and helping us make meaning in unimaginable situations.

At one point in her book, Hamori quotes the 5th-century theologian and philosopher Augustine, who called creatures contrary to nature “monsters” (Latin monstra) because they demonstrate something wondrous. For Augustine, the monstrous reflects the diversity of creation and therefore its “whole beauty”.

In her book Phosphorescence, Julia Baird explores the wondrous in every day life. For her, attentiveness to the moments of awe and beauty all around us sustain and bring happiness precisely when darkness threatens to overtake. Words like “unearthly” and “startling” feature in her stories, reminding us that awe can be disruptive. Awe and wonder refuse to be contained by our categories and transcend our logic. In this, they are a bit like angels.

Placing angels on our tree might seem an odd tradition given this complex history. Yet perhaps that complexity is itself the point. Angels embody both threat and promise: they remind us that the monstrous and the beautiful might not be so different, and that while real monsters roam our world, the possibility of wonder in everyday life remains.

Robyn J. Whitaker does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. In the Bible, angels can be deadly. So why do we place them at the top of our Christmas trees? – https://theconversation.com/in-the-bible-angels-can-be-deadly-so-why-do-we-place-them-at-the-top-of-our-christmas-trees-241913

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jennifer Power, Associate Professor and Principal Research Fellow, Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University

New data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) this week shows one in 20 (4.5%) Australians over 16 are LGBTQIA+.

For perspective: at around 900,000 people, that’s similar to the population of Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory combined.

Yet in health and wellbeing outcomes – particularly mental health – this population drags far behind the rest of the country.

Last week the government released a landmark ten-year national action plan to address these health disparities for LGBTQIA+ people. Here’s why it’s needed – and what it hopes to achieve.

How many Australians are LGBTQIA+?

An accurate assessment of the number of LGBTQIA+ people in Australia has long been a critical gap in research due to limited reliable, population-level data.

This has meant LGBTQIA+ people, and their health needs, have often not been visible, particularly in outer suburbs and regional or rural areas. Services and supports can be inadequate as a result.

We don’t yet have census data about the LGBTQIA+ population. After years of community advocacy (and controversy over the government’s reversal and reinstatement of the questions) the 2026 census will be the first to ask Australians about their sexual orientation.

But this week the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released its first report on estimates and characteristics of LGBTQIA+ populations in Australia. These data were combined from four recent ABS health surveys.

The new data show 4.5% of Australians are LGBTQIA+. The percentage was higher among younger people – almost one in ten (9.5%) 16- to 24-year-olds, who are also at higher risk of poor mental health outcomes.

Why do we need a dedicated action plan?

While LGBTQIA+ people have been included as a priority population in other Australian health strategies, the new action plan is the first focused specifically on them.

The report highlights poorer self-rated health for LGBTQIA+ people as a key concern, as well as mental health and suicide outcomes, when compared to the population as a whole.

One in three (31%) LGBTQIA+ people self-rate their health as only “fair” or “poor” – double the general population (15%). This subjective assessment of health is recognised as a reliable predictor of future health.

Recent Australian data shows LGBTQIA+ people are more likely to be diagnosed with anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder. They have higher rates of self-harm and homelessness and are more likely to experience suicidal thoughts and behaviours.

For example, LGBTQIA+ adults have attempted suicide at over 17 times the rate of the general population (5.2% compared to 0.3% over a 12-month period).

A smaller body of data shows these mental health impacts are heightened for some sections of the LGBTQIA+ community. These include people with intersex variations, trans and gender diverse people, people living with disability, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Why do LBTQIA+ people have poorer health?

These health disparities are not inherent to being LGBTQIA+. The evidence shows they are instead driven by social factors, such as rejection from families, experiences of harassment and discrimination, and lack of support within schools and communities.

When accessing health care and other support services, LGBTQIA+ people face multiple barriers which may further exacerbate gaps in health and wellbeing.

This may include a lack of LGBTQIA+ affirming care options. For example, health services may not ask about sexuality or gender identity on intake forms. This places the onus on LGBTQIA+ people to “out” themselves, which can be stressful and lead people to avoid health care.

Or it might involve accidental or overt discrimination, such as deliberate misgendering (referring to someone in a way that doesn’t reflect their gender identity) or outright refusal of service.

In some cases, health-care providers may draw on harmful stereotypes, such as negative ideas about LGBTQIA+ people and promiscuity, rather than focusing on the presenting needs of individual patients.

What will the action plan do?

Reducing stigma and discrimination requires changes in organisational culture and processes in health systems.

The National Action Plan acknowledges this requires considered action and investment to improve outcomes over the longer term. It aims to enhance access to inclusive health care and improve health literacy for LGBTQIA+ people.

For example, this will include ensuring LGBTQIA+ people are included in policy development and service planning across a range of health areas. It will also involve health education campaigns for LGBTQIA+ communities to encourage engagement in preventative health care.

The strategy prioritises workforce training and expanding research to address gaps in knowledge about this population.

Has LGBTQIA+ health improved with law reform?

LGBTQIA+ people report better health in jurisdictions where they receive greater legal protections and stigma is lower.

In recent decades, Australia has seen significant legal and cultural reforms to ensure recognition and equal rights are afforded to LGBTQIA+ people.

However, discrimination and stigma against sexual and gender minorities is far from eradicated. We are currently witnessing a global backlash against LGBTQIA+ rights.

In the United States in 2023, there were 75 instances of law change enacted to redact or remove LGBTQIA+ rights or visibility. This included banning classroom teaching on gender and sexual diversity and restricting access to public bathrooms for trans people.

Australia has also felt the impact of this backlash.

In 2023, “drag story time” events encountered threats of violence. In this same year a formal ball for young LGBTQIA+ people in Wangaratta was cancelled due to fears for participants’ safety.

Gains made toward greater equity in health outcomes for LGBTQIA+ people can be undermined or reversed with shifts in political culture or pressure from conservative forces.

Australia’s national action plan goes a long way toward protecting and advancing LGBTQIA+ people’s health in a way that is sustainable. However, there is still a long way to go and ongoing political support for the plan will be fundamental to its success.

If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

13YARN is a free and confidential 24/7 national crisis support line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are feeling overwhelmed or having difficulty coping. Call 13 92 76.

Jennifer Power receives funding from the Australian Research Council and the Australian Department of Health and Aged care.

Joel Anderson receives funding from the Australian Research Council and the Medical Research Futures Fund.

Natalie Amos receives funding from the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care, the Medical Research Future Fund and Thorne Harbour Health.

Ruby Grant has previously received funding from Thorne Harbour Health and the Tasmanian Government.

– ref. Almost 1 million Australians are LGBTQIA+ – and for the first time, there’s a new national health plan for them – https://theconversation.com/almost-1-million-australians-are-lgbtqia-and-for-the-first-time-theres-a-new-national-health-plan-for-them-246143

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Simon Kingham, Professor of Human Geography, University of Canterbury

Around the world, people are being encouraged to travel by foot, bike or public transport rather than by car. The reasons are many and varied: to mitigate climate change, pollution, traffic congestion and infrastructure costs, and to improve health and wellbeing.

But in New Zealand, despite efforts by governments, councils and individuals, sustained increases in the use of alternative modes of transport remain elusive.

Often this is a result of policies being implemented in isolation. The challenge, therefore, is to develop a more cohesive approach to transport planning, based on research, and applied appropriately depending on the context.

One recent example of how this can succeed is documented in a four-yearly survey conducted by the University of Canterbury to identify travel trends among staff and students.

The survey also asks about the main barriers to switching from driving, which helps inform policies to encourage more sustainable travel options. This year’s results show particular promise.

Driving in decline

The university is located four kilometres to the west of the centre of Christchurch, a city of 400,000 people in New Zealand’s South Island.

There are currently just over 24,000 students (up from around 12,000 20 years ago) and 6,000 full-time and part-time staff. An estimated 15,000 people travel to the university on a typical day.

Like many workplaces in low-density, car-dominated cities, the university saw a gradual increase in people driving to work in the 1980s and 1990s. The university has since tried to encourage staff and students to use public transport, or to walk, cycle and car-share.

The 2024 travel survey found the number of people driving to university has declined since 2020: 38% of those surveyed drove to campus, 21% cycled, 20% walked and 15% came by bus.

Staff are cycling more, mainly due to an increase in e-bike use. Electric vehicle use has also increased substantially. There was a big drop in students using cars, and a correspondingly large increase in bus travel.

The reasons for this decline in car travel, and what we can learn from it, demonstrate the interconnected nature of effective transport policy.

Cycling and buses

Christchurch City Council is responsible for roads and cycle infrastructure. Over the years, it has invested significant effort and resources in creating cycle infrastructure, mainly based around a series of major cycleways.

This includes the Uni-Cycle cycleway which links the university to the central city, and the Nor’West Arc cycleway which also goes through the university. The investment in these routes has seen a substantial growth in cycling in general, including to the university.

The regional council, Environment Canterbury, is responsible for public transport. The recent adoption of a low-cost, flat-fare scheme (NZ$2 adult fares and $1 concession fares) saw an increase in bus patronage.

Local research showed these lower-cost fares were especially important for people on low incomes, so the previous government’s inclusion of concessions for people under 25 was important in encouraging student bus use to university.

The travel survey showed cost as a barrier to students using the bus dropped from 30% in 2020 to 10% in 2024, suggesting the cheap bus fares were working. Sadly, the under-25 concession has been reversed by the current government.

To pay the cheaper fares, students will now have to be eligible (and apply) for a Community Services Card. Under another central government policy, bus fares will increase in mid-2025.

Incentives and disincentives

At the campus level, the university has implemented a number of policies to encourage active and public transport use:

• paid parking was introduced in 2023, initially costing $40 per year but now $1,000 for staff and $500 for students, and there is no free parking (even the vice chancellor pays)

• secure bike parking is provided, as well as bike repair stations and air pumps, and free shower and changing facilities

• on-campus bike repair is available, with an expanded repair and recycle scheme being investigated in response to 16% of students telling the travel survey that bike availability and cost were barriers

• free cycle skills workshops have been established, with a cycle safety workshop scheduled for March 2025.

The university also works closely with both councils, and collaborated on the development of bus routes, the Uni-Cycle cycleway, and has negotiated over parking requirements.

Lessons from the survey

The success in reducing car use for university travel lies in three main areas:

1. Good local transport policy and planning: local government has been committed to making it easier for people to choose not to drive by providing good cycle infrastructure and cheap bus travel. Until recently, this was supported and funded by central government.

2. Employer action and commitment: the university has passed on the cost of parking to those who drive, and invests in initiatives to encourage walking, cycling and bus travel to campus.

3. Close collaboration: the university and local councils have worked closely to make walking, cycling and taking public transport as easy and attractive as possible.

Overall, cohesive policies and planning – informed by research, appropriate to the context, and developed collaboratively – can encourage people out of their cars.

Simon Kingham is Chair of the University of Canterbury Sustainable Transport Reference Group.

Matt Morris does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Getting people out of their cars is possible with the right plans and policies – case study – https://theconversation.com/getting-people-out-of-their-cars-is-possible-with-the-right-plans-and-policies-case-study-246023

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shukla Poddar, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, School of Photovoltaics and Renewable Energy Engineering, UNSW Sydney

The Australian summer has started to unleash its power. On Monday, the Victorian town of Walpeup reached 47.1°C, and towns in Queensland, western New South Wales, South Australia and the Northern Territory all hit temperatures above 45°C.

More sweltering days and nights are expected. The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts above-average temperatures for most of Australia this summer.

What’s more, bushfire experts predict an increased fire risk across vast regions of the continent. Already this season, an out-of-control bushfire struck Creswick in central Victoria after Monday’s extreme heat.

All this is a dangerous cocktail for the electricity grid. Increasing temperatures puts a strain on supplies, while bushfire smoke can limit the electricity produced by solar panels. And troublingly, heatwaves and bushfires are set to worsen as climate change continues.

Here, we explain the challenges ahead this summer, and outline simple household measures to help keep your electricity supplies flowing.

The problem of heatwaves

Sometimes demand for electricity is greater than supply. This is most common in hot weather during the evening peak when, for example, many people return home and turn on their energy-hungry air-conditioning units at the same time.

Energy networks say the strain is greatest on the third and fourth consecutive hot days, when air-conditioners are turned up to combat heat that has accumulated in buildings. Electricity demand is also typically higher on weekends, and from mid-January as schools and businesses resume.

In some extreme cases, the immense demand means the entire electricity grid is at risk of becoming dangerously unstable. That’s when “load shedding” occurs. It involves the Australian Energy Market Operator intentionally cutting power to parts of the grid to reduce electricity demand and prevent the entire system from becoming dangerously unstable.

In January 2019, for example, supplies were temporarily cut to 200,000 electricity customers in Victoria. It followed a day of high temperatures and humidity, as well as outages at coal-fired power plants, and reduced output at others due to the heat.

As recently as last month, the market operator warned of potential blackouts in NSW amid a severe heatwave.

Heatwaves can also impede infrastructure such as generators and transmission lines. Power lines can droop and short-circuit. Transformers may overheat and fuses can fail.

Add bushfires to the mix, and the electricity grid can face even more challenges.

The bushfire threat

Solar electricity – both from solar farms and rooftop panels – is an important part of the electricity mix. It comprised 16% of total electricity generation last year, and this share is growing.

But bushfires can significantly reduce solar output. They release atmospheric aerosols in the form of smoke particles, which scatter and absorb the Sun’s rays. This reduces the radiation that reaches solar panels, reducing the amount of electricity they produce.

This is true for large-scale solar plants, as well as household rooftop solar systems.

For example, during the 2019–20 Black Summer bushfires, rooftop electricity generation from solar panels fell by up to 65% in affected areas.

Across the bushfire season, energy loss from residential and large-scale solar plants in NSW fell by 175 gigawatt hours, representing a 4.2% loss in total energy generation.

Particles released by fires can also settle on solar panels, again reducing their electricity output.

More broadly, fires can damage infrastructure such as transmission lines and towers, causing power disruptions and making it harder to keep the grid running smoothly.

The National Council for Fire & Emergency Services predicts an increased fire risk across large parts of Australia this summer. They include southeastern South Australia, western Victoria, around Alice Springs in central Australia, and the southern parts of Western Australia.

How you can prepare

So what can households do to keep electricity supplies stable this summer, amid the twin threat of bushfires and heatwaves?

If you live in one of the four million Australian households with rooftop solar panels installed, there are several steps you can take.

Consider installing a battery to soak up any solar electricity you don’t use. It will provide you with a backup source of power in case of grid outages. Also make sure you keep your solar panels clean – especially if there is bushfire smoke around – to make sure they are operating as efficiently as possible.

If you live in a bushfire-prone area, with a high risk of damage to transmission lines, consider talking to your neighbours about installing a community-scale battery. These are neighbourhood-scale facilities that enable people to store solar power and share it when needed.

Regardless of whether your home has solar panels, you can cool your house earlier in the day to reduce stress on the grid in the peak hours. The cool energy is stored in the building’s walls and floors, helping keep it comfortable later.

And ahead of next summer, consider other ways you can heat-proof your home. This might include window treatments such as double-glazed glass, awnings and external blinds, or installing better insulation.

If you are building a new home in coming years, its energy performance should be a key consideration. Think about factors such as window placement, building materials and orientation.

Australia has a hot climate with high risk of bushfire, and this problem will only get worse under global warming. While energy companies and authorities have much work ahead to insure the electricity grid against these challenges, every electricity user has a role to play.

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Heatwaves and bushfires can be a dangerous mix for the electricity grid. Here’s how to shore up your supplies this summer – https://theconversation.com/heatwaves-and-bushfires-can-be-a-dangerous-mix-for-the-electricity-grid-heres-how-to-shore-up-your-supplies-this-summer-246041

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samantha Stanley, Research Fellow in Social Psychology, UNSW Sydney

Strong emotional responses to environmental problems are remarkably common. We know people are angry about climate change – but how many?

Our new research surveyed 5,000 Australians and found almost half (49%) are angry about our warming world. So what do people do with their climate anger?

Anger can be a galvanising emotion, spurring us to action. But when faced by a seemingly insurmountable cause, it can also turn into despair.

Our research found responses to climate anger depend on what aspect of the problem people are angry about – and who they feel is responsible.

Not all emotions are created equal

Emotions differ in how energising they are – in other words, whether they motivate us to act. Anger has been shown to be a motivating emotion.

In our previous research, we found participants who felt more intense anger about climate change were more likely to take part in climate protests and switch to climate-friendly behaviours. Participants with more anger also reported less stress, depression and anxiety.

But not everyone gets angry at the same things.

To study the different kinds of climate anger, we asked a nationally representative sample of more than 5,000 Australian adults how angry they feel about climate change. We also asked about the environmental behaviours they take part in and about their recent experiences with symptoms of depression and anxiety. Just under 50% said they were at least “somewhat” angry.

Next, we asked them why.

Their responses ranged from a few words to long explanations. The sheer variety in their responses indicated many kinds of climate anger exist. In fact, we identified 13 distinct kinds held by our participants. That’s because anger is usually directed externally, to various targets.

13 kinds of climate anger

Far and away the most common type of anger was directed at the inaction and apathy of other people. About 60% of our angry participants were angry at what they saw as a lack of action and concern.

Who was this directed at? Sometimes, it was aimed at leaders: “a lack of action by government”. Or it was directed at regular people who “don’t care and aren’t willing to help change it”. Businesses or entire nations were also targets.

The next most common grievance (about 13%) was at those who deny climate change. For instance:

There are a lot of people who still think that climate change is not happening.

About 11% directed their anger at those they see as most to blame for causing climate change such as large corporations, while 10% were angry at humanity (“humans have done this”). Around 9% were mad about the damage climate change was doing and 8% about the slow pace of climate action. Another 8% felt angry because they felt powerless, believing their actions would be just a drop in the ocean.

Less common forms included:

• the injustice that younger generations would be more affected than older generations

• environmentally harmful behaviours participants had observed in others

• a lack of cooperation between people and nations on climate change

• a sense of unfairness when individuals or certain countries are expected to make sacrifices when large corporations or other nations are not doing more.

Which types of anger lead to action?

We wanted to know what our participants were doing about climate change, and whether their actions differed depending on what they were angry about.

We found clear trends. People who were angry about inaction and apathy reported more environmental behaviours such as reducing their meat consumption, or joining climate marches. This was especially true when they were angry about ordinary citizens not doing or caring enough, or governments not doing or caring enough.

Interestingly, participants angry about other people’s inaction and apathy had more symptoms of depression and anxiety. But participants angry about government inaction and apathy had fewer of these symptoms.

Being angry about a sense of powerlessness, or angry humanity broadly was to blame for climate change, was unrelated to taking action on climate change. But this group, who felt angry but powerless, were more likely to have increased symptoms of depression and anxiety.

One possible explanation for these findings is that anger could motivate climate action, but if that action leads to nothing, the anger might curdle into despair or fade into resignation.

Anger about a sense of powerlessness and humanity’s role in causing climate change were both higher in younger than older participants. Young Australians involved in climate action have told researchers taking action helps alleviate despair. But they also said having their anger ignored or dismissed has the opposite effect.

Climate anger could motivate action

Anger is complex. When we’re angry, we usually respond by trying to right something we see as wrong, by discussing the issue or compensating people who were harmed by the situation.

On climate change, our findings suggest feeling angry about broad inaction could motivate personal action. But if someone is directing their anger at fellow citizens they think aren’t doing or caring enough, it could affect their wellbeing.

Many people were angry because they feel nobody cares. But our results suggest the opposite is true. If 49% of Australians are angry about climate change, this means many, many people care.

Among young Australians, this figure is higher still – 57%, according to 2021 research.

People tend to falsely assume most other people don’t support climate action. For example, in the United States, people assume support for climate policy is about 40%. But real support is 66-80%. For instance, Americans assume only 43% of people support generating renewable energy on public land, but in reality, the figure is 80%.

In our body of research, we have found Australians are similar. Most policies aimed at tackling climate change we tested enjoyed healthy support, but people assumed support from other Australians was much lower.

As children, we were often taught to see our anger as a “bad” emotion. Anger has long been seen this way. But as we struggle to rise to the growing challenge of climate change, we could see anger differently. If harnessed appropriately, it could be a useful ally to strengthen our collective resolve on climate.

Samantha Stanley receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

Iain Walker receives funding from the Australian Research Council, the Medical Research Future Fund, and the National Health and Medical Research Council.

Teaghan Hogg and Zoe Leviston do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Climate anger can lead to action – or curdle into despair. We found out why – https://theconversation.com/climate-anger-can-lead-to-action-or-curdle-into-despair-we-found-out-why-245361

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elisabeth Duursma, Research Theme Fellow Education and Work, Western Sydney University

Many Australians know December 21 as “Gravy Day”. This is a reference to Paul Kelly’s song and new film How to Make Gravy, where a prisoner named Joe writes a letter to his family four days before Christmas. In it Joe, missing his wife and relatives, asks, “Won’t you kiss my kids on Christmas Day?”.

It’s estimated half the men in Australian prisons are fathers. While they are incarcerated, maintaining contact with their children is vital, both for the dads and the kids.

It allows fathers to keep contributing to their children’s lives and provides important social support. It can also reduce psychological distress for children.

One important way to do this is via “video visits”, which were spurred on by COVID restrictions. In our recently published research, we look at how families experienced video visits in two New South Wales prisons.

Our research

Video visits can be challenging if there is a lack of facilities in homes and prisons or problems with technological support. But our study set out to understand how they might support father-child relationships, given their widespread use during lockdowns.

We looked at one prison in an urban area and another in a regional area. A total of 27 fathers participated in interviews, of whom 11 identified as Aboriginal and four identified as culturally and linguistically diverse.

We also interviewed 17 carers, who were mostly mothers. They looked after children ranging from infants to teenagers.

Recognising each other

One way video visits support father-child relationships is allowing children to see and get to recognise their father’s faces and for the father to see the growing child. As one carer said:

She knew and recognised over the last two years that daddy’s on the phone, daddy’s on the iPad […] So, even though it was once a week she got familiar, seeing his face.

Fathers valued the visual contact with their children as well, to allow them to see how their children were changing and growing:

[…] there’s a huge difference, such a big difference between a phone call and a video call. The visual contact, you can’t hear a smile. You can hear laughter, but you can only see someone’s joy in their face by seeing them visually.

Another carer added:

As you know, five years is a long time, especially for a little kid. So, he got to watch him grow every week.

Part of family life

Carers appreciated the flexibility of video visits and how they could integrate them into daily life. Visits could take place at children’s sports activities or the beach. They could show their fathers their rooms, their art or the dance they just learned.
One carer said they organised events like blowing out candles on a birthday cake around video visits.

When organised in the home, it means video visits are happening where children are secure and familiar. As one carer told us:

[The child] does better on video than he does in person. On video, you know he’s in his home. He’s in his comfort [zone]. He can do whatever he likes. He can show [his father] his room. He can get new toys […] his options are a lot more there.

A father told us:

They’re happy, they’re comfortable, they’re not shy, they actually want to talk to you. It’s not like they have to stay here and talk to you. They can run off and come back.

Another carer described how video visits enabled the child’s fathers to observe some of his “firsts”:

When [the child] first learned to crawl. I put the phone up against the lounge and I moved [the child] maybe about half a meter away from the phone and I said to [the child], ‘go on, crawl to Daddy’, and [the child] crawled straight up to the phone and gave the phone a kiss.

Better for kids?

Several carers pointed out that the prison environment could be distressing for children. Not only did this sometimes involve hours of travel, but there were people they did not know, long waits and security processes to go through.

As one carer said, “it’s not somewhere you bring kids”. Another told us:

[the child] was really quite scared at the other inmates around. And yeah, so he actually prefers the video calls.

There are challenges

Interviewees also described some challenges with video visits, noting younger children quickly lose interest and “run off”.

They also said children could be upset at the end of a visit, particularly when it ended abruptly.

You know you’d get a beep, and then it’s switch off […] But you know there was times where that was very difficult, with [the child] in the middle of something like chatting about her day, and then, all of a sudden it will cut off, and she will get quite upset and not understand.

What next?

Our study strongly suggests these types of visits are important for families. Future work should focus on ways to improve the quality of visits and ask children for their views about what they want.

This is not to suggest video visits should replace in-person visits but they can help fathers and their children maintain a genuine relationship.

If they can’t be together, at least dads can give their children a virtual kiss on Christmas Day.

Elisabeth Duursma receives funding from The Australian Institute of Criminology.

Amy Conley Wright receives funding from Australian Institute of Criminology, Australian National Organisations for Women’s Safety and the Australian Research Council. She currently works with Inclusion Australia.

Natalia Kate Hanley receives funding from the Australian Institute of Criminology.

Helen Simpson does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. ‘You can’t hear a smile’: how video visits help dads in prison stay connected with their kids – https://theconversation.com/you-cant-hear-a-smile-how-video-visits-help-dads-in-prison-stay-connected-with-their-kids-246032

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anne-maree O’Rourke, Lecturer in Marketing, The University of Queensland

You might think spending $5,000 on a handbag or wallet would be prestigious and exclusive enough. What about taking things one step further – and personalising it with your own name?

Brands including Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Dior now offer extensive customisation options – some for a few products, others for their entire range. Names and initials are an obvious, popular choice.

Some have hailed personalisation as the future of luxury goods. But as we enter the peak of the Christmas shopping period, it’s worth asking – could there be any downsides?

Research has shown there’s a trade-off to signalling social status with luxury goods. Luxury consumers are often perceived as less warm and friendly, more concerned with managing their image.

Our recent research examined whether name-stamping could increase this social cost. Our findings suggest for some customers, it can – increasing their fears of being negatively judged.

One-of-a kind products

These personalised touches are marketed as unique, one-of-a-kind products. They’re designed to appeal to a desire for individuality and exclusivity.

For luxury buyers, customisation offers a way to showcase their personality, passions and interests. It can enhance their feelings of connection to a brand and sense of psychological ownership of an item.

Enabling consumers to co-design a product can also help alleviate the impostor syndrome some consumers experience when buying high-end luxury items.

For the brands themselves, personalisation services can increase profit margins, improve market appeal and strengthen customer loyalty.

Much of this trend has been fuelled by millennial and Gen-Z luxury consumers, who are increasingly seeking out unique, tailor-made experiences.

By 2030, it’s expected that millennials and Gen-Z will account for 60–70% of all luxury purchases.

A 2017 survey found more than half of millennials who’d recently made a luxury purchase were willing to pay more for personalised luxury goods.

We love our own names

The popularity of name-stamping, in particular, may come down to a concept called “implicit egotism”.

Research suggests most people have a subconscious positive association with themselves. This extends to a preference for things that are connected to their sense of identity – such as the letters of their own name.

The drawbacks of personalisation are less widely discussed. One clear one is its impact on resale value. Personalised items are harder to sell.

This is particularly relevant for Australia’s booming second-hand luxury market, driven by younger consumers prioritising sustainability and affordability.

Research also suggests that excessive customisation – letting customers make design decisions on custom colours, fabrics, and so on – can decrease the signalling value of luxury items and undermine their status appeal.

Luxury’s social cost

Then there’s the cost that can come with luxury itself.

Research has shown luxury consumers can be perceived as less warm and friendly than those who forgo luxury.

Interestingly, this perception isn’t driven by envy. Rather, it stems from a belief that luxury wearers are actively managing their image to impress others.

Does name-stamping luxury increase this social cost even more? Our research, with co-authors Joanna Lin, Billy Sung and Felix Septianto, suggests the answer is yes.

We conducted four studies with 1,354 female luxury and non-luxury shoppers from the United States.

We found consumers who personalise luxury items with their name worry more about being negatively judged than those who purchase non-customised items.

This effect was consistent, regardless of whether the personalisation featured initials or full first names.

The overtness of name personalisation, in particular, may explain the added social cost. Customising a bag with a non-standard colour might only catch the eye of a luxury brand enthusiast. A prominently displayed name, however, unmistakably signals customisation to everyone.

Not all fear judgement

Importantly, we found not all luxury consumers share this fear of judgement equally. The impact depends on individual motivations for purchasing luxury items to begin with.

Those who are motivated to consume luxury goods for social reasons, such as standing out, are less concerned about receiving negative judgement from others.

In contrast, those who are motivated to buy luxury items for more individual reasons are more wary of how name personalisation might be judged.

For this group, which made up about half of the consumers we sampled, subtle, customised touches could be a more appealing option.

There could also be some variation across different cultures.

A report by KPMG found Chinese consumers – a group not included in our study – often seek luxury consumption as a means of social advancement and self-differentiation, meaning they are likely less concerned about the social costs.

On the other hand, we could speculate that Australian consumers, influenced by the “tall poppy syndrome” cultural phenomenon, may be even more sensitive.

Anne-maree O’Rourke does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Personalising a luxury gift with a name or initial? Research suggests a hidden social cost – https://theconversation.com/personalising-a-luxury-gift-with-a-name-or-initial-research-suggests-a-hidden-social-cost-244521

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ari Mattes, Lecturer in Communications and Media, University of Notre Dame Australia

Christmas films appear in many guises. There is the witty (Christmas in Connecticut, Scrooged). The comedic (It Happened on 5th Avenue, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation). The wonderfully sentimental (The Shop Around the Corner, Miracle on 34th Street).

There are the canonical ones everyone’s seen at least once (It’s a Wonderful Life, The Muppet Christmas Carol) and whacky masterpieces (A Christmas Story, the Hulk Hogan-starring Santa with Muscles). Not to mention all the Hallmark Christmas films and, now, all those made for streaming (usually of the “so bad it’s good” variety).

But about those who are sick of all the tinsel and baubles? What can they watch to kibosh the kitsch while still feeling part of Christmas?

They need the Christmas-adjacent film: films set during Christmas, that aren’t really about Christmas.

For those who like action

If you feel like watching an action thriller, the obvious is Die Hard (1988), even though Christmas is so deeply integrated into the structure and story of the film it’s hard to argue it isn’t a Christmas film.

Richard Donner’s masterpiece Lethal Weapon (1987) opens with a dazzling sequence in which Jingle Bell Rock accompanies a helicopter shot over Los Angeles before a young woman jumps from a building in a drug-induced stupor. Our introduction to Martin Riggs, Mel Gibson’s quintessential mad dog detective, takes place during a drug deal in a Christmas tree lot.

The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996) – like Lethal Weapon, written by Shane Black – is set during Christmas and ends in a dazzling explosive sequence at Niagara Falls on New Year’s Eve. The holiday underpins the narrative of amnesiac Martha Stewart-like suburban mum Samantha Caine (Geena Davis) as her past comes back to haunt her. She realises she’s actually an assassin who worked for the CIA, and now must protect her family.

For fans of grimmer action fare, Christmas decorations abound in the background of George P. Cosmatos’ Cobra (1986). Eccentric lone wolf Marion Cobretti (Sylvester Stallone) almost single-handedly battles a gang of axe-wielding serial killers, while protecting witness/model Ingrid Knudsen (Brigitte Nielsen).

I can guarantee Penguin biting off someone’s nose doesn’t happen in any Christmas film other than Tim Burton’s Batman Returns (1992). This is the best of the two Burton Batmans – maybe the best Batman film, period – in its bleak, nihilistic combination of grotesque humour and violence.

For something darker

Paul Verhoeven’s brilliant psycho-drama Elle (2016) stars Isabelle Huppert in the role of her career as a sexual assault victim who turns the screw on her assailant. Much of the film takes place over Christmas.

In Thomas Vinterberg’s Danish stunner The Hunt (2012), kindergarten teacher Lucas (Mads Mikkelsen) is hounded by his small community when he is accused of abuse by five-year-old Klara (Annika Wedderkopp). Though the film takes place across a year, many of its key dramatic moments occur around Christmas, including an intense confrontation in a church on Christmas Eve.

Note the creepy effects of Christmas lights around some of the scenes in Stanley Kubrick’s monumental Eyes Wide Shut (1999) – although orgies are not usual features in Christmas films.

For something lighter

Key moments in John Landis’ irreverent Trading Places (1983) occur over Christmas. It’s hard to forget the image of Dan Aykroyd in a filthy Santa suit hiding food in his beard.

In Ted Demme’s smarmy but stylish The Ref (1994), a burglar finds himself virtual marriage counsellor to a savagely bickering husband and wife (brilliantly played by Judy Davis and Kevin Spacey) when he takes them hostage on Christmas Eve.

In a similar vein, Harold Ramis’ black crime comedy The Ice Harvest (2005), though uneven, has some memorable moments, as mob lawyer Charlie Arglist (John Cusack) steals money from his boss on Christmas Eve.

For some horror

There are too many amazing Christmas horror films to mention (including some solid Australian ones like 2016’s Better Watch Out), but the following serve as a good introduction to this much-maligned subgenre.

Bob Clark – the Canadian auteur behind the crowd-pleaser A Christmas Story (1983) – made the Christmas horror masterpiece in the much-imitated (and twice remade) but never-bettered Black Christmas (1974).

The story is not particularly original (though you’ll never forget the ending). Set across a day or so in a sorority house, we follow various characters as they receive obscene phone calls and are then knocked off one by one. But the set-pieces are so brilliantly handled – unnerving, beautifully composed, and savage without an overemphasis on gore – and the sound design and score by Carl Zittrer so striking, with a cloud of sublime weirdness permeating the whole thing, it should make lists of top films of all time.

The other stand-out Christmas horror film was one of the controversial ones of the 1980s; “Banned in Queensland” was plastered like a banner of pride across the VHS cover. Yet Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984), in which an axe-wielding Santa terrorises a community, is surprisingly tender in its study of the effects of trauma on children.

It is, of course, superbly hokey at the same time and pretty grisly, but anchored by a genuine warmth and touching performances.

Silent Night, Bloody Night (yes, a different film, this one from 1972) is an eerie slasher film featuring a (relatively) star-studded cast, involving a group of murders after a city lawyer inherits a small town home that used to be an insane asylum.

In Christmas Evil (1980), a rather deranged man decides to play Santa by keeping a “naughty and nice” list of the children in his neighbourhood. He delivers toys where they are unwanted and punishes people when it’s not exactly warranted. It is a hoot – a horror film that’s borderline comedy, featuring one of the best endings in the history of American film.

Is this enough Christmas-adjacent popcorn to keep even the most cynical of us stuffed until the big day itself?

Ari Mattes does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Yuletide cheer – but not too much: cinema’s best ‘Christmas adjacent’ films (yes, including Die Hard) – https://theconversation.com/yuletide-cheer-but-not-too-much-cinemas-best-christmas-adjacent-films-yes-including-die-hard-243923

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Koskie, Postdoctoral Researcher, School of Media and Communications, University of Sydney

In the space of three weeks, South Korea has seen a brief declaration of martial law, its sudden repeal and the impeachment of its president, Yoon Suk Yeol.

One underappreciated driver of the recent drama is the rise of YouTube-based agitators, activists and influencers, who both benefit from and fuel a new brand of populism. The effects in South Korea are stark – but the trend is global.

An extremely online constituency

In South Korea’s 2022 election, Yoon trailed his opponent for much of the campaign. His aggressive populist politics drew some support, but he looked set to fail.

Then he found a new constituency – a group of active and partisan young men focused on abolishing the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. These agitators used YouTube and other platforms to broadcast their message.

Along with traditional conservative voters, this crowd enabled Yoon to achieve a narrow win and control of South Korea’s most powerful political position. He then duly abolished the gender ministry, saying structural sexism was “a thing of the past”.

After gaining power, Yoon issued arrest orders for several of his perceived political opponents. Among these was Kim Eo-Jun, a critical and inflammatory YouTube journalist, and a polarising populist figure tied to liberal politics. Kim’s weekly videos broadcast news, guest interviews and caustic commentary to millions of active followers.

We have grown used to the idea that social media platforms influence democratic processes by spreading news and analysis and directing users’ attention by recommending particular content. However, the increasing political visibility of platform actors such as Kim suggests the influence is becoming more direct.

Platforms for populist news and views

Social media platforms provide access to a wide range of news and media producers, from legacy outlets to independent commentators at the furthest edges of the political spectrum. However, not all of the news gets equal attention.

Research shows, at least in South Korea, false news gets more likes and interactions than verifiable news. “Real news” tends to receive dislikes and derision.

More South Korean research shows citizens may use platforms to seek out conspiracy theories and pour scorn on disliked political groups or decisions. Users also notoriously direct hate towards issues such as women’s rights.

These problems are not limited to South Korea. Polarising and populist news and analysis is a global phenomenon.

Trust in traditional news media is declining, in part due to fears it is aligned with elite and powerful figures. These fears are often confirmed by social media influencers who are seeking to become the new opinion leaders.

Online influencers are great vehicles for populist politics. They have intimate connections with their viewers, tend to suggest simplistic solutions, and usually resist accountability and fact checking.

Platforms are often more likely to recommend polarising and even radicalising content to viewers, crowding out more balanced content.

Platforms for journalism?

However, these polarising figures are not alone in these spaces. Veteran journalists and newcomers are adjusting to platforms while still providing reliable information.

On YouTube, former mainstream journalists, such as Australia’s Michael West and the American Phil Edwards, have amassed followings while blending personal and casual content with more traditional journalism.

Non-journalists, such as Money & Macro and the English Tom Nicholas, have expanded their influence through adopting some core journalistic practices. They produce content that investigates, explores and explains current affairs news and analysis with the support of their many viewers.

These YouTube news influencers show journalistic content can contribute to the new news media ecosystem and attract large audiences without relying on populist and polarising content.

“Newsfluencers” producing journalism on platforms, such as YouTube, tailor their content to the conventions of the platforms.

Newsfluencers and the future

Newsfluencers often film in informal settings rather than traditional sets, and build a casual rapport with their audience. They leverage “authenticity”, going out of their way to “avoid looking like polished corporate media”.

Their multiple revenue streams include ads, sponsors, merchandise and, most importantly, direct audience contributions. These contributions may come via memberships or via third-party platforms such as Patreon and Substack.

Even major news organisations such as Australia’s ABC have begun adopting YouTuber norms. While produced under the aegis of the national broadcaster, the current affairs podcast If You’re Listening, for example, significantly out-performs traditionally formatted content with its casual style and focus on giving the audience what it wants.

In South Korea, YouTube channels such as VoiceOfSeoul make similar moves, combining street coverage with informal talk-show panels and investigative journalism. OhMyTV weaves together YouTuber and breaking news styles, and carries hyperlinks for personal contributions and sponsorships.

At the same time, legacy media such as KBS maintains a strong following through TV and portal sites like Naver. However, KBS’s conventional format struggles to achieve comparable viewership on these increasingly dominant platforms where these unconventional journalists have managed to thrive.

There is a clear space for journalism on YouTube and similar platforms. However, it will need to adapt.

As the South Korean experience shows, the time may be coming when platform journalism is vital for democracy.

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. YouTube populists are driving South Korea’s political instability. It’s a warning for the rest of the world’s democracies – https://theconversation.com/youtube-populists-are-driving-south-koreas-political-instability-its-a-warning-for-the-rest-of-the-worlds-democracies-245845

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Holly Thorpe, Professor in Sociology of Sport and Gender, University of Waikato

On the face of it, New Zealand’s new high-performance sport funding model announced yesterday is an increase on the previous round. But it is ultra-focused on already successful sports, and will put athletes under even more pressure.

High Performance Sport New Zealand is investing NZ$162.8 million over the next four years in the build-up to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and Paralympics.

At a time when government spending is highly constrained, with cuts to many public services, this represents a boost of $31.8 million from the $131 million invested in the three years leading up to this year’s Paris Olympics.

But the funding is considerably less than the investments other countries are making in their elite sport performance programmes.

In June, the Australian government announced the equivalent of an extra $300 million for sport over the next two years, taking funding up to $530 million over that period. Earlier this week, the United Kingdom announced a record NZ$664 million for Olympic and Paralympic sports ahead of the next Olympics.

To remain competitive, then, a revised funding model is being developed in New Zealand. Over the next four years, money will be funnelled into 36 sports. But funding will shrink for 23 of these sports, and some sports have lost all funding entirely.

Podium sports in focus

The new model explicitly prioritises funding based on podium results. Only sports that did well in Paris and are predicted to medal at upcoming Olympics, Paralympics and world championships will see money this time.

With national sports organisations pitching to High Performance Sport New Zealand, the assessment criteria included past performance, future potential, and quality of pathways for developing talent.

Using these criteria, the decisions prioritised podium sports – those “highly likely to achieve multiple podium success at pinnacle events across multiple cycles” – over other markers of sporting success, achievement and impact.

The criteria do not allow for those sports with the highest levels of participation, and podium sports are not always the most accessible for anyone to participate in.

Sports scholars have raised concerns about such targeted investment in high performance sport in New Zealand and overseas.

Some suggest strategic funding such as this can, in fact, have unintended negative consequences for sports organisations, performance measures and athlete health and wellbeing. Others question such significant investment in high performance sport all together.

Winners and losers

Under the podium priorities, there are clear winners and losers. Rowing comes out on top, with funding of more than $6 million over the next cycle. This is on the back of 11 athletes winning medals in Paris.

Next come cycling, yachting, athletics and canoe racing, with all except yachting receiving large increases.

Swimming, equestrian and hockey see large funding reductions. Swimming New Zealand loses more than 40% of its funding, equestrian loses 45% and Hockey New Zealand’s high-performance funding is being cut almost in half.

Other sports, such as surfing, diving, badminton, e-sports (competitive video gaming, recently included in the Olympics with the announcement of the inaugural Olympic eSports Games in 2025) and football will not receive any investment funding at all.

The football decision is particularly surprising, given the huge national interest in the Football Ferns during the 2023 Women’s World Cup and the clear talent levels on the field. At this year’s Olympics, two talented New Zealand surfers held their own among the world’s best on challenging waves in Tahiti.

These cuts will have significant effects on the ambitions and dedication of current and future Olympic hopefuls. High-performance funding is important for supporting athletes in qualifying and competing internationally. But it is also key to building strong athlete development pathways for future successes, well beyond Los Angeles in 2028.

Under the new funding model, New Zealand is likely to see fewer sports represented at the Olympic level. The impact on participation levels in the types of sports children (and future athletes) are inspired to pursue remains uncertain. But as the saying goes, “if you can see it, you can be it”.

A ‘win at all costs’ model?

The other risk is a return to a “win at all costs” model that has not worked well in the past.

Cycling New Zealand, for example, will see an increase from $770,433 to $5.25m in the next round. This is largely the result of women track cyclists winning seven medals in Paris.

But at the same time, the organisation has been under scrutiny for mistreatment of athletes, highlighted in two reviews and a coronial inquiry into the death of Olivia Podmore.

Read more:
The price of gold — what high-performance sport in NZ must learn from the Olivia Podmore tragedy

Cycling is not the only sport to be exposed for toxic cultures that prioritised podium results over athlete health and wellbeing. But the new funding model looks like a clear reinforcement of the “win at all costs” model that has harmed many athletes in the past.

While High Performance Sport New Zealand has been clear that some of the funding will be allocated to ensure athlete health and wellbeing (including a comprehensive wellbeing programme), the pressures on athletes to win medals will be higher than ever.

When medals matter most, sports organisations make decisions in the knowledge that future funding depends on winning above all else. But research has consistently shown it is often the sporting stories of character, resilience and courage that inspire people most.

As we’ve seen in both football and surfing, it is not always podium results that contribute to strong national pride and important social legacies from sport. The longer-term impacts of funding cuts on those and other sports can’t be ignored.

Sometimes, success cannot be measured in medals alone.

In the past, Holly Thorpe has received funding from an International Olympic Committee (IOC) Research Grant focused on young people’s perceptions of the Olympic Games.

– ref. When medals matter most: high-performance sport funding risks a return to the ‘win at all costs’ model – https://theconversation.com/when-medals-matter-most-high-performance-sport-funding-risks-a-return-to-the-win-at-all-costs-model-246319

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wendy Bonython, Associate Professor of Law, Bond University

The Victorian Supreme Court recently dismissed a class action on behalf of more than 1,400 women who received Bayer’s Essure contraceptive device.

The decision attracted significant publicity, including criticism from the Victorian Premier.

It left the women shocked and disappointed, particularly since Bayer had settled a similar claim in the United States for US$1.6 billion.

So why did the Victorian class action fail?

What’s Essure?

Essure offered an alternative to more invasive permanent contraceptive procedures such as tubal ligation.

The device was implanted into the fallopian tubes. This triggered an intended inflammatory response that blocked the tubes, preventing passage of sperm and ova.

In Australia, the device was implanted by gynaecologists. More than 3,000 devices are thought to have been implanted into Australian women.

In 2017, Essure was voluntarily withdrawn from our market after increasingly publicised concerns regarding safety, including in the US.

The US class action was settled out of court, enabling Bayer to avoid setting a legal precedent for similar claims in other jurisdictions.

Relevant US laws are different from those in Australia. Consequently, settlement of the US claim has only limited value in determining the likely outcome of litigation in Australian courts.

What went wrong with the device?

Lead plaintiff Patrice Turner began experiencing abnormal uterine bleeding, heavy periods and pelvic pain within a few years of using Essure.

She ultimately required a hysterectomy, which removed the Essure devices and resolved her symptoms.

Other class members experienced similar symptoms, with many also requiring hysterectomies.

The claim relied on three causes of action:

1. Essure had a safety defect which caused the plaintiff’s injury

2. Essure wasn’t of the quality consumers would reasonably expect

3. the defendants were negligent in Essure’s design, manufacturing and distribution. The alleged negligence included inadequately disclosing risks to patients considering Essure or who had already received Essure.

All causes of action required the plaintiff to prove a causal connection between her harm and the device.

What did the court find?

Proving causation in legal disputes is often complex and technical. That is particularly so in cases where medical or other interventions allegedly cause or exacerbate injury or disability, where harms can also potentially be caused by other factors.

In dismissing the class action, Justice Andrew Keogh found the extensive expert evidence did not demonstrate that Essure caused either the harms experienced by the class members generally, or by the plaintiff specifically. That evidence drew on a wide range of medical and scientific disciplines.

Justice Keogh found for Bayer, noting pelvic pain and abnormal uterine bleeding are common in pre-menopausal women, and there is a range of potential causes of each.

The 827-page judgment emphasised that medical devices, which are “inherently dangerous or known to carry a risk of harm”, cannot be expected to be “risk-free”. A device does not have a “safety defect”, nor is it of unacceptable quality, simply because it poses a risk to consumers.

Similarly, in considering the negligence claim, the critical consideration was not whether the defendants shouldn’t have produced Essure when there was a foreseeable risk it could cause harm.

Rather, it was about whether the defendants acted reasonably in managing that risk, including providing sufficient information about the risks associated with Essure.

Justice Keogh found the defendants did act reasonably, providing:

adequate warnings of the established Essure risks in the PTMs [physician training manuals] and IFUs [instructions for use]. It was reasonable to expect that treating gynaecologists would provide information and warnings about the established risks to their patients based upon their own specialist skill, expertise and experience and the information provided by the defendants.

So what happens now?

The plaintiff has until early 2025 to appeal the decision.

An appeal would require establishing that the judge erred in his interpretation and application of the law, rather than simply arguing that the outcome is wrong.

Significantly, health professionals should give Justice Keogh’s findings on warnings much thought.

Doctors potentially face more litigation related to medical devices if they do not appropriately provide patients with more extensive and customised warnings than the standard warnings by the manufacturer about risks associated with particular devices.

Could something like this happen again?

Regulatory frameworks governing medical devices have been significantly strengthened since Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration first approved Essure in the 1990s.

Increased publicity and successful class actions related to other problematic medical devices have resulted in significant reforms designed to reduce large-scale patient harms.

Medical devices carry inherent risks. These can only be managed rather than eliminated entirely without limiting access to devices and other interventions which may benefit significant numbers of patients.

However, given the court’s findings that the evidence did not indicate Essure caused the plaintiff’s harms, under the strengthened regulations for medical devices, a product like Essure could potentially meet the current requirements for sale in Australia.

Wendy Bonython does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. The Essure contraceptive device left some women with chronic pelvic pain. Why did their class action fail? – https://theconversation.com/the-essure-contraceptive-device-left-some-women-with-chronic-pelvic-pain-why-did-their-class-action-fail-246137

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julie Hennegan, Senior Research Fellow; Co-Head, Global Adolescent Health Working Group, Burnet Institute

Many young women and other people who menstruate are turning to menstrual cups to manage their periods.

In 2021, my colleagues and I surveyed 15- to 29-year-olds in Victoria and found 17% had used a menstrual cup during their last period. A study in Spain published in 2022 found 47% of 18- to 25-year-olds had used a menstrual cup in the past year.

Menstrual cups are small, flexible cups that are inserted into the vagina to catch menstrual blood. Most are made of medical-grade silicone. They can be emptied, rinsed and reused, and sterilised using boiling water or a microwave steriliser.

A 2019 review of the research found menstrual cups are safe and effective. They also reduce environmental waste and are cheaper over time compared to single-use products such as pads and tampons.

However, our recent study found young people often face difficulties and discomfort that can discourage them from continuing to use menstrual cups. This highlights the need for better education and support.

We wanted to know what young people thought of menstrual cups

My colleagues and I surveyed 530 young people living in Australia between the ages of 15 and 24 who had ever tried using a menstrual cup.

To find participants we used the menstrual cycle tracking app Clue. Clue users received a pop-up message when they opened the app inviting them to join the study.

Using Clue meant we could reach a large group of young people. It also avoided the risk of our survey being shared to networks online that might be more biased, such as groups advocating for the use of cups.

At the same time, we relied on volunteers. We know more of our participants were from cities and wealthier areas than average. And it’s possible those who had more negative or positive experiences were motivated to complete the survey.

Pain, leaks and cups getting stuck

Lots of young people had difficulties with menstrual cups, particularly the first time they used them. During the first period participants used a menstrual cup:

• only 10% successfully inserted their cup on the first try

• more than half (54%) reported the cup leaked

• one in four (25%) reported pain or discomfort when the cup was in place

• 45% could not get the menstrual cup out on their first attempt, with 17% reporting they needed help to remove it

• 12 young people (2%) reported their IUD was displaced (IUDs are small contraceptive devices inserted into the uterus).

Participants described these difficulties as distressing. One said:

I kept being told the cup was a one size fits all and I really hurt myself trying to fit it in all the time and feeling anxiety that I was different somehow.

Almost one-third (29%) of young people had stopped using a cup by the time of the survey. Of this group, 40% stopped after trying the cup for just one menstrual period.

A learning curve

Experiences got better for those who kept using a menstrual cup. By the time they had used a cup for more than six cycles, 40% of young people reported no issues.

Of participants who kept using a cup, 48% felt confident after one to three cycles, and another 21% after four to six cycles. As one explained:

The first time trying to pull it out was scary because the grip is very different to a tampon. Feel like it is stuck and you won’t ever get it out […] all my friends have had the same first scary experience but then afterwards it’s fine!

Some participants switched to a different menstrual cup and found this helpful – 75% of those who switched reported it improved their experience.

Our findings are consistent with past research which has reported menstrual cups have a learning curve and users become more comfortable using them over time.

Education is important

We found many young people didn’t know enough about how to choose or use a menstrual cup.

Just 19% of young people strongly agreed when we asked whether they had enough information to make an informed choice about which menstrual cup to buy. Less than half (44%) knew different menstrual cups had different characteristics (such as different sizes, firmness, and that different ones are designed for different cervix heights).

We need better information on how young people can find the right cup fit more easily. Online resources such as the website “Put A Cup In It” aim to provide comparisons across cups to inform users.

More broadly, young people need more information about reusable menstrual products such as menstrual cups.

Providing realistic information about the learning curve and potential discomforts when starting out can help young people feel prepared and make informed product choices.

Better information could also help governments and other organisations that are considering providing free or subsidised menstrual cups as part of initiatives to make menstrual products more affordable.

Comprehensive menstrual health education should start in our schools, empowering young people with the knowledge to make informed choices about their bodies.

Julie Hennegan receives funding from Reckitt Global Hygiene Institute (RGHI) and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). The views expressed are those of the author, and not necessarily those of the funders.

– ref. Menstrual cups are safe and sustainable – but they can be tricky for first-time users, our new study shows – https://theconversation.com/menstrual-cups-are-safe-and-sustainable-but-they-can-be-tricky-for-first-time-users-our-new-study-shows-246045

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rick Sarre, Emeritus Professor in Law and Criminal Justice, University of South Australia

It’s the time of year when many of us return to our favourite Christmas fables to get into the festive spirit.

While film often relies on the audience suspending its disbelief, it’s easy to watch and wonder if people could get away with these things in the real world. Are some of them even legal?

As a team of experts, we looked at the legal conundrums posed by Home Alone, Love Actually, Miracle on 34th Street and The Grinch.

Home Alone

Let’s begin by exploring one of the perennial favourites.

It’s never a good idea to leave your eight-year-old home alone for three days, even if he’s surrounded by Yuletide paraphernalia.

While there is no prescribed age at which time a child can legally be left alone, parents have a responsibility to ensure their children are safe and their needs are met.

Failure to do this can lead to a child protection investigation and even criminal charges.

But police may have breached their duty of care after promising to check on Kevin then departing when Kevin failed to answer, leaving him at the mercy of the “wet bandits”.

It’s possible the police may be liable in negligence for any damage Kevin suffered as a result, so the burglars are not the only ones in potential trouble.

In the meantime, Kevin sets booby-traps to foil the intruders. Could this approach to self-protection backfire legally?

The law of occupiers’ liability states that homeowners owe a duty of care to ensure their property is safe for visitors, and that includes uninvited guests, even those who might do them harm.

An injured trespasser could conceivably sue Kevin’s parents on the basis that they inadequately supervised their child.

Having said that, the criminal law allows Kevin to act in reasonable self-defence, but the key here is whether the use of a blowtorch, or a whack from a heavy iron are reasonable defensive tactics.

In any event, Kevin is under the minimum age of criminal responsibility and cannot therefore be criminally liable.

In his next Christmas mishap, Kevin is home alone again. He boards the wrong flight and arrives in New York. He tells a credible lie to the front desk clerk at the five star hotel he checks into: “my dad gave me his credit card”.

So who’s going to be responsible for Kevin’s expenditures as the ruse continues? All credit card contracts include terms that make cardholders responsible for any charges on that card.

Moreover, there’s a clear obligation on cardholders that they keep the card safe and ensure it’s only used by the relevant cardholder.

But there is an obligation on merchants, too, not to continue with a transaction that they should have reasonably suspected was suspicious.

Which view will prevail here? Answer: dad will need to cover the debts because he had not reported his card missing, and Kevin’s angelic face was pretty convincing!

Love Actually

Many scenes in Love Actually would be in breach of Australia’s positive duty laws regarding sexual harassment. These laws require employers to take proactive steps to prevent discrimination, harassment and other unlawful conduct in the workplace.

In the movie, there are multiple incidents that wouldn’t look out of place in the the #MeToo moment.

The fictional US president, while on a state visit, inappropriately touches staff member Natalie. There’s a high-risk power-imbalance between tortured author Jamie and his young, insecurely employed Portuguese housekeeper, Aurelia.

There’s also the sexually aggressive Mia, secretary to Harry, who organises an office party in a gallery of naked images and “dark corners for doing dark deeds”.

Alarm bells should have been ringing in many HR offices that Christmas, as “love” like that at work is not actually lawful.

There is a memorable scene in Love Actually where young Sam runs through airport security to see Joanna, to tell her of his love.

While it pays off for Sam (getting a kiss from Joanna) in real life such actions have serious legal consequences.

Under Australian aviation security legislation, specifically Regulation 9 of the Aviation Transport Security Act and Regulations, a breach of security can result in a fine of up to $10,500.00.

And Sam is 13, meaning he would be criminally liable in all jurisdictions in Australia (note the ACT will raise the age of criminal responsibility to 14 in July 2025) because he clearly understands his actions are wrong.

So, while the scene touchingly highlights the lengths people will go for love, it’s a big gamble to breach security regulations. Running through airport security might not actually be worth it.

Miracle on 34th Street

Kris Kringle’s lawyer is going to need a miracle on 34th Street. He is taking some troubling instructions from his client. It’s in relation to an assault.

In order to be acquitted, Kris has to show that he’s not just someone who plays Santa, rather he’s the real Santa.

Under the Australian Solicitors’ Conduct Rules, however, a different legal approach is necessary, because the lawyer has a paramount duty to the court not to make frivolous submissions.

While Kris’s fatuous belief about his identity does not render him incapable of providing instructions, any legal practitioner must exercise caution when listening to nonsense.

The Grinch

The Grinch disguises himself as Santa Claus, steals a sleigh and breaks into homes to steal gifts, decorations and food. Grinch is clearly guilty of larceny as his intention is to deprive his victims permanently.

In some Australian jurisdictions his stealing could be considered “aggravated”, given the late hour and the age of victims (under 16 and over 60), whom he must have known would be in Yuletide-festive readiness.

But wait! In the morning the Grinch awakens to cheerful singing, and, in a moment of about face rectitude, he returns the stolen gifts, a matter that will be taken as an important mitigating factor in sentencing.

So, what do we learn from these heartstring-tugging tales, redemption narratives, and stories of good conquering evil? As it happens, a lot about the law, actually.

Professor McKay AM has received funding from the ARC and several CRCs most recently RACE2030 and is a member of the Human rights committee of the Law Society and on the Board of Variety SA and the Australia Day Council of SA,

Matthew Atkinson receives funding from the Law Foundation of South Australia to support the UniSA Legal Advice Clinic. He is also a board member of the Northern Community Legal Centre.

Michelle Fernando receives funding from the Law Foundation of South Australia. She is a member of the Child Development Council of South Australia and the Australian Centre for Child Protection.

Paula Zito receives funding from the Law Foundation of South Australia to support the UniSA Legal Advice Clinic.

Sarah Moulds receives funding from the Australian Research Council and has previously received funding from the Law Foundation of South Australia. Sarah Moulds is also the volunteer Director of the Rights Resource Network SA and the Deputy Chair of the Law Society of South Australia’s Human Rights Committee.

Ben Livings and Rick Sarre do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Can you run through airport security for love? Leave a child home alone? Here’s what the law says about Christmas movies – https://theconversation.com/can-you-run-through-airport-security-for-love-leave-a-child-home-alone-heres-what-the-law-says-about-christmas-movies-244913

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elizabeth Summerell, Lecturer, School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide

While the holiday season is supposed to be a happy time, evidence suggests it’s one of the worst times of year for domestic and family violence.

Victorian crime data show family incidents tend to be more frequent in December and January compared with most other months. WA Police also report increased family violence incidents over the Christmas to New Year period, with the average daily number of reports increasing by 24.2%.

Already increased rates of violence over the festive season may be getting worse. Last year, Queensland Police saw a 32% increase in family and domestic violence-related calls over the Christmas to New Year period compared with the previous year.

In Victoria, the average number of recorded family violence incidents rose by 33% on Christmas Day alone.

These statistics are in line with research finding rates of violent crimes are related to major holidays.

But what is it about the holidays that makes violence more likely?

Below, we outline three factors that make the holidays an at-risk period for violent behaviour.

It’s important to note there is no single cause of violent behaviour. Rather, many complex factors interact to make it more likely that certain people will be violent in certain situations.

So even if you’re not concerned about violence in your life, it’s helpful to understand what may drive some people to act in a certain way. Then we can all have a safer, happier festive season.

Money, heat and alcohol

The holidays come with increased financial pressures associated with gift-giving and social events.

A recent report found more than 50% of Australians struggle to afford gifts for special occasions such as Christmas.

Alongside the current cost-of-living crisis, many people are in financial distress, which research shows is associated with intimate partner violence perpetration.

Holiday celebrations often involve alcohol consumption, which is also related to aggressive behaviour.

According to the New South Wales Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research around a quarter of domestic violence-related assaults from July 2023 to June 2024 were alcohol-related.

Not everyone who drinks alcohol will become violent. However, alcohol changes the way the brain functions by reducing our ability to control our impulses, which can increase the likelihood of becoming violent when provoked.

The holiday season in Australia also coincides with rising summer temperatures. Higher temperatures are associated with increases in violence.

Researchers suspect this association may be due to increased discomfort and frustration and more frequent social events where conflict may arise.

While these situational factors on their own don’t cause aggression, they can lower our ability to “keep our cool”. For example, if someone is already feeling hot and bothered, stressed about the cost of Christmas, and has had too much to drink, they might be more likely to react to even small triggers.

What can be done?

1. Drink responsibly

Research shows reducing harmful alcohol consumption can reduce violence.

Australian guidelines recommend consuming no more than four standard drinks on any one day.

If you do choose to drink, experts recommend considering low- or no-alcohol alternatives, pacing yourself, and making sure you’ve got a plan to get you and your loved ones home safely.

2. Stay cool

Early forecasts predict most capital cities will enjoy warm weather in the high 20s or low 30s on Christmas day.

To beat the heat, try to avoid being outside during the hottest parts of the day. Stick to the shade and stay hydrated.

3. Use emotion-regulation strategies

There are various ways you can manage negative emotions that may lead to violence.

One way is to adjust the situations you are in. While declining invitations to events that may upset you would be one way to use this strategy, family dynamics aren’t always that simple.

Modifying the situation may be more realistic. If there’s a family member with whom you’d rather not engage, focus your attention on interacting with others, or ask a trusted person to keep an eye out.

Research suggests these kinds of situation-based strategies may be particularly useful for people who find it difficult to control their emotions in the heat of the moment.

If conflict does arise, try to step away or redirect your focus. You could partake in backyard cricket or talk to someone else – anything that distracts you from how you’re feeling. Research suggests distraction can help “turn down the volume” of intense negative emotions.

Another way you can reduce negative emotions is by trying to see a stressful situation from a different perspective.

This strategy, called cognitive reappraisal, has been linked to lower levels of intimate partner violence.

Stressed about balancing a busy Christmas Day schedule? Try to remind yourself it’s a chance to show your loved ones you care. Tempers rising over the same old family arguments? Try to focus on the opportunity to be together.

These evidence-based strategies can help stop conflict from escalating and contribute to a safe and happy holiday season.

The National Sexual Assault, Family and Domestic Violence Counselling Line – 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) – is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for any Australian who has experienced, or is at risk of, family and domestic violence and/or sexual assault.

Ella Moeck receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

Elizabeth Summerell does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Why does family violence increase during the festive season? Here are 3 contributing factors – https://theconversation.com/why-does-family-violence-increase-during-the-festive-season-here-are-3-contributing-factors-246026

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milena Bojovic, PhD Candidate, Macquarie University

New Zealand’s dairy sector faces an uncertain future due to several challenges, including water pollution, high emissions, animal welfare concerns and market volatility.

All of these issues are building tensions and changing public perceptions of dairy farming.

In my new research, I argue the time has come for the dairy sector to adopt a “just transition” framework to achieve a fair and more sustainable food future and to navigate the disruptions from alternative protein industries.

The concept of a just transition is typically applied to the energy sector in shifting from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources.

But a growing body of research and advocacy is calling for the same principles to be applied to food systems, especially for shifting away from intensive animal agriculture.

Aotearoa New Zealand’s dairy sector is an exemplary case study for examining the possibilities of a just transition because it is so interconnected in the global production and trade of dairy, with 95% of domestic milk production exported as whole-milk powder to more than 130 countries.

Environmental and economic challenges

New Zealand’s dairy sector faces significant threats. This includes environmental challenges such as alarming levels of nitrate pollution in waterways caused by intensive agriculture.

The sector is also a major source of emissions of biogenic methane from the burps of almost six million cows in the national dairy herd.

Debates about how to account for these emissions have gone on for many years in New Zealand. But last month, the coalition government passed legislation to keep agriculture out of the Emissions Trading Scheme.

This means livestock farmers, agricultural processors, fertiliser importers and manufacturers won’t have to pay for on-farm emissions. Instead, the government intends to implement a pricing system outside the Emissions Trading Scheme by 2030. To meet emissions targets, it relies on the development of technologies such as methane inhibitors.

In addition to environmental challenges, global growth and domestic initiatives in the development of alternative dairy products are changing the future of milk production and consumption.

New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra is pursuing the growth of alternative dairy with significant investments in a partnership with Dutch multinational corporation Royal-DSM. This supports precision fermentation start-up Vivici, which already has market-ready products such as whey protein powder and protein water.

Fonterra’s annual report states it anticipates a rise in customer preference towards dairy alternatives (plant-based or precision-fermentation dairy) due to climate-related concerns. The company says these shifting preferences could pose significant business risks for future dairy production if sustainability expectations cannot be met.

Pathways to a just transition for dairy

What happens when one the pillars of the economy becomes a major contributor to environmental degradation and undermines its own sustainability? Nitrate pollution and methane emissions threaten the quality of the land and waterways the dairy sector depends on.

In my recent study which draws on interviews with people across New Zealand’s dairy sector, three key transition pathways are identified, which address future challenges and opportunities.

• Deintensification: reducing the number of dairy cows per farm.

• Diversification: introducing a broader range of farming practices, landuse options and market opportunities.

• Dairy alternatives: government and industry support to help farmers
  participate in emerging plant-based and precision-fermentation industries.

While the pathways are not mutually exclusive, they highlight the socioeconomic and environmental implications of rural change which require active participation and engagement between the farming community and policy makers.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment recently published a guide to just transitions. It maps out general principles such as social justice and job security.

But the guide is light on advice for agricultural transitions. My work puts forward recommendations to shape future policy for a more just and sustainable dairy future. This includes issues such as navigating intensification pressures, supporting the development of alternative proteins and fundamentally supporting farmer agency in the transition process.

For the dairy transition to be fair and sustainable, we need buy-in from leadership and support from government, the dairy sector and the emerging alternative dairy industry to help primary producers and rural communities. This needs to be specific to different regions and farming methods.

The future of New Zealand’s dairy industry depends on its ability to adapt. Climate adaptation demands balancing social license, sustainable practices and disruptions from novel protein technologies.

Milena Bojovic received funding from Macquarie University as part of the RTP PhD Scholarship.

– ref. NZ’s dairy industry faces an uncertain future – its fate now lies in its ability to adapt – https://theconversation.com/nzs-dairy-industry-faces-an-uncertain-future-its-fate-now-lies-in-its-ability-to-adapt-245148