There are 9 posts in this category
April 28th, 2017
I recently watched “I, Daniel Blake” and “The Founder” in a single viewing, immersed in the story of wealth inequality unfolding between their extremes. These films, closer to fact than politicians care to admit, reflect the lived reality of punitive welfare systems on the one hand, and unfettered plutocracy on the other. They have close parallels in current Australian society.
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October 14th, 2016
“I am not going to demonise part-time employment. I’m going to support it and applaud it,” (Minister for Employment). This applause was greeted with a slow clap – by underemployed workers and those who empathise with their position. Here I collate some responses, which I also sent to Canberra for the minister’s comment.
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April 16th, 2016
Following a media report that “around a quarter of dole recipients are skipping job interviews or rejecting work,” I collated responses from those at the pointy end of the “dole bludger” narrative. I have reproduced these responses (with initials only, not names) – pretty much as they were posted on my Facebook page. They speak for themselves.
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March 24th, 2016
What would it be like to have a parent in prison? How would it change everyday life? How would you go about dealing with courts, police and jails? What supports would be useful along the way? These important questions are largely ignored in existing research, and who is left standing to pursue them in current sociopolitical times? (Joint post with guest blogger, Natasha Graham.)
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January 8th, 2016
I used to believe it was possible to work for social justice by working against discrimination, and that economic justice would follow as a corollary of social equity. This now seems naive. The influence of neoliberal ideology on Australian politics has turned the fight for economic justice into a priority and prerequisite. In this post I talk about my own awakening and the need for interdisciplinary thinking…Joan Beckwith.
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May 22nd, 2015
By adding $0.25 to their supermarket bill, the people of Woodstock (Ontario, Canada) raise $75,000 to $90,000 per year, which is then transferred to cards that are distributed to local folk in need. The cards can be used to buy food and other supermarket supplies. This strikes me as an excellent idea, and I want to see if I can develop something like it in my local Australian community…Joan Beckwith.
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November 30th, 2013
Remember the story about the camel and the eye of the needle? I know it’s biblical, and this is a secular site, but I found myself thinking about it because some people have way more than they need and others are destitute. Why? Enough is enough, surely? But no, it seems not, and I found myself wondering why…Joan Beckwith.
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October 14th, 2013
Poverty is a global obscenity, of course, Mr Abbott, but knowing you as a chap with fierce feelings about ‘borders’, I’m sending along a list of eight issues you should be aware of within Australia on International Day for Eradication of Poverty. (That’s today, 17 October, in case it’s passed you by.) The poor might always be with us, as you say, Mr Abbott, but you’re supposed to be governing for them, too, so please pay attention to these points…Cheers, Joan Beckwith.
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August 16th, 2013
Guest post by Nick Costello
A snapshot of life on government income support by Nick Costello, a Melbourne artist and writer, who says he gave up looking for paid employment or a home of his own long ago, but retains his passion for truth, justice, and inclusiveness. The images included in the post are from his portfolio…Joan Beckwith.
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