Author Archives: andrew

Turning back the boats: Indonesia benefits

Open letter to Opposition Leader Tony Abbott MP, Shadow Immigration Minister Scott Morrison MP, Immigration Minister Brendan O’Connor MP, by Andrew L. Urban June 6, 2013 Indonesia stands to benefit as much as does Australia – as do asylum seekers … Continue reading

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Framing policy: turning back the boats

An open letter to Opposition Leader Tony Abbott and Shadow Immigration Minister Scott Morrison Dear Tony & Scott, Hearing Foreign Minister Bob Carr this morning (2/6/2013) on Australian Agenda (Sky News) talking about the asylum boats and the prospects of … Continue reading

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Disrespecting the PM

By Andrew L. Urban “Love her or hate her, to disrespect the PM is to disrespect our entire system,” writes Jacqueline Maley (Why it takes a flying crust to burst the political bubble, Sydney Morning Herald, June 1, 2013). Maley … Continue reading

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Godswallop

30/5/2013: One definition of Godswallop? Is it perhaps the fuss over the Pope’s misspeak (love that word) about atheists being redeemable. Here’s a report from The Huff Post on it: “Shortly after Pope Francis gave an homily in which he … Continue reading

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Civil union in a civil society

By Andrew L. Urban Same sex ‘marriage’ is a hot issue around the Western world, with uncivil arguments and nasty remarks keeping it hot – but not too enlightened. By contrast, writing in the Weekend Australian (May 25/26, 2013) Peter … Continue reading

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Wrong doing condemned

By Andrew L. Urban May 14, 2013: We have to praise President Barack Obama’s response to alleged wrongdoing at the IRS. “If in fact IRS personnel engaged in the kind of practices that have been reported on and were intentionally … Continue reading

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News Flash: Research Finds Clean Energy

By Andrew L. Urban Sydney, July 26, 2045: After $60 billion and thirty years of dedicated research, the Australia-led International New Energy Research Agency has announced a breakthrough, with a new, clean and eternally renewable source of energy – dubbed … Continue reading

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Further reading

This page offers a constantly growing list of links to online resources that are relevant to the areas of interest and discussion that are within the broadly defined editorial embrace of pursuedemocracy.com  –  suggestions for additional links are welcome. Please … Continue reading

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The lessons of Salem

By Andrew L. Urban By a fateful coincidence Thomas Vinterberg’s latest film, The Hunt, opened in Australia (May 2, 2013) just two weeks before Vinterberg walked the red carpet at Cannes as the head of the jury for Un Certain … Continue reading

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Citizens Jury Process for the South Australian Premier

By newDemocracy, May 11, 2013 On Wednesday (May 8), SA Premier Jay Weatherill announced that newDemocracy will be conducting a Citizens Jury process on the topic of how to create a safe and vibrant Adelaide nightlife. This explores the policy … Continue reading

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