It's been over thirty years since 281 Vietnamese orphans were airlifted to Australia from wartime Saigon. Since then, adoptions have been on the decline in Australia however the vast majority (7 out of 10) of those that DO take place are intercountry adoptions.
Listen Now - 19082008 | Download Audio - 19082008
The government is planning the biggest reform of our privacy laws in 20 years, arguing it's necessary in an age of increased e-commerce, social networking sites and multimedia mobile phones. Just last week the Australian Law Reform Commission announced its recommendations, which include stricter controls of e-health records, credit reporting and the trading of personal data overseas. One of the more controversial recommendations includes legislating for the ability to sue for intrusions of privacy.
Listen Now - 18082008 | Download Audio - 18082008
Scientists around the world are getting very excited about a new way of thinking called resilience. They say it can be used to better manage our communities, businesses, natural resources or even help cope with the pace of change in our lives.
Listen Now - 14082008 | Download Audio - 14082008
Was there ever a comprehensive plan for Japan to invade Australia during World War Two? No doubt if you were standing at the edge of Darwin Harbour on February 19th 1942 when a fleet of 188 Japanese plans attacked you would have thought so...but even 65 years on, the narrative of the Pacific War and Australia's place in it remains contentious.
Listen Now - 13082008 | Download Audio - 13082008
Changes are coming for the complementary medicine sector. The government is planning to overhaul the regulations for complementary medicine and is looking into how the Therapeutic Goods Administration approves them and how they are advertised. Also the National Prescribing Service just presented the first results of a survey on how informed we are about complementary medicine available to consumers and practitioners. Their bottom line is: we need more information.
Mon-Fri 6pm (4pm WA)
repeated 3am
Presented by
Paul Barclay
Thursday 21 August 2008
South Australia's lower lakes have become a rallying point for the crisis facing the Murray Darling. Scientists say the lakes will be lost unless there are significant inflows of water before summer. But is there enough water to save the lakes and where will it come from? The Australian Conversation Foundation wants the Federal Government to buy six big rural properties that have significant water storages, including the controversial Cubbie Station. The ACF says between them, those properties could deliver 300 gigalitres, and buy some time for the lower lakes. Meanwhile, the new independent senator Nick Xenophon is supporting the compulsory acquisition of water licenses, arguing that time is running out for the Murray Darling. But with the resource in crisis, have we lost the chance to strike a balance between the environment and the needs of agriculture? Do we have to accept that nothing can be done to save the lower lakes?
Join the live audience as ABC Radio National's Australia Talks talks 'resilience' as part of National Science Week.
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Life Matters
with Richard Aedy
Informed debate on real life issues, with contributions, opinions and ideas from listeners
