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I wrote these words on the untimely death of my youngest son last year.  A friend recently asked where she could find them to share with others. So...here they are, published on the anniversary of his death.  Feel free to share.   I also posted my thoughts at that time on...'The meaning of life...' For TOM Thoughts [...]

'Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity' – United Nations Declaration of Human Rights (Article 23) At a time when New Zealand is experiencing one of the highest levels of income inequality growth amongst OECD countries, the Government, in a decision [...]

'To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.' —Ralph Waldo Emerson Imagine if... 'Imagine if I had all that I needed to be myself. Imagine if I was healthy, wealthy and wise enough to be who I am. First, I would need to be [...]

What did you do once you knew? Recently I had to cope with the untimely death of my youngest son, a very sad and distressing experience that is referenced in my earlier post... The meaning of life is to give it away...and which, amongst other things, confronted me with the reality of my own mortality. [...]

Five questions for the people who are the political voice of our poorest children. It is an opportune time as New Zealanders prepare to vote in their country’s parliamentary elections to reflect on the politics of poverty and how we think about our collective responsibility to care for some of the most vulnerable members of [...]

Five lessons from the death of a loved one... On 16 June 2014, a young man passed away peacefully but alone in a Melbourne hotel room. There are few possessions or memorabilia and no great public achievements to record his brief time on Earth. It will be the memories of his family and close friends, [...]

‘Matiatia – let it be’ Those of us fortunate to live on Waiheke Island in New Zealand’s Hauraki Gulf are familiar with the mantra of the local anti-marina campaigners ‘Matiatia – let it be’. T-shirts and posters proclaim the strong local resistance to the development of a large boating marina in Matiatia Bay – the [...]

A strong voice for equity... Relaxing with a cold beer on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro I am very mindful that the cost of my drink represents more than two days’ income for the close to 15 million Brazilians living below the extreme poverty line in this very wealthy country. ‘Brazil [the world's eighth [...]