‘Social Justice Is for Everyone … An Invitation in Essays to Join a Conversation’ (Beckwith 2021) raises key issues in this book of 41 essays – on racism, gender and sexuality, disability and refugee policy, abuse of workers, care of children and older people, death and euthanasia, health and mental health, economic inequality, and access to education.
Keep reading to see the first chapter in full, and find out how to get your free copy … Joan Beckwith.

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The right to a peaceful death may seem a strange topic when we’re all so intent on staying alive during the COVID-19 pandemic. But, many people I know who are highly conscientious about social distancing also support the idea of rational suicide. They are not, in fact, suicidal in the normally understood sense, but do want the right to a good death at a time of their choosing.
I was recently part of a panel discussion on mental health and rational suicide. This webpost includes the substance of my talk.

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It’s a Long Walk from 1788 (when British sovereignty was declared) to January 26 each year in Australia. Much of the country celebrates Australia Day, but others mourn the mistreatment of First Nations people. The journey of truth-telling may be painful, but necessary, if we are to shed the cocoon of white dominance and work towards a healing future.

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Early childhood educators do amazing work for meagre money and sparse recognition.
I greatly appreciate the contrast between my granddaughters’ early learning and my own (lack of) education in ‘White Australia’, where women were interned at home and children had no voice.
I want educators to know their work with children is awesome, and something to be proud of for the rest of their lives.

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It’s a lifesaver, so the politicians say, spruiking My Health Record (MHR), the centralised electronic health database. I have my doubts, and this webpost burrows below the political spin. My number one critic says it should come with a TLDR alert (at 4896 words), but I’m hoping you stay with me, consider your options, and add your comments.

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When politicians exhibit the same level of moral maturity as a pre-kinder child, alarm bells ring about our sociopolitical health.

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It makes bloodcurdling reading, the series of articles by Fairfax Media on residential aged care in Australia.
And, it’s not just about ‘a few bad apples’.
Residential aged care is big business, profits take precedence over care, the accreditation system eclipses neglect and abuses, the complaints process is ineffectual, and the market myth camouflages the cracks.
This post expands these points, drawing on the articles.

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“How was it for you when your daughter came out as lesbian?” my friend asked. I was a little taken aback by the question (my daughter having been out for years) but did my best to recall some memories. Really, I summed up in the end, it was less of an adjustment for me than when she became vegetarian.

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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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As a young adult, Ann Kennedy says she was “given the label of Borderline Personality Disorder”. Her family history was not taken seriously and her self-mutilation was dismissed as “attention-seeking”. Her experience is not unusual. BPD is mostly diagnosed in women who mostly have histories of trauma. Understanding the psychological pain within its social context and personal history can be crucial for recovery….Joan Beckwith.

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