"Australia is mired in grief, anger and division over the horrific act of antisemitic terrorism in Sydney. The attack in Bondi has reverberated internationally, tragically bookending a year that already challenged humanity, hope and the future of the planet. Indeed as 2025 ends it is defined by yet more abject and ignoble political, economic, technological and environmental derelictions of dire proportions."
"Acts of war have bombarded our screens in real time, the Earth reached its first catastrophic climate tipping point, and the US has perniciously slid towards autocracy under Donald Trump. Meanwhile the tech billionaires who have aided this decline grow ever richer and more powerful on the theft of our intellectual capital. Under the weight of such bleak realities, feelings of hopelessness and helplessness can arise."
"Faith in mankind in goodness and kindness is threatened. In such times it can be tempting to look away and seek escape. Alternatively, we can face our fears and threats, stoke resistance and nourish understanding through the knowledge that reading can foster. Through books, people can seek both escape and wisdom."
Australia is mired in grief, anger and division after an antisemitic terrorist attack in Bondi, Sydney. 2025 is defined by intensified political, economic, technological and environmental failures, including acts of war broadcast in real time and the Earth reaching a catastrophic climate tipping point. The US has slid toward autocracy while tech billionaires grow richer by exploiting intellectual capital. These realities breed hopelessness and threaten faith in human goodness. Reading and books offer both escape and intellectual nourishment, fostering resistance, understanding and renewed hope. Bob Brown warns that continued tipping points could cause a 25% economic collapse and two billion deaths by 2050, and recommends Dr Seuss's The Lorax as a call to action.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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