Philobiblon

The great and the good have got together and concluded we might not be doomed. But it is worth focusing on the fact that huge advances have been made in many areas – and that the world is more peaceful than probably ever before.

But you’ve got to wonder about what hopes there are when in Australia, a land wracked by drought and afflicted by climate change household energy use is still increasing. “Last year the total amount of energy used by residential consumers grew by 3.9 per cent, above the long-term average rise of 2.5 per cent and the biggest jump in four years.”

But to be positive – another attempt is being made to deal with the legal issues of cohabiting couples – which tends to particularly cause problems for women. This is an obviously sensible plan that the religion-infected, cowardly government we now have dropped earlier this year. (The same government that has put a medically important bill on hold — and with it the prospect of positive abortion law reform — for fear of the effect on a byelection.)

And also in the positive line, advertising methods that have been used for wholly pointless consumerism are at least being applied to basics that save human lives. (In a piece that provides an interesting insight into advertising psychology.)

And who says heterosexuality is “normal”? Seems the Anglican church should read a survey from Scientific America reveals its frequency of homosexuality in the animal kingdom, and considers its potential evolutionary benefits.