7 Minutes with Frank Furedi

A former student radical, Furedi became involved in left-wing politics in Britain in the 1970s as a member of the International Socialists (IS), and subsequently, as founder and leader of the Revolutionary Communist Party which was strongly against State intervention in family life. Furedi’s critics today come from a wide spectrum of left and progressive opinion. Furedi maintains that society and universities are undergoing a politically driven 'dumbing down' process which results in society's growing inability to understand and assess the meaning of risk. This partly explains the rise of the environmental and green movements and their obsession with risk.  

British philosopher Roger Scruton has said,

“For Furedi the growing contempt for objective truth and transmissible knowledge is the sign of a deeper malaise within society - a loss of trust in rational thought and a flight towards "social inclusion", where this means, in effect, mob rule. The philistinism of educational theory, the take-over of the humanities by the "postmodern" charlatans, the loss of respect for science, and the growing tendency to put "relevance" at the heart of the curriculum - all these are signs, for Furedi, of a fundamental repudiation of knowledge. And this explains the vanishing of the intellectuals.” - Source

A frequent visitor to Australia, Furedi spoke with John Anderson in 2018.

7 Minutes with Melanie Phillips

Melanie Phillips is a British journalist, author, and public commentator. She began her career writing for The Guardian and New Statesman. During the 1990s, she came to identify with ideas more associated with the right and now she defines herself as, a liberal who has "been mugged by reality.”

She says that, "the traditional family…has been relentlessly attacked by an alliance of feminists, gay rights activists, divorce lawyers and cultural Marxists who grasped that this was the surest way to destroy Western society." - Source

In this clip (actually 10minutes) she discusses, with John Anderson in 2019, the problems in academia and our education system caused by the rise of the acceptance of feelings over the factual evidence.

When an academic, the Political Elites or an “expert” tells us ordinary Australians, “we need to do what they say”, Melanie Phillips’ wisdom is suggesting that we need to proceed cautiously. Are they basing their advice on hard evidence? Or is there some hidden agenda being pushed onto us, that is being motivated by their Utopian dreams and their self-interest?

Remember, it is OK to say No.

7 Minutes with Douglas Murray #1

In this film clip, Douglas Murray, a British author and political commentator, debates Nakkiah Lui, an Australian actor, writer and comedian and a young leader in the Australian Aboriginal community, about the celebration of Australia Day.

Douglas Murray is a conservative who frequently writes and lectures about social justice, identity and racial politics and the cultural shift away from established modes of religion and political ideology.

He believes that there is a rising incidence in the promotion of various forms of victimhood that are being used to provide markers of social status.

Douglas Murray reminds us that when someone criticises Australia and our society, we need to ask ourselves, ‘are they genuine in their critique and truely want to improve Australia, or are they enemies who want to destroy our country’?

Murray and Lui discuss in the film clip, the actions of Aboriginal activist, Tarneen Onus-Williams, who told a crowd of thousands, “F**k Australia, hope it burns to the ground” during an “Invasion Day” rally in Melbourne in 2018.

7 Minutes with Les Murray

Leslie Allan Murray AO (17 October 1938 – 29 April 2019) was an Australian poet, anthologist, and critic. His career spanned over 40 years and he published nearly 30 volumes of poetry as well as two verse novels and collections of his prose writings. Translations of Murray's poetry have been published in 11 languages: French, German, Italian, Catalan, Spanish, Norwegian, Danish, Swedish, Hindi, Russian, and Dutch.

Murray's poetry won many awards and he is regarded as "the leading Australian poet of his generation". He was rated in 1997 by the National Trust of Australia as one of the 100 Australian Living Treasures. - Source

His poem, An Absolutely Ordinary Rainbow , should be considered as a contribution to our Australian Canon, and is a reminder that at times we need to slow down and pause, and consider our place and time in this wonderful Country.

7 Minutes with Alain de Botton

Alain de Botton was born in Zurich, Switzerland in 1969 and now lives in London. He is a writer of essayistic books that have been described as a ‘philosophy of everyday life.’ He’s written on love, travel, architecture and literature. His books have been bestsellers in 30 countries. Alain also started and helps to run a school in London called The School of Life, dedicated to a new vision of education. Two Schools of Life are also in Australia, in Melbourne and Sydney.

In this film clip, Alain prompts us to think very carefully about our modern world and reminds us that there are many different ways to lead a successful life.

7 Minutes with Douglas Murray #2

In this film clip, Douglas Murray, a British author and political commentator, discusses the assault on our history by the ‘woke’ Social Justice Warriors of today’s Left.

Douglas Murray explores this further in his recent book, The Madness of Crowds.

7 Minutes with Douglas Murray #3

In this film clip, Douglas Murray, a British author and political commentator, discusses the phenomenon of the ‘privileged’ elites claiming their victimhood as an oppressed minority. He also discusses the New Racists who pretend to be anti-racist, and how we need to standup to them to avoid heading down a very dark road.

Douglas Murray explores this further in his recent book, The Madness of Crowds.