Böcker utgivna av Interactive Publications

Can a scientist also be religious? How, and with what limitations?World renowned astronomer and Quaker Jocelyn Bell Burnell reflects on the big issues confronting scientists who also have a strong spiritual belief system. How can the principles of science be reconciled with the faith required by religion? Does scientific investigation call into question the givens of religion? While specific to her Quaker beliefs, Burnell's reflections apply to many other religions as well.This is the 2013 James Backhouse Lecture Series, sponsored by the Society of Friends (Quakers) in Australia. This lecture describes astronomers' current understanding of the Universe we live in and shows how the lecturer combines her Quakerism and her science.

Who was "e;the most dangerous man in Australia"e; in the years before World War II?Was it the geologist who obtained nickel and molybdenite to prolong the life of Krupp guns and help "e;our dear Fuehrer"e; to win the next war?Or perhaps the journalist who took Japanese money in return for persuading politicians that the peace-loving Japanese were no threat to Australia?Or the Vichy French Consul-General who urged the Japanese to seize New Caledonia, while he threatened the lives of Free French supporters in Australia?Or the German businessman who photographed wharves and factories and oil storage facilities for a mysterious organisation in Germany?Or, collectively, the small group of Russian fascists in Brisbane who worked for the Japanese secret service in Harbin?These are some of the intriguing characters to be found in this book. Judge for yourself who deserves the distinction!

What will happen when Zahara reaches the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and tries to see the Queen? With a cart full of plants and the straggly weed her father calls The Flower of Heaven, she and her mother and grandmother pass through the Ishtar Gates on the way to the marvellous Hanging Gardens, built by King Nebuchadnezzar for his Queen, Amyritis. But a guard refuses entry for Zahara and laughs at the Flower of Heaven...

This is the tale of the critters who reside behind the locked gates of a Botanical Gardens at night. It’s the first formal offering from author/illustrator War Of The Real.The idea for characters like those in this book was hatched in aCooktown (Far North Queensland, Australia) public restroom.It all came together after the discovery of a permanent markerdiscarded on the bathroom floor, a fleeting inspiration and an unoccupied moment in an otherwise occupied cubicle.From then on, wherever the road led, the artist is alwaysarmed with his trusty Sharpie on the trail of bug-eyedoddities, smiling down from where they’ve been scrawled.  The mission for War Of The Real is to deliver wackiness to the world, encouraging you to never take anything too seriously, question everything you run into and most of all have fun while you’re doing it.

This colourful and thoroughly researched history of the Lord Delamere branch of the British aristocracy focuses on the famous Vale Royal Abbey in Cheshire, England. The Cholmondeley family, who owned the Abbey throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, are described in lavish and intimate detail as they maneuvered to maintain, through three generations, their status as a leading family in the United Kingdom.Beginning in the late 17th century, we follow Charles Cholmondeley as he served as a member of the King’s army in Canada in the war against the French. Part I witnesses the ubiquitous Thomas Cholmondeley who purchased the title ‘Lord (Baron) Delamere’ for £5000 from the British crown in 1821. Part II covers the 2nd Lord Delamere, Hugh Cholmondeley, who led a very sad and difficult life, and experienced the deterioration of Vale Royal. Part III reviews the life of Hugh Cholmondeley, Jnr., 3rd Lord Delamere, his abandonment of Vale Royal Abbey and his relocation to East Africa. Narcissistic Hugh was part of the notorious “happy valley crowd” of Kenya and their lives of debauchery, sex and drugs.The Vale Royal Abbey lives on today, a national treasure and testament to the intriguing lives of those who occupied it over the centuries.

When you look up at a midnight sky, what do you see—mottled stars and a full Moon trying hard to compete with the street lamps for your attention? You might be situated in a city, or its sprawling suburbs, where the ever-present urban glow tends to keep your gaze horizontal, missing out on the beckoning mysteries of the Universe. This Skywriters anthology will change all that. Through the eyes and creativity of people who write about south-eastern inland Australia, we’ll redirect your vision upwards to a brighter Moon, the subtle presence of nearby planets, the cosmic spectacular of our Milky Way galaxy and those celestial bodies even further away. You’ll find inspiring stories, poems and essays by a great diversity of Australians responding to what some have called the ‘Inland Astro-Trail’, which connects rural and remote communities with world-class astronomical observatories such as those at Parkes, Siding Springs and Narrabri. Some skystories are “literary”, others intensely personal, but all are guaranteed to widen your horizons—upwards!

It is increasingly recognised that the strength of the bond between counsellor and client is the best indicator of a good outcome for the client. The theoretical model employed by the counsellor matters less than the relationship the counsellor can build with each individual client.Yet first year counselling students continue to be taught about different models of therapy and specialised approaches supposedly needed by clients with different problems. The result is often confusion and uncertainty, and many 'trained counsellors' graduate without a solid grasp of how to form an authentic relationship with any client.Unlike most texts, A Safe Place for Change focusses squarely on the therapeutic relationship. Skills are presented in terms of their contribution to the relationship. Theories and models are referred to throughout, but the authors emphasise what the different approaches have in common, rather than the specialised terminology that often makes them seem more different than they actually are.The personal capacities and skills that distinguish a good counsellor or therapist are presented in the same order in which they would appear within the actual therapeutic relationship. The initial chapters teach 'holding' and 'exploring'-skills that are almost automatically required in the first few sessions with a new client. Then follows a chapter that deals with the challenge to the counsellor-client relationship which often appears after the first two sessions, and shows counsellors how they can respond most usefully to that challenge. As the therapeutic relationship continues and deepens, it becomes possible to invite clients to consider how they might be contributing to their own problems-the skill of 'gentle honesty' or 'encountering'.Finally, the authors introduce two different approaches to achieving change-- 'solving the problem' via advice, instruction, and homework, and 're-parenting the person'-something that is more likely to be crucial in long-term work with clients who present entrenched difficulties in living and relating.Well-written, insightful and accessible, this textbook speaks directly to students of counselling and psychotherapy, recognising their needs and their challenges. The authors' real-world experience is evident throughout the book, as is their skill in teaching complex concepts in clear language.

In 1991, Jason MacLeod travelled to occupied West Papua. That visit changed his life. Eight years later, in 1999, Jason made a thirty-year commitment to journey in solidarity with West Papuans as they search for nonviolent ways out of occupation. Since then he has been regularly traveling inside the country. He has walked alongside Papuan leaders as they travelled from West Papua to Washington; Port Moresby to Port Vila. It is a journey has taken him deep into the mountains and forests of West Papua; from the halls of power to the inside of police interrogation rooms.  In this Backhouse Lecture, Jason shares what he has learnt about accompanying West Papuans – and to a lesser extent Aboriginal people, Bougainvilleans and East Timorese – in their struggle for self-determination. Through personal stories, he tries to make sense of this experience in ways that might speak more broadly to Quakers and general readers. This lecture is a deeply personal reflection on what one person thinks it takes to animate freedom and accompany Indigenous peoples on a journey from empire to the ‘good life.’

In her second collection from Interactive Press, on an unlikely pilgrimage, a cycling tour to find a poet's unmarked crib, Jane Simpson discovers a landscape at once less Romantic, and more lyrical than the 'unspoilt Nature' seen by tourists at scenic spots. Unexpected turns draw the reader into the worlds of goddess religions, pre-contact M¿ori society and western Christianity; and into the intimate world of family relationships. In the final section, where the sun and stars sing at the marriage of gay people in the Church, Wordsworth's piano is tuned to the harmony of the spheres.

Lorraine Rose addresses the pervasive anxiety about where the world is going. In the midst of uncertainty, we are forced back to basics to re-discover tools for living. She identifies anchors that can help us navigate our lives by understanding our needs from the early years and during our developmental path to maturity.Bringing our pre-verbal selves into consciousness is now more possible with advances in psychological practices, and this leads to a better understanding of our nature and needs. Those who missed out on emotional milestones can, as adults, revisit their early years to resolve those issues that impact on their capacity to mature, the quality of their relationships, and their ability to regulate their emotions. Finally, Lorraine Rose provides a commentary on recent economic and social models western society to assess whether these models align with the needs of citizens. Ways of assessing the health of our society help us better discern our needs on a personal and societal level.

In this lecture, Cho-Nyon Kim explores his spiritual journey in the Korean religious environment, in which Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism and Christianity have all influenced cultural practices and been integrated into daily life. He is inspired by the life and thoughts of Ham Sok Hon, a prominent Korean peace activist and Quaker. He asks how we can live a simple life in a complex world. He wants to focus on how we can create a peaceful society in the face of nationalism and self-centredness. Quakerism has similarities to Taoism in its mysticism and its sense of waiting in a meditative way. Cho-Nyon Kim concludes that he must lead his life 'in the manner of those who always seek truth with an open mind'.

Ranging from satire to meditation to philosophy to the comic, ClaraJoseph's second book of poetry, Dandelions for Bhabha, is an intenseengagement with philosophers and literary/cultural theorists and theircontroversial positions. Her poems refl ect on the postmodern conditionwhen "The screaming begins at the wall / when one chick is taken"and "Universal Justice is dragged / to Auschwitz." The collection,divided into three sections, "Descartes' Lover," "Jus' Thinkin'," and "ToTalisman," engages with ethics and with thinkers such as Roland Barthes,Jeremy Bentham, Homi K. Bhabha, Paul de Man, Jacques Derrida,Michel Foucault, Mahatma Gandhi, Stephen Greenblatt, David Hume,Friedrich Nietzsche, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Gayatri Spivak. The poemsin Dandelions for Bhabha are, as the title hints, enchanting and unexpectedopportunities to philosophize art and aestheticize thought. Narrativesof miracles, refl ections on visuals, and dialogues of the dead enter thehopes, joys, and wonders of daily living. Joseph's skill is to narrow the gapbetween the creative and the critical, and to provoke.

A memoir about surviving a childhood navigating around a violent and abusive father, and how the past influenced the author''s professional life and personal relationships.

After twelve years trapped in the throat of a serpent, a girl escapes. She returns to her village naked with a monstrous snakeskin trailing behind her.One decision at a time, she reclaims her life. Each character she encounters by land and sea-brute, healer, orphan, mystic, lover-reflects an unhealed aspect of herself and plots her recovery through symbolic milestones.Serpent's Wake is intended for adults and young adults exploring how, once fractured, we may mend.

PhD student Dylan Cashew abandons his thesis on D. H. Lawrence for the uncertain world of top secret aerospace editing, college teaching and then independent publishing. Dogged and even mentored by Lawrence and others from parallel Dimensions, Dylan finds himself immersed in a publishing venture that, with aid of his PR-savvy wife, interjections from the Internet, and a bottomless supply of scotch, nearly goes under before he receives an offer from a Chinese conglomerate that may be too good to refuse.If you're an author, published or unpublished, or wished you were one - or someone who's worked in publishing, or wished you could - this book is for you. (Have we missed anyone?!)This is David P. Reiter's latest sortie into the satiricsphere of digital narrative. His having won two Western Australian Premier's Awards for Timelord Dreaming and My Planets Reunion Memoir has done nothing to curb his rash flirtation with innovation. Nearly 200 Internet "call-outs" will tempt you away from the central storyline. Can you resist?

The setting is the city of Melbourne in the latter half of the 19th century, when it grew rapidly, due to the extensive amount of gold flowing from mid-Victoria. It concerns Dr James Beaney, a very colourful and controversial surgeon, who amassed a fortune from his practice, and displayed it in the jewellery he wore. He was, however, a generous benefactor to the Melbourne University and hospitals in Melbourne, as well as to his birthplace, the city of Canterbury in Kent. Beaney, not for the first time, after his re-appointment to the Melbourne Hospital was implicated in a court case following the death of a patient he had operated on for a large bladder stone. The inquest is outlined in considerable detail and the skill displayed by James Purves, the brilliant young barrister who defended him, will be evident to the reader."One of the most interesting and enjoyable books I have read for some time. Beaney was a colourful character in a booming time in Melbourne, and this has been brought splendidly to life by Brian Collopy."- Professor Sir Peter Morris, AC, FRS, FRCS, Nuffield Professor of Surgery Emeritus, University of Oxford

This book scrutinises 'peace' and 'war' through Australian lenses. It uncovers a deeper understanding of these terms and reflects a desire to bring to light alternative Australian ideas of war and peacemaking. Certain stories have eclipsed others that add importantly to Australia's history. This Quaker initiative considers a plurality of voices and the 'truths' they purport. It unpacks the act of 'memorialising' to discover the marked impact we make in our efforts to hold on to meaning and to our past. What have been the effects of our responses to the maxim 'Lest we forget'?

Amethysts and Emeralds is a selection of Daniel King's awardwinningpoetry, much of which has been published in journalsaround the world. The poems embrace a wide variety of forms,from free verse to sonnet, roundel, villanelle, and sestina.Thematically, too, the poems are very varied, ranging from therealist "Head in the Sand", published in the prestigious LondonMagazine, to a song lyric from Shadows of 1876: The WildBirds have Returned, a CD of mystical country music songsabout historical fi gures and events from the United States in theyear 1876. Most of the poems, however, are of a religious and/or mystical theme: indeed, a large subset of the poems concernsthe genesis and future life of Kalki, the tenth and final avatar ofthe Hindu God Vishnu (the Preserver), incarnating this time andforever together with Shiva (the Destroyer).

Possums high in blossoms...Dingoes dancing on tiptoes...Sugar Gliders munching on spiders...Blue-tongue lizards showering in the flowers...These are just some of the things our native creatures do to get ready for their night time.What do you do? Tuck your little ones in with this beautifully illustrated rock-a-bye lullaby. Metrical verses introduce us to a plethora of Australian fauna from Possums in the blossoms to Devils in the pebbles. All getting ready for the night. A lovely sleepy time story.- Jackie Hosking, Pass It On Children are fascinated by the night and all the fear and excitement that comes with it, as they explore the darkness with torches and see eyes peering back at them amongst the stars. In this gorgeous story, you will spy a variety of Australian animals preparing for the night. My favourite is definitely the boobook owl. The rhyme scheme and rhythm of this book make it a delight to read aloud and will make it a favourite.- Veronica Chapman, TeachEzy Waiting for the Night is an entrancing bedtime read for children under eight, filled with lilting verse and striking full colour spreads depicting Australian fauna in a stunning array of landscapes. Anna Seed's vibrant palette provides eco-rich imagery that is as ample as the variety of native Aussie creatures who patiently wait for the sun to set so that they can feast and romp through the nocturnal hours. - Dimity Powell, Kids Book Review

A dark chapter in Australia's wartime history has often been minimised or overlooked in mainstream history books. This collection of five scholarly essays, and 15 testimonials, offers new insights into the deeply personal experiences of Italian Australians whose families experienced World War II on the home front. It is the first such compilation by authors originating from northern, central, and southern Italian provinces, and from five Australian States. Although each story is unique, the authors share many Italian cultural values, language, history, and a profound sense of Italianness, as well as a connection to their Australian selves. These essays and narratives consider the often-unintended negative consequences of war, describing our commonalities through their personal struggles and a fundamental human resilience.

Lucy’s beloved blanket Pinky, made by her grandma, has gone missing! She’s desperate to find Pinky, so she looks in all the usual places and then in some more unusual places.Where could her special blanket be?And who will help her find Pinky?

Malaria, cockfights and magic are confronting realities in the Asia-Pacific region, yet beyond these more remains unseen and misunderstood. These cultures also exert an unacknowledged influence far beyond their borders.Inspired by one family''s experience over three generations these tales are cradled in real events. Frailty of memory, the natural passing of people and the need to protect others, has rendered some into fiction. Central to this work is the idea that interactions with people from outside our culture challenge our expectations. Meanings and understandings must often be negotiated in intangible, non-rational and unseen ways. Foucault''s notion of the third space has influenced this work, as has the Balinese belief that reality is an interaction of Sekala (the Seen) and Niskala (the Unseen). The unseen also has a political dimension here - "the elephant in the room". Choosing not to see, comforted by one''s own culture alone, is to ignore that regional and global events are unfettered by such introspection.

In this Lecture, Margery Post Abbott explores the interplay between faith and action, drawing on her wide range of experiences as a scholar, activist, sailor and Quaker. Taking an ethical stance, acting on the concern for justice and the yearning for peace, does much to open hearts. Yet some activists get burnt out or caught up in the tangle of power or pride, becoming what they were resisting. Friends have always asserted that there is a source of strength and guidance that, paraphrasing William Penn, changes the human heart so that each person might better change the world. This Spirit fuels the work for which Friends are most known. Faithfulness to the Inward Guide lifts us free of the desire for personal success, or for revenge, or for control over the world around us. By listening for and following the Voice of the Light, each of us might become an Everyday Prophet. Such people walk humbly even as they come to speak boldly, following the path of compassion and justice. We do this best as part of a community that is able to carry a vision of the New Creation, the Kingdom of God, being formed on earth as we remind each other to listen for the movement of the Spirit and be open to a fresh way of being.