Open House Interviews

We think of globalisation as something that came about fairly recently but a new book argues that it has been going on for generations having first started with the great gold rushes of the 19th century that saw millions of people move around the world hoping to make their fortune as new gold fields were discovered around the world.

"Australians, and especially the Catholic community, are challenged to respond to domestic violence by reporting violence and not being a bystander, communicating zero tolerance for violence and full support for victims, promoting healthy relationships, developing the capacity to respond appropriately to individual disclosures and praying together for peace, justice, and true reconciliation" Dr Trish Madigan told Open House of the Catholic response to domestic violence on The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

We are all spending a lot of energy reaching for happiness, but never quite able to hang on to it. Real life happens, and our circumstances take us on an emotional rollercoaster ride. So when we hear the call to "be joyful always," it sounds crazy and out of reach. But author Stasi Eldredge says in her latest book, 'Defiant Joy', that it doesn't have to be.

A report on religious persecution finds many faiths are under threat around the globe. Even in a country like Australia the right to Religious Freedom can no longer be taken for granted. Catholic agency, Aid to the Church In Need (ACN) produced the biennial report and supports 5,000 projects worldwide. The issue of religious persecution is highlighted by Red Wednesday when significant religious buildings are floodlit red. Australia participated for the first time this year. Australian Director of ACN, Bernard Totounji, explained the findings on Open House.

The revelation that a Chinese researcher has edited the genes of twin girls shocked and stunned the world. Margo Somerville, Professor of Bioethics at the university of Notre Dame Australia discussed the ethical minefield this development opens.

If you are dealing with the suicide of a loved one, it is important to find support to make sense of what has happened, deal with your grief and learn how to live with your loss. On 'Open House' Colleen Fitzpatrick spoke with Stephen O'Doherty about the work of the Support After Suicide Group run by the NSW Coroner.

UK Prime Minister, Theresa  May has surprised many with her calm, clear and statesman like rhetoric on the exit of the UK from the European Union - the divisive 'Brexit'.

QIMR Berghofer scientists in Brisbane have helped map the genome of the potentially deadly Aedes aegypti mosquito. Dr Gordana Rasic delightfully calls the difficult parts "blah, blah, blah" when explaining to non-scientists how it is done.

The future is now - experts warn climate change impacts are here now and urgent action is needed to rapidly reduce greenhouse emissions. A new Climate Commission report has sobering news. Co-author, Professor Lesley Hughes, spoke to Open House about the impacts and increasing threats to Australia.