Leslie Cannold

In the media

The Age reviews The Global Atheist Conference

“Broadcaster Phillip Adams and Melbourne ethicist Leslie Cannold urged atheists not to be too strident or fundamentalist as it could alienate moderate believers who shared their aims for a more secular society.” http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/dawkins-delivers-the-sermon-they-came-to-hear-20100314-q63g.html Publication

Events

08 Mar 2010: Lara Bingle - A Question of Consent

Tune into A Current Affair on Channel 9 at 6:30 to get Leslie’s take on Binglegate.

In the media

Leslie Interviewed by Michael Bachelard for Generations Article

http://www.theage.com.au/national/generation-everyone-20100307-ppze.html

In the media

Jason Ball Reviews the Global Atheist Conference on Radio JJJ

http://www.umss.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Breakfast-with-Tom-Alex.mp3 [http://www.umss.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Breakfast-with-Tom-Alex.mp3 ] Publication history > Breakfast with Tom and Alex Triple J Radio 2010-03-03

Writings

Support for Dying Friend our Final Gift

A READER – a qualified scientist I’ll call Ron – asks for my view on a dilemma that pitted his personal and professional integrity, and belief in absolute truths, against his love for a dying friend. Ron’s friend, also a scientist, was dying of cancer. “He said that he would

Writings

Pregnancy and Job Seeking. Is it Time to Lie?

A reader seeks advice on an acutely female ethical dilemma. She has just landed a much-wanted interview for a nine-month job, but discovers herself pregnant. The child, if born, will be her third. If she miscarries, it will be for the third time, too. She wants the baby

Events

02 Feb 2010: 7PM Project Talking Xenotransplantation

Leslie talks to the 7pm Project panel about the problems and perils associated with using animals to harvest organs for humans

Writings

Good Parents Send Their Kids to Private School, Don’t They?

The Bankwest press release was crafted to provoke controversy. “More Australians Choose a Good Time over Kids Education.” It had the same flavour as the bank’s offering when it released similar market research last year. “Aussie families prefer holidays and Botox to private school education.” Yes, the Bankwest “Social

Writings

Do We Really Need to be Polite to the Family Pedophile

A reader seeks advice in resolving one of the most distressing dilemmas ever tackled by this columnist. The mother of two daughters, aged one and three, habitually finds herself in the holidays in the company of a child abuser. This, at least, is what she has been told about the

Writings

Kissing a Friend Goodbye

A new friend of mine recently told me a story about an old friend of hers. I use the term “friend” advisedly here because friendship is what this story is all about. Ellen was asked by her school chum Cassandra to babysit her child so that Cassandra could nip off

Writings

Desperate or Deadbeat Dads?

In recent weeks, I seem to have become a bloke magnet. Two weeks ago at the State Library cafe and one night last week at my usual watering hole, I’ve had men in my ear. Sweet men, sad men, vulnerable men – some recently divorced, others single for years – crooning

Events

06 Nov 2009: Speedy Fish playing Live at “Don’t Chase the Shadows, Just Enjoy the Ride”

Speedy Fish, Leslie’s musical trio, will play from 7:00pm at the opening of the “Don’t Chase the Shadows” exhibition, featuring painting and sculpture by Vicki Clarke [http://www.vickiclarke.com.au/], Bruce Norton and Pamela Cunningham. What: Opening of exhibition of works by Vicki Clarke, Bruce Norton

Writings

Women Failed by Catholic-Run Hospitals

There is no room at the Women’s. Once the hospital saw its mission as the service of all the Victorian women. Now, women inquiring about having their baby there will be asked their postcode. Should they fall outside the hospital’s new geographical catchment area and be at small

Writings

Leslie Talks to 4BC Morning’s Host Greg Carey About The Capacity for Consent

A district court judge has questioned the fairness of convicting a man who pleaded guilty to rape, for continuing to perform sex acts on an unconscious woman. Was the man really treated unfairly, or is the judge confused about what consent is all about? Listen now [http://media.mytalk.com.

Writings

Leslie Talks to 4BC Morning’s Host Greg Carey About Matthew John’s Scandal and Sex Lies and Relationships

Rugby league star Matthew John’s infidelity has raised the issue of staying with a partner who has strayed. Greg Cary talks to author Ruth Simons, about the thought processes behind cheating. Listen now [http://media.mytalk.com.au/4bc/podcasts/lesliecannold.mp3]. Publication history > Sex, Lies and Relationships4BC

Events

30 Oct 2009: Stem Cells on The 7PM Project

Leslie talks to the panel on Network Ten’s 7pm Project about the ethical implications of the latest scientific developments.

Writings

Can it Ever be Ethical to Let Women Die?

A disturbing trend is emerging in the writings of those opposed to legal abortion. Since the passage of Victoria’s Law Reform Act last year, they have been campaigning against the limits the new law imposes on the rights of healthcare professionals to conscientiously object to involvement in abortion. From

Events

26 Oct 2009: Recent Changes to Termination of Pregnancy Practice in Victoria

Leslie to discuss the implications for medical practitioners of the conscience clause in Victoria new abortion act. The seminar is part of the Hot Topics series run by the Perinatal Society of Australia & New Zealand. When: Monday, October 26, 2009 – 5:30pm – 8:30pm Where: Women’s Conference Centre,

Writings

Something Mad About Refugee Policies

Even if we eliminate people smugglers, the people needing smuggling won’t disappear. Kevin Rudd has an unnerving resemblance to Alfred E. Neuman, the gormless cover boy of Mad magazine. Periodically offered for higher office, Neuman’s election slogan is always the same. “You could do worse … and always have.

Events

18 Oct 2009: Speedy Fish at the Grocery Bar, St Kilda

Leslie’s musical trio (Ray Boseley, guitar and Mark O’Hehir on bass and keys) will be doing its crash hot contemporary and rock thang at the Grocery Bar. Come along for a drink, some coffee, or a bite to eat – all served with a side of good music. Where:

Events

13 Oct 2009: Leslie on SBS Insight “In Your Genes”

Would you want to know if you were carrying a gene that could kill you? What if there’s a risk of passing it to your kids? Truly riveting television filled with Australians grappling with this issues in real life, with Leslie and Oxford Professor Julian Savulescu doing our best

Events

12 Oct 2009: “The Grass is Always Greener” on Radio National's Life Matters

Every Monday, Radio National Life Matters deconstructs some old piece of wisdom with two guests. This week Leslie and Tim Wilson ask whether the grass is really greener on the other side. What: Life Matters, ABC Radio National, 621AM When: Monday, 12 October 2009 Time: 9:40–10:00am For

Writings

Betrayal and the Shocking Lies of Rex Crane

“From Hero to Zero” ran the headline, a nice one to describe the fall from grace last week of the Federal President of the Prisoners of War Association of Australia, Rex Crane. Crane took us all for a ride. Now 83, he claimed he was Australia’s youngest POW. Abandoned

Writings

We Must Say “Know” to Abstinence-Only Sex Ed “Choices, Decisions, Outcomes”

Your children have a right to sex education. This right is a component of their sexual rights, themselves a subset of the human rights guaranteed to them in international laws, human rights documents and other consensus statements. But don’t cry out for joy or fly off the handle with

Events

27 Sep 2009: Speedy Fish at Cafe Umalicioius

Leslie left-of-centre rock and contemporary trio is playing au deau – just Mark on keys and Leslie doing vocals. Where: Cafe Umalicious, 134 Nepean Highway, Aspendale (just up from Nachos Cantina) Date: Sunday 27 September – 1:00 to 2:30pm Need more information? Ring Uma at Umalicious on 0433