Doctors for the Environment Australia have published an open letter that is relevant to you, wherever you live. For generations, methane from underground has been considered to be a safe, convenient household fuel. Its producers have managed to term it “natural gas.” However, there is oodles of evidence, summarised in the paper, that rebukes this. Fossil methane is harmful to health at every stage of the life cycle.

Hope isn't passive. Hope is active. It’s what inspires and enables people to connect, organise, and push for the change we so desperately need. Campbell Gome

Skye Taylor’s question for us is, “How has your writing changed and what have you learned since you began?” In jumps, that’s how. Until I retired as a research scientist at 35 years of age, all my writing was academic stuff. I tell a lie: there were also letters and shopping lists and so on. But from my honours thesis onward, all my Real Writing was reporting on my research.

David McBride exposed war crimes committed in Afghanistan. For this act of public service, he was jailed. After years of battle, he is free. Here is his statement, which shows him to be an advanced soul: I will make a more comprehensive speech at a later date, but some thanks are due immediately: Firstly, I would like to thank my incredible family: Sarah, James and Georgie McBride who never gave up on me, and whose fighting spirit, love and humour inspired me every day.

Heatwave-induced wildfires are tearing across the northern hemisphere.In the Bordeaux region, hundreds of thousands of people had to leave their homes, desperately fleeing the flames and massive cloud

It’s only about 3000 words — a draft contest entry. Please contact me via the contact form if you are willing to give feedback within the next week or so. Happy to return the favour. Title is A Paean to Wombat Hollow.

Skye Taylor wants us to reveal the source of our characters. Only to me they are not characters in a story but my friends (even the baddies), my teachers, and above all, my children. As always, I asked Little Bob to do the work before settling for sleep. In the morning, he said, “You told them last month, stupid!” “Don’t call me stupid!”

We have to be able to understand that what we do to the earth, we do to ourselves. What we do to ourselves, we do to the earth. Ray Williams, First Nations elder Cancer is not a disease but a symptom of a sick world Dr Bob Rich Bobbing Around Volume Twenty-six, Number One, July, 2026 Bob Rich's rave bobswriting.com…

Voters across the political spectrum support a 25% tax on gas exports. So, let's put it to the people. Join the call for a national plebiscite and let Australians decide.

Scotland has demonstrated what I have known for a long time: punishment leads to more crime. Instead, violence has been reduced through treating it as a public health issue. This will work everywhere and anywhere.

Modern life is a constant grab for attention. It so happens that my wonderful daughter, Anina, and one of her PhD students have written an informative article in The Conversation to help you cope. Being an obedient father, I (almost) always do as she tells me. You might want to follow her advice as well.

Skye Taylor demands to know in June, 2026, “what do you enjoy most about being a writer?” I was a word composer long before I was a writer. When my mother came home from work, I invariably waited for her with a joke, puzzle, poem or story. Later, Little Bob was born when I became addicted to running. I’d think about a homework question, then went for a run.

Disarming AI means freeing it from the mentality of ‘armed’ competition. To disarm does not mean rejecting technology, but preventing it from dominating humanity. Pope Leo With all of us taking small steps, we can change the world. Tara Brach Bobbing Around Volume Twenty-five, Number Twelve, June, 2026 Bob Rich's rave bobswriting.com anxietyanddepression-help.com/ mudsmith.net/ previous issues *About Bobbing Around…

Quantum mechanics has demonstrated that consciousness is primary. The physical world of material and energy exists because it is being observed. Relapse prevention is a perfect example. If you believe you have relapsed, you have. If you believe it was a temporary glitch, then it was. Read what I have to say about this in From Depression to Cententment at Recovering the Self.

This a chapter from my current work. I THINK it makes sense by itself. Any comments, suggestions and criticisms gratefully accepted. Yaretzi and her twin brother, Citlali, were weeding the family food garden when the soldiers came. Two walked each side of their parents, another four behind. Father said, tears pouring down his face, “Honey heart, the Goddess Nytra has honored you.”

Friends of the Earth is a federation of member groups working on many different environmental and social justice issues. Find out more about they do

In January, I talked with a nice young lady from India about my book, The Hole in Your Life. I’ve just been sent the link. It is one of many podcasts on Healthy Mind by Avik. You will find our chat here. Please let me know if I made sense, and send along people who will benefit from it.

Oh Great Spirit, keep me from ever judging a man until I’ve walked a mile in his moccasins Sioux prayer We are not now that strength which in old days Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are; One equal temper of heroic hearts, Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will

Almost all content written or videoed about AI proclaims it as scary and dangerous. With few exceptions for its use in education, medicine, and ecology, et. al., a future with AI looks bleak indeed. Here is an alternative view, one we can all hope for a different view of the singularity. Perhaps wisdom emerges when intelligence becomes sufficiently aware of interdependence.

Hope is a rope. When you are down in the deep hole of despair, you need hope. Hope holds you aloft when your foot slips on the rock face and you plummet toward disaster. Hope is the lasso that catches a fleeting opportunity. Hope is the bridge spanning a chasm. Roping in this metaphor is all very well, but I hope it doesn’t tie me into knots.

"Love it or hate it, promoting/marketing has become a part of being an author for the vast majority of writers so the topic is how do you feel about it and what strategies best fit your style." Of course I am pro motion. I am for moving about and do as much exercise as my 83.25-year-old body can bear. Oh... that’s not what our topic means.

That wonderful global movement, World Beyond War, are calling for nominations of their annual War Abolisher Awards. I nominated Pedro Sanchez, PM of Spain, who stands out for his courage in opposing No Ball War Prize Trump in “liberating” a country by bombing civilians.

This is to let you know, my book, The Hole in Your Life: Grief and Bereavement has been shortlisted in this year’s Eric Hoffer Awards. To prove I am not a liar (this time), go to the announcement page and search for Bob Rich. div>

What is THAT? Words are not the only things that can hook a reader, but even if a person chooses to look beyond the cover, the words need to grab and keep the attention. Every sentence has to answer the unasked question, “Why should I bother to read on?” I have edited many a book that gets interesting by chapter 3 — if you can force yourself to get that far.