During the launch tour of the compelling new book Big Porn Inc: Exposing the harms of the global pornography industry, edited by Melinda Tankard Reist and Abigail Bray, I met with Melinda to discuss the book and the background to its publication.

In Big Porn Inc. Melinda Tankard Reist is described as a “writer, speaker, blogger, media commentator and activist” and her voice and presence have become widely recognised in the media. Perhaps her most innovative recent role has been as co-founder and vanguard leader of the growing and highly effective anti-objectification/anti-sexploitation movement: Collective Shout.

A compelling and confronting new book, Big Porn Inc, was recently  launched in both Melbourne and Perth. The publishers, editors, some of the Australian contributors and those endorsing the book spoke of the launch of this book as a “landmark publication”.

“Big Porn Inc: exposing the harms of the global pornography industry” (published by Spinifex) is a sharply up-to-the-nano-second analysis of and protest against the “colonization” of the world’s markets, cultures and interpersonal relationships by exponentially violent, dehumanized and dehumanizing pornography.

There is no longer any debate about the ease of access to and speed of distribution of pornography via cyber-technology. Pornographic images and scripts can be viewed and downloaded easily and even inadvertently via iphones or computers.

The pornification of women and children is no longer hidden under brown-paper wrappers or in the corners of grimy peep-shows. Yesteryears titillating soft-porn has become normalized and serves as the template for current advertising, fashion design and pop music campaigns. Meanwhile the hard-porn/sex industry has become one of largest, most powerful and globalised profit making markets in the world.

Sometimes it is the unwelcome passage of years, or the banal paraphernalia or the unbridled consumerism of children's birthday parties today which make us dread or despise birthdays and anniversaries.

In fact birthdays, and the real celebrations they betoken, are central both to the Christian year and to the ethos of life which Christians share with so many people of good will.

The current Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into the “Options and Mechanisms to Increase Organ Donation in Victoria” has been seeking submissions to inform its investigation of ethical, community and legal measures which will assist in increasing the rates and efficiency of organ donation in the State.

It is worth noting that there seem to be deep emotional and ethical concerns which prevent Australians, many of whom approve of organ donation in theory, from agreeing to donation for themselves or their deceased family members.

On the Feast of St Francis Xavier (3rd December once the patron saint of Australia and now the Missions) the Archbishop of Melbourne announced the preliminary phase of the cause for canonization of the extraordinary Dr Sister Mary Glowrey.

Pope Benedict draws together very skillfully the biblical, liturgical and spiritual themes which evoke the patient waiting and yet the fierce wakefulness of the expectant mother. "During the Season of Advent we shall feel the Church which takes us by the hand- and in the image of Mary Most Holy, expresses her motherhood..."

In a recent promotional campaign with more twists than a riveting police drama, euthanasia doyen Philip Nitschke and his activist group Exit International have achieved almost daily media attention.

Nitschke has not yet convinced Australians, still less the Australian Medical Association, that he is trusted medical authority, but he certainly has a nose for the publicity main game. Nitschke’s sound bites and appearances revolve around the simple message that he and his group will be intensifying the message about the legalisations of assisted euthanasia and voluntary euthanasia. It is a fascinating case of self-promotion really— advertising that you will advertise!