ABC Radio National

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  The Dalai Lama breaks the rules

  As he turns 80, the 14thDalai Lama is as active as ever, criss-crossing the globe preaching about the benefits of Buddhism and spreading a message of peace. Rachael Kohn puts His Holiness in historical context and wonders what’s next for Tibet, China and the office of the Dalai Lama.

  The Spirit of Things

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  Is pornography destroying our minds and our sex lives?

  The rise of readily available online pornography has sparked concerns that these sexually explicit images are addictive, damaging young minds and destroying sex lives. Emerging research a shows more complex picture. Wendy Zukerman investigates.

  The Science Show

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  Australian lighthouses in the spotlight

  This week marks the 100th anniversary of the formation of the Commonwealth Lighthouse Service. With its enormous coastline, Australia plays host to more than 300 lighthouses, and as Ann Jones learns, many of them are architecturally and technologically unique.

  Off Track

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  Love Poems and Death Threats

  Mike Ladd talks to one of his favourite Australian poets, Samuel Wagan Watson about his new book, Love Poems and Death Threats. Wagan Watson discusses his tensions with his Indigenous identity, the influence of Japanese verse on his poetry and the capacity to love and hate in the same breath.

  Earshot

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  Nicaragua divided over canal plan that will cut the country in half

  Work has begun on one of the largest infrastructure projects the world has ever seen: an inter-oceanic canal that will cut Nicaragua in half. Reese Erlich reports on the massive development, which has divided the Central American nation in more ways than one.

  Earshot

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  Is not talking about suicide doing more harm than good?

  For years, we’ve been told that speaking openly about suicide could encourage suicidal behaviours. Yet there is little evidence to show that this code of silence prevents people from harming themselves. In fact, it could do more harm than good. Tiger Webb reports.

  Health Report

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  Melbourne citizens' jury success offers hope for democracy

  The City of Melbourne’s recent experiment asking citizens to develop a 10-year financial plan is being hailed as a success by those working in the deliberative democracy space. Now one councillor is looking to see what other issues could be addressed with the method. Sunday Extra reports.

  Sunday Extra

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