Colin Tatz

This unique book explores suicide as more than just a manner of death. It challenges the myths, beliefs, dogma, and customs of suicide from the earliest theories. It offers fresh insights into dark spaces. World-wide, suicide deaths are three times greater than homicides, and are increasing. Current approaches to stem this ‘epidemic’ are not working, or have very limited success. Mental health interventions, theories about a suicide or a depression gene, and the ever-increasing dispensing of antidepressants have not lessened the stark statistics. The authors attempt to understand the soul of the suicide — addressing the social, economic, political, historical, geographic, and cultural contexts in which suicide occurs. The social order is indelibly connected to settings, places, circumstances, relationships, occupations, climate, and milieus. Most of the 36 diverse categories of self-motivated deaths defy a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. Recognising contexts and looking outside the confines that have imprisoned thinking about suicide, could well be more effective in alleviating or mitigating suicide than years searching for a possible vaccination against such death. The book is an appeal to move beyond the medical model of suicide. Written in a very accessible style, it is of interest to social scientists, philosophers, professionals and researchers in public health, medical and behavioural sciences, and lay persons alike. A critical, stimulating and moral tale of suicide that provides a new look -–Michael J. Kral, PhD, School of Social Work, Wayne State University, Michigan, USA … a major breakthrough and a step in the right direction in addressing the problem of suicide-–Said Shahtahmasebi, PhD, Research Director, the Good Life Research Centre Trust, Christchurch, New Zealand … informed understanding of suicide’s multiplicity and historical instability – Jennifer White, PhD, School of Youth and Child Care, University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

This unique book explores suicide as more than just a manner of death. It challenges the myths, beliefs, dogma, and customs of suicide from the earliest theories. It offers fresh insights into dark spaces. World-wide, suicide deaths are three times greater than homicides, and are increasing. Current approaches to stem this ‘epidemic’ are not working, or have very limited success. Mental health interventions, theories about a suicide or a depression gene, and the ever-increasing dispensing of antidepressants have not lessened the stark statistics. The authors attempt to understand the soul of the suicide — addressing the social, economic, political, historical, geographic, and cultural contexts in which suicide occurs. The social order is indelibly connected to settings, places, circumstances, relationships, occupations, climate, and milieus. Most of the 36 diverse categories of self-motivated deaths defy a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. Recognising contexts and looking outside the confines that have imprisoned thinking about suicide, could well be more effective in alleviating or mitigating suicide than years searching for a possible vaccination against such death. The book is an appeal to move beyond the medical model of suicide. Written in a very accessible style, it is of interest to social scientists, philosophers, professionals and researchers in public health, medical and behavioural sciences, and lay persons alike. A critical, stimulating and moral tale of suicide that provides a new look -–Michael J. Kral, PhD, School of Social Work, Wayne State University, Michigan, USA … a major breakthrough and a step in the right direction in addressing the problem of suicide-–Said Shahtahmasebi, PhD, Research Director, the Good Life Research Centre Trust, Christchurch, New Zealand … informed understanding of suicide’s multiplicity and historical instability – Jennifer White, PhD, School of Youth and Child Care, University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

This book defines genocide, distinguishing it from mass murder, war crimes, and other atrocities; allows readers to grasp the magnitude of the crime of genocide across time and throughout human civilization; and facilitates an understanding of new and potential cases of genocide as they occur. Recently, the topic of intervention against genocide has received attention in global politics and the national political discourse of major countries. The challenges in confronting genocide and attempting to make a positive change are manifold. Simply establishing an agreement on the legal definition of genocide—and distinguishing it from genocidal massacres, war crimes, and other crimes against humanity—is problematic. This book provides a valuable resource for students, scholars, and journalists when public awareness of, and interest in, genocide has reached unprecedented levels. Written in an accessible way for a broad readership, the book makes use of case studies to enable an understanding of emerging and potential genocide with the necessary depth of coverage to evaluate critically the ways in which the United Nations and national governments engage them. Readers will understand the essential ingredients of genocide, from antiquity to the present, and grasp the extent of the crime across human history. A variety of case studies provides a means to measure genocidal magnitudes in terms of their intent and motive, geographical extent, pace, method, participants, outcomes, legacies, punishments, and reparations. A unique and crucial feature of the book is that it gives as much attention to the differences among genocides—for example, between a large-scale genocide like the Holocaust and the extermination of a 500-person Amazonian tribe—while still treating both within a single conceptual framework of genocide, without "discounting" the smaller case.

Racism crushes bodies and souls. In Human Rights and Human Wrongs, Colin Tatz - a world authority on racial conflict and abuse, a key figure in Indigenous Studies in Australia, and an author of major works on genocide, Aboriginal youth suicide, and Aboriginal and Islander sporting achievements - tells his personal story. Born and educated in South Africa, Tatz worked to expose and oppose that nation's centuries-old apartheid regimes before leaving for what he thought would be a more enlightened nation, only to find in Australia striking parallels of that other dismal universe. As a researcher, writer, and activist, he has dedicated his life to confronting what people do to other's on the basis of their race or ethnicity, yet he also relates here how alienation, how his Jewishness, and how an intriguing problem with food have been, for him, propelling forces. Colin Tatz's story - ranging from Southern Africa to Australia, as well as New Zealand, Canada, and Israel - is an important one for all who are genuinely interested in the struggle to achieve social justice for minorities and marginalized peoples. *** "This book successfully engages the reader in the author's engrossing and complex journey from childhood and his lifelong struggles against racism. The narrative touches upon extreme examples of that struggle in the twentieth century. It is scholarly, deeply personal and infused with humanism, warmth and humour." - Dr. Ross Mellick, +61J, May 2015 (Series: Biography) Subject: Autobiography, History, Australian Studies, Jewish Studies, Racial Studies, Human Rights]

A portrait of life, and of self destruction, by young Australian Aboriginal men and women. The author suggests we look to our Australian Aboriginal history for an understanding of this relatively recent phenomenon. That so many young Australian Aboriginal people prefer death to life implies a rejection of what we, in the broader Australian society, have on offer. It reflects our failure, as a nation, to provide sufficient incentives for young Aborigines to remain alive.