God the Father and God the Son cannot be everywhere present indeed they cannot be even in two places at the same instant: but God the Holy Spirit is omnipresent - it extends through all space with all other matter.

If a tree dies plant another in its place.

When a finished work of 20th century sculpture is placed in an 18th century garden it is absorbed by the ideal representation of the past thus reinforcing political and social values that are no longer with us.

The garden suggests there might be a place where we can meet nature halfway.

We have a moral responsibility to save wild places like the arctic refuge for future generations and that is why our country has remained committed to its protection for nearly 50 years.

I can relate to historical characters or imaginary ones. It doesn't matter if a story takes place in the future or in the present as long as the story is compelling.

In the light of our culture these are not unreasonable questions and tactics but if once again we try to see the lens through which we look we can see that there is far too great an emphasis placed on the future.

One of the matters that must be addressed is that Rwanda and Uganda have to leave the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We're also supporting processes to ensure that the political dialogue among the Congolese themselves takes place so that the people there can decide their future.

What were once only hopes for the future have now come to pass it is almost exactly 13 years since the overwhelming majority of people in Ireland and Northern Ireland voted in favour of the agreement signed on Good Friday 1998 paving the way for Northern Ireland to become the exciting and inspirational place that it is today.

On Australia Day 2010 as we enter this second decade of the 21st century Australians can be optimistic about our future but we cannot afford to mistake optimism for complacency.