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First Post
03-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
What's the democracy sausage, Australia's favourite election day tradition?
As Australia queued up to cast their polls on Saturday, the quirky tradition of having a 'democracy sausage' after voting was largely followed. Over the years, the snack has become a national symbol for electoral participation and part of the nation's election day culture. The phrase was even chosen as Australia's Word of the Year in 2016. But how did it become so significant? We explain read more The phrase "democracy sausage" was actually chosen as Australia's Word of the Year in 2016 and a key part of Australian election. AP In Australia, casting your vote often comes with a dash of tomato sauce, a handful of onions, and a grilled sausage wrapped in bread. As election day unfolded on Saturday, Aussies queued up to cast their votes, and what followed was a tradition that some consider just as important. Enter, 'Democracy Sausage'. These sausage sizzles, affectionately known as 'snags in bread', are spotted right outside polling booths. Over time, they've become a national, if light-heated, symbol for electoral participation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD And it might sound quirky, but the phrase 'democracy sausage' was actually chosen as Australia's Word of the Year in 2016, proving just how firmly it's grilled into the nation's culture. 'It's practically part of the Australian Constitution,' jokes a website that tracks democracy sausage stands across the country in real time during elections. But where did this tasty tradition start? And how did it become such a central part of Australia's election day experience? Here's a closer look. Voting served on a plate At its core, the democracy sausage is exactly what it sounds like, a sausage, typically grilled on a barbecue, served on a slice of white bread with optional onions and sauce. But its meaning goes beyond the bun. These sausage sizzles are set up by local organisations like schools, sports clubs, or charities outside polling places. They're a clever way to raise funds while bringing the community together, all while voters queue up to fulfil their civic duty. Democracy sausage stalls are set up by local organisations like schools, sports clubs, or charities outside polling places. They're a clever way to raise funds while bringing the community together, all while voters queue up to fulfil their civic duty. AP And they're not just found on street corners around Melbourne or Sydney. This year, democracy sausages made their way to Australian embassies and voting centres around the world—from New York and Tokyo to Riyadh and even Antarctica. The tradition got a digital boost back in 2013, when a group of friends were trying to figure out which polling places were serving food. Since there was no easy way to find out, they created one—an apolitical, nonpartisan site called as spokesperson Alex Dawson told AP. Now, the site doesn't just map out sausage stalls—it also flags whether they've got gluten-free, vegan, or halal options, plus extras like cake and coffee. Basically, it turns voting into a mini food crawl. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'We'll usually rope in a few friends to keep an eye on incoming submissions about either stalls that we don't already know about, or tip-offs to find out if a location has run out of sausages,' Dawson said. The team always takes time out to vote—and naturally, grab a sausage too. At the 2022 election, the site logged over 2,200 sausage stalls across the country's 7,000 polling places. And those stalls pulled in about AU$4.1 million for the community groups running them. A sizzling history of the tradition No one's entirely sure who first came up with the phrase democracy sausage, but the idea of grabbing a bite while casting your ballot has deep roots in Australia's electoral history. According to Judith Brett, professor of politics at Melbourne's La Trobe University and author of From Secret Ballot to Democracy Sausage: How Australia Got Compulsory Voting, fundraising snacks have been part of polling places for nearly a century. A picture from 1928, taken at the old Atherton Courthouse in Queensland, which shows women serving cakes and drinks at a polling booth—likely to raise money for their community. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Polling day at the Atherton Courthouse with women running a small tea and cake stand out the front, 1928. Image courtesy: State Library of Queensland: 7222 But what really gave the tradition legs, was the introduction of compulsory voting in 1924. With most Australians required to vote—and elections held on Saturdays—polling day quickly became a family outing. Parents show up with their kids, sometimes their dogs, and plenty of time to kill while waiting in line. In the early days, it was cakes, jams and handmade goods. But by the 1980s, the rise of the portable gas barbecue meant sausages became the crowd-pleaser of choice. Cheap, quick to cook, and deliciously nostalgic, they soon became the staple of polling places across the country. With most Australians required to vote—and elections held on Saturdays—polling day quickly became a family outing. Parents show up with their kids, sometimes their dogs, and plenty of time to kill while waiting in line. AP 'It's something that binds everyone together,' said Alex Dawson, one of the volunteers behind the popular website For younger voters and social media natives, the sausage has even helped breathe fresh life into the voting experience. 'It has been a way, I think, of connecting a younger generation, a social media generation, into the civic rituals of election day,' Brett said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Australian Elections: An overview This year's federal election, held on Saturday, May 3, is one of the most tightly contested in recent memory. Key issues dominating the conversation include the cost of living, housing affordability, climate change policy, and an increasingly tense China-US dynamic. All 150 seats in the House of Representatives are on the line, along with 40 of the 76 Senate seats. To form a government, a party needs 76 seats. Labor currently holds 78—but thanks to a recent redistricting, one seat has been scrapped, meaning even a loss of two could tip them into minority territory. The Coalition, on the other hand, holds 57 seats and needs to flip at least 19 to take power. That includes winning back many of the seats they lost to independents last time around. As soon as the polls close, vote counting kicks off. The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) will provide real-time updates through the night. While early results can hint at the outcome, the full count,especially with nearly 18 million ballots to process, including postal and overseas votes, can take days, even weeks, to finalise. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With input from agencies
Scotsman
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Children's word of the year is a reminder that humans were born to be kind
Being kind has a physical effect on the brain that makes us feel good, demonstrating our natural instincts are to look after one another Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... I'll never forget when I first met Joanna Lumley, how her natural kindness shone through. As a young lad, I was busy locking this celebrity superstar in a cage for the cameras. She noticed that I'd cut myself and immediately moved to help. She could have just ignored it, left me to it. But she didn't. This megastar wanted to help, showing natural kindness. It's a moment that stayed with me. Her genuineness and empathy shone through. As it has throughout the 35 years since that we've worked together to promote kindness to animals. Acts of empathy and kindness, no matter how small, can make such a difference. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad With so much going on in the world right now, these natural rays of sunshine, of hope and humanity, are more important than ever. Which is why it's so encouraging to see that 'kindness' has just been chosen by children as the Word of the Year. Actress Joanna Lumley has taken part in animal rights campaigns and showed her compassionate side when Philip Lymbery accidentally cut himself during one event (Picture: Etienne Ansotte) | AFP via Getty Images A fundamental aspect of human nature Of all the words that thousands of young people aged six to 14 could have picked, they plumped for the one that reflects empathy, tolerance, and the need to look after each other. It speaks volumes. At a time of growing anxiety and instability, in which it's all too easy to think we're living in a world that doesn't care, young people are showing the way. As human beings, we have an inherent capacity for empathy, compassion and altruism, known as 'natural kindness'. This is not just a learned behaviour but a fundamental aspect of human nature and is believed to have developed as a survival mechanism, fostering cooperation and social bonds within communities. By helping others, individuals enhance their own chances of survival and well-being, creating a mutually beneficial environment. In short, we were born to be good to each other. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad From a psychological perspective, natural kindness is linked to the release of oxytocin and endorphins, neurotransmitters which reduce stress and elevate feelings of happiness. Kindness, therefore, is an important facet of our mental and emotional health. The chemical responses triggered by acts of kindness reinforce the behaviour, thereby encouraging us to do it again. That's how, if we let it, kindness can become a habit, requiring less effort to do it. The more we are kind, the easier it is to be so, and the better we feel. Cost-of-living crisis Of course, acts of kindness include everyday things like holding a door open for someone, offering a compliment, or giving someone a smile. It could also be sending a handwritten card or taking the time to listen to someone with a kind ear. It can take the form of picking up litter or donating to a foodbank or a charity. A pioneering example of natural kindness was shown by a school in North Lanarkshire which launched 'kindness lockers' in response to the cost-of-living crisis. A discreet helping hand was thereby extended to pupils in need, giving them access to things like warm clothes, snacks or toiletries. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Kindness is a force that naturally increases the happiness and wellbeing of both the giver and the receiver. By nature, we are empathetic and caring towards others. Yet, there is a great deal around us that drives us away from this natural inclination. We can become blinded to the effects on others, be it of our own kind or of other creatures. We can lose sight of how a single-minded pursuit of economic achievement individually or collectively can have a profound impact on others around us. Which is why a rediscovery of the power of kindness as part of human nature is so important. To see that doing good in the world means we are doing good to ourselves. There is mutual benefit to be had in putting the humanity back into being human. There is, after all, a reason why taking action to reduce suffering is referred to as being 'humane'. Kindness towards animals In farming, humane practices such as those that are regenerative or organic involve giving animals the conditions they need for their best lives – the ability to roam, to flap their wings or stretch their legs by running and jumping and feeling fresh air and sunshine on their backs. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad By doing this and restoring animals to their natural role as part of mixed farming, we also create the conditions for combatting climate change by capturing carbon in the soil. Driven by approaching things from the starting point of kindness and harmony with nature, these are win-win solutions. They can help bring back wildlife to our countryside, which in turn means that our fields are once again serenaded by the songs of songbirds like skylarks. Treating animals, both farmed and wild, with compassion and respect, as I covered in depth recently, is the single biggest thing we can do to end global hunger and ensure we can feed everyone today and into the future. Natural kindness is a fundamental aspect of human nature, deeply rooted in our evolutionary history, psychological make-up, and philosophical beliefs. By embracing it, we can help create a more connected, compassionate world. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad
Herald Malaysia
22-04-2025
- Herald Malaysia
Pope Francis the pilgrim: Taking the Lord's closeness to every corner of earth
In the 12 years of his pontificate, Pope Francis visited 68 countries giving life to a tireless mission to take the Word of God and the comfort of His love to the whole human family. Apr 22, 2025 Pope Francis boards on his flight to Ireland in August 2018 at Rome's Fiumicino Airport By Linda BordoniFrom Rio to Ajaccio, circumnavigating the globe dozens of times if you consider the sheer number of kilometres travelled, Pope Francis' 47 Apostolic Visits abroad took him and his message of closeness to every continent and almost every corner of the earth. Throughout the years and journeys, it became increasingly clear that he set the tone immediately when he was photographed upon his departure to Brazil in 2013, carrying his little black bag as he climbed the steps into the aircraft. Then, during the flight, he walked up and down the aisles, personally greeting and chatting to the journalists on board, connecting with them and building down-to-earth relationships that stood the test of time. Once landed, he refused to use an armoured vehicle, preferring to be driven in a simple car or in an open-air jeep that would enable him - again - to connect with the people, share their lives and their feelings. It is also symbolic that Pope Francis' first foreign trip was not a foreign visit at all, but to Lampedusa, an island in southern Italy, the port of entry to Europe for hundreds of thousands of men, women and children fleeing violence, climate change and poverty. In choosing Lampedusa as his first visit, the Pope immediately highlighted the priority he would give to the poor and especially to migrants seeking survival, safety, a future. From a wider perspective, it was also a symbolic embrace of the peripheries, a cornerstone of his magisterium, an unfaltering call to heed the cry of the poor, the marginalized, the weak. Pope Francis's travels—averaging about four journeys a year—took him to 68 different countries, each of them offering him the opportunity to call for justice, peace, inclusion and love for the entire human family. Although his body began to let him down, obliging him to accept a wheelchair and even forcing him to cancel a visit or two, his call never weakened. As per protocol, authorities and political leaders were always the first to receive his address at the start of an apostolic visit; according to the context and problematics of the country in question, they were never spared direct words of criticism and even condemnation as he called them to account and urged them to foster the common good. For the faithful, on the other hand, and for the religious men and women dedicated to charity and evangelization, his words were always words of closeness, sharing and gratitude. As soon as the pomp and circumstance of the official welcome ceremonies died down, a certain sternness would fade, giving way to joy, as he received the warmest of welcomes, the most humble of gifts, and the wonderous gazes of those who couldn't believe they were actually in his presence. Amid spreading secularization in Europe and the shadows cast on the Church by clerical sex abuse scandals, Pope Francis chose to visit Belgium. In the heart of a continent increasingly darkened by division, populism and even war, he asked authorities to 'build bridges to peace' and never shied away from difficult discussions regarding gender, abuse and abortion. This too was a 'periphery' of sorts in the rich part of the world, just as needy – according to the Argentine Pope – of closeness, support and reconciliation, as well as the presence of a loving shepherd, heart always open to all and to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Many of Pope Francis' visits were undertaken as 'pilgrimages of peace and reconciliation' in an open invitation to politicians to overcome partisan interests and push forward processes for the common good of their people. His visits to Colombia, South Sudan, Iraq and Canada spring to mind. But most of all, he crossed the world to show even the smallest and weakest flock - like the 1,500-strong community of Catholics in Mongolia – that he cared about them, and that like Jesus, he had chosen to walk on the periphery. His love, compassion and support for the faithful never failed as he spent hours under the gruelling African sun, in the oxygen-poor altitudes of Bolivia or defying an impending typhoon in the Philippines. When thousands of poor indigenous people – from hundreds of different tribes in Papua New Guinea– trekked for days through dangerous forests or crossed perilous waters to welcome him to their distant land, bedecked in nature's most brilliant colours and costumes, Pope Francis urged them to choose harmony over division, and then thanked them for their joy, for how they shared the beauty of a country 'where the ocean meets the sky, where dreams are born, and challenges arise.' One visit, which we were all waiting for but never happened, was the one to Argentina, Pope Francis' home country to which he never returned after travelling to Rome for that fateful Conclave in March 2013. The truth is, perhaps, he was at home wherever he went, every person was his brother and sister.--Vatican News
