In editing the recent review of Cormac McCarthy's The Crossing, so much was taken out. For those interested in the novel, here is another exposition of a key scene. By Shane Creevy.

Perhaps the best example of the significance accorded subjectivity in The Crossing is the gypsy's story of the airplane. The gypsies arrive when Billy's horse is teetering on the brink of death. As he weaves the tapestry of his story, the gypsy restores the horse to health. Despite the abundance of death in the rest of the trilogy, therefore, one may interpret the act of storytelling as sanctifying life. Whether one believes it or not, the gypsy's tale is invested with sacred value.

On November 25, the International Day Opposing Violence Against Women, the 16 Days of Action campaign will be launched both internationally and within Ireland. Over 2,000 groups in 150 countries worldwide will organise a range of events to raise public awareness of the staggering levels of domestic abuse against women. The campaign will conclude on 10 December, International Human Rights Day. By Justin Frewen.

One in 5 Irish women have suffered domestic abuse by a former or current spouse or partner. These statistics only account for those who have reported this abuse so the levels of abuse could be even higher. Moreover, on average a woman will suffer abuse 35 times before reporting it.

Reading Commissioner Olli Rehn's comments today, it would seem that we're suffering from European 'group think' in relation to our budgetary strategy. Either they're getting it from us or we're getting it from them, but the lack of critical examination of the €15bn target over four years is worrying. Particularly as this large figure only recently slipped into the discourse, almost without question.

What does Olli Rehn know? He has backed the government's four-year budgetary strategy. But no strategy exists that I know of, save some very vague idea of saving €6bn with the coming budget, followed by further savings of varying amounts over the next three years taking us to a total €15bn. Is there any further detail and has he seen it? And if so, why has he seen it before the main opposition parties or even the Irish people?

It is critical that suicide prevention initiatives are person-centred and place those requiring support at the centre of the process. By Justin Frewen and Dr. Anna Datta. 

Over one million people end their own lives annually, accounting for 1% to 2% of total global mortality. Ten to 20 times more people attempt to end their lives each year. The WHO estimates that by 2020 total suicides will rise to 1.53 million annually, equivalent to a fatality every 20 seconds or suicide attempt every 1-2 seconds.

The 2007 HSE report, Mental Health in Ireland, revealed that suicide was one of the three most important mental health problems faced by Irish adults along with alcohol and depression.