Gordon Campbell on the Harry/Meghan affair, and Iran’s latest airliner calamity
Those “Meghzit” headlines seem apt, given how closely Britain’s January 31 exit from the European Union resembles the imminent departure from the Royal Family’s top […]
World
Gordon Campbell on why raising benefits is a better option than spending on infrastructure
If New Zealand has a pressing need to stimulate its flagging economy, it seems very weird to meet this need with a $12 billion package of infrastructure spending…
Gordon Campbell on the recent upheavals inside Iran, and Coldplay
In the fortnight since the Internet got switched back on in Iran, the ferocity of the crackdown on the recent demonstrations has become evident.
Gordon Campbell on China’s bad week, and Labour’s tribalism
Even before the local body election results came in from Hong Kong, China had been having a p.r. nightmare this week.
Gordon Campbell on giving the Police unnecessary new powers, and Spain’s elections
Police pursuits have a track record that makes them more dangerous than the original risk. Armed police units belong in the same category. The more insidious examples have to do with terrorism.
Gordon Campbell on yesterday’s election ‘victory’ by Justin Trudeau
Yesterday in Canada… was a bad, bad election outcome for the fossil fuels industry.
Gordon Campbell on China’s ability to infringe free speech in other countries
Luckily for us, China seems to have no interest in rugby, netball or cricket. Therefore, New Zealand is probably safe from the amazing erosion of […]
Gordon Campbell on betraying the Kurds, and the criticism of Adrian Orr
The Americans have now thrown the Kurds under the bus and created the ideal conditions for an IS comeback – all done so that Donald Trump can brag he brought the US troops home.
Gordon Campbell on British apologies and interest rate fiddling
In the 1990s, the awesome powers of central bankers would cause markets to tremble… Nowadays, central bankers can hack away at interest rates and nothing will happen.
Gordon Campbell on whether a Kiwi version of Boris Johnson could succeed in suspending our Parliament
Two experts cited at length by the NZ Herald seem to agree that our courts couldn’t reach a decision like the UK Supreme Court’s here, because our laws would expressly rule it out
Gordon Campbell on the Saudis (not) getting away with murdering Khashoggi
On October 2nd last year, the dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered by a hit squad of assassins acting on the orders of the Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammad bin Salman.
Gordon Campbell on Greta Thunberg, and Friday climate change actions
While there’s been an understandable focus by the media upon Greta Thunber, one remarkable thing about the movement she has inspired is that it is so de-centralised.
Gordon Campbell on the Saudi oil refinery crisis
The Houthis in Yemen have ample motives and prior form in carrying out drone attacks in retaliation for the joint Saudi/Emirates onslaught against Yemen
Gordon Campbell on this week’s damning report into the SIS/GCSB’s tacit compliance with torture
The IGIS report investigates NZ’s role in the CIA’s illegal system of rendition and torture of captives in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, and the subsequent invasion of Afghanistan.
Gordon Campbell on China’s concessions to Hong Kong’s protest movement, and Johnson’s Waterloo
What a wretched time is being had by Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam.
Gordon Campbell on the only way of ensuring Boris gets blamed for Brexit
In the face of Boris Johnson’s latest provocations, the best response for Remainers and Tory rebels alike would be… to do nothing at all.
Gordon Campbell on why New Zealand shouldn’t try to curry favour with Trump
The bizarre spat over Donald Trump trying to buy Greenland shows just how foolish it would be for any country to treat the US as […]
Gordon Campbell on the Hong Kong protest movement, and Sleater-Kinney
Nearly ten weeks after the huge Hong Kong protests began, 1.7 million people on the streets in the rain is a testament to how strong the pro-democracy movement has become.
Gordon Campbell on why Boris Johnson is threatening to shoot this puppy
It may help to think of the October 31 ‘no deal’ Brexit as a warm, rascally puppy. And British PM Boris Johnson says he will shoot that puppy, unless someone stops him.
Gordon Campbell on some of the barriers facing female politicians
On the current evidence voters are less likely to regard a female politician as ‘likeable’ than a male one, and this perception tends be a barrier that only female candidates have to face.
Gordon Campbell on Trump’s campaign to make America embrace white nationalism
The Republican Party of Lincoln – which once led a civil war that ended the slave economy of the South – has now defined itself openly as being the party of white nationalism.
Gordon Campbell on how the Americans are helping us realise the scale of the Operation Burnham fiasco
New Zealand lawyers have been forced to rely on the relatively open US military and FOIA processes in order to be able to participate adequately in a New Zealand inquiry
Gordon Campbell on Europe’s non-surrender to far right extremism
Yesterday’s European Parliament election results show that the feared gains by far right populism did not eventuate.
Gordon Campbell on the rites of collective punishment in Venezuela
Yemen, Venezuela, Iran, Gaza… each currently share one thing in common: their citizens are being subjected to collective punishment, in order to bring about regime change.
Gordon Campbell on the left-wing victory in Spain
Portugal and Spain continue to be striking exceptions to the rise of rightwing populism in Europe.
Gordon Campbell on the extradition of Julian Assange
It isn’t necessary to like Julian Assange to think that his extradition to the US (on the charge of aiding and abetting Chelsea Manning) would be a major injustice.
Gordon Campbell on Brexit and Christchurch tragedy porn
Just when we thought the Brexit mess couldn’t get any messier, it suddenly has.
Gordon Campbell on the school strike for climate change
On Friday, March 15, New Zealand teenagers will be holding their own school strike against climate change, as part of the global action.
Gordon Campbell on Shane Jones, and a Huawei update
For better and worse, this is a small country, and the business community in Northland is smaller still…
Gordon Campbell on justice for Kiwi jihadis
Mark Taylor, the Kiwi recruit to ISIS, ultimately put himself in the hands of the Kurdish forces in northern Syria. That was smart of him, and/or lucky.