Gordon Campbell on the selling out of the Kurds
Once every decade, the Kurds flicker across the Western world’s radar, usually in the role of victims.
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Gordon Campbell on the inquiry into the abuse of children in care
Apparently, PM Jacinda Ardern has chosen to exclude faith-based institutions from the government’s promised inquiry into the abuse of children in state care. Any role […]
Gordon Campbell on Oprah as a presidential hopeful
Oprah for President…That was one of those summer silly season stories, right ? Maybe not. On the morning after the Golden Globes Awards ceremony where […]
Gordon Campbell on the latest US threats to bomb North Korea
Just before Christmas, the US political scientist and government consultant Edward Luttwak published an article in Foreign Policy magazine called “Its Time To Bomb North […]
Gordon Campbell on Jim Anderton
For anyone born after 1975, it is hard to grasp just how important a figure Jim Anderton was, for an entire generation. During the mid […]
Gordon Campbell on the US demonising of Iran
Satan may not exist, but the Evil One has always been a handy tool for priests and politicians alike. Currently, Iran is the latest bogey […]
Gordon Campbell on the attacks on Lorde, over Israel
The escalation of attacks on Lorde for her considered decision not to perform in Israel is unfortunate, but is not entirely unexpected. In many respects […]
Gordon Campbell on yesterday’s quest for zero net carbon emissions
Some would querulously ask, zero net carbon emissions by 2050 – while others would say, why not?
Gordon Campbell on why a ‘hard Brexit’ has hit a brick wall
It has been a grimly fascinating week for Brexit train (wreck) spotters.
Gordon Campbell on Defence spending, Alabama, and Dolly Parton
The spending lavished on Defence projects to meet the risks that could maybe, possibly, theoretically face New Zealand in future is breath-taking.
Gordon Campbell on vulnerable kids, fresh RNZ funding, and Poppy
The decision to remove the word ‘vulnerable’ from the Ministry for Vulnerable Children could well mark a whole shift in approach to the care of children in need.
Gordon Campbell on the politics of scaring voters back into line
In 2017, bogeymen of all shapes and sizes seem to have fallen on hard times.
Best new music of 2017
Among other things, a year of great break-up albums by female artists…
Gordon Campbell on how the drinking water crisis has been a failure of political leadership
For the past nine years, there has been a political culture of absentee government, where almost any regulatory action that involved spending money fell out of favour.
Gordon Campbell on saying ‘work for the dole,’ nicely
Shane Jones has made it clear that he’s going to be saying really, really loudly what he and Winston and the rest of the NZF crew are doing.
Gordon Campbell on the right wing’s fetish for tax cuts
Going as low as the Republicans have done will not only wildly expand the deficit, but require cutbacks to welfare provisions, and hiking taxes on middle America.
Gordon Campbell on journalism, Peters and Ghahraman
So how is journalism faring in its role of (a) speaking truth to power, and (b) keeping its independent distance from those it seeks to monitor?
Gordon Campbell on the political risks of the rising price of oil, and Harry/Meghan
The price of oil at the pump is always a highly political issue.
Gordon Campbell on National’s penchant for bashing (a) students and (b) beneficiaries
Occasionally, political parties paint themselves in their true colours, almost by accident.
Meet the new bosses
Zimbabwe, on the morning after…
From the Hood : Mateship
A List of Thing Mates Don’t Let Mates Do, Based on a Google Search and/or the Fact Asylum Seekers are Human Beings
Zimbabwe: new democracy, or a false dawn?
There’s a precedent for the fall of Mugabe…
Gordon Campbell on the new Pike River agency, and the air strike wing
Much of the sympathy the public still feels for the families of the Pike River miners has been sustained by the sense that the previous government has never dealt honestly, or fairly, with them.
Gordon Campbell on the centre right’s love of the ‘nanny state’ label
Like clockwork, the old ‘nanny state’ criticism has been wheeled out this week by the National Party and lapped up by the media.
Is This Guy the World’s Most Dangerous Thirtysomething?
Saudi Arabia seems out of control
Gordon Campbell on the TPP outcome, and the Hobbit law
TPP countries gathered in Vietnam have announced a deal in broad principle, shunted aside until a later date the stuff on which they don’t agree, and declared victory.
Gordon Campbell on Ardern’s trade battles at APEC
The question is not whether the original TPP will be changed – it will be by how much, depending on what extent of changes the signatories can abide.
Is It Time To Take ACC Back To First Principles?
ACC is not an insurance scheme.
Gordon Campbell on the battle over select committees
New Zealand may be a country divided between the centre right and centre left, rural and urban, old and young – but it isn’t the United States.
Gordon Campbell on Ardern’s refugee non-deal
Trump has welshed on the Manus deal to Australia… On the weekend, Turnbull humiliated Jacinda Ardern in turn, by once again rejecting New Zealand’s offer.