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…
World
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.
Gordon Campbell on why Justin Trudeau’s fate matters to New Zealand
The scandal now engulfing Justin Trudeau and his Liberal Party is the kind of train wreck that confirms the public’s worst feelings about politicians and their back-room dealings.
Gordon Campbell on why this guy shouldn’t be allowed to buy nuclear weapons
At the initial prompting of Trump’s disgraced national security adviser Michael Flynn, the US has been enabling Saudi Arabia to pursue a nuclear capability.
Gordon Campbell on the anti-Corbyn split in British Labour
The resignation of seven UK Labour MPs in protest against the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn is another example of the centre-left’s readiness to sabotage its own cause…
Gordon Campbell on the alleged crisis over our relations with China
If New Zealand’s relations with China are ‘deteriorating’ then you still need a microscope to detect the signs.
Gordon Campbell on America’s ‘Green New Deal’…
Even in the US, there is polling evidence that modern Americans are inclined to treat socialism as meaning ‘equality’ rather than the ‘government ownership or control’
Gordon Campbell on Iran’s options, 40 years after its revolution
As it turns 40 years of age this week, Iran’s Islamic Revolution is experiencing a fullblown mid-life crisis.
Gordon Campbell on why we shouldn’t support the US-led coup in Venezuela
There’s a decidedly retro feel to the US-engineered coup now unfolding in Venezuela, which looks like a throwback to the 1950s, back when the US […]
Gordon Campbell on why the Aussie banks are bastards
Across the Tasman a Royal Commission has been barking very loudly indeed about the activities of the Australian banks that own the main NZ banks.
Gordon Campbell on why we should be listening to Ocasio-Cortez about tax
In its attitudes to tax, New Zealand has been the last colonial outpost of Thatcherism. Change, however, may be in the air.
Aloha, Medical Marijuana
How Hawai‘i is managing the therapeutic use of cannabis
Gordon Campbell on why we should care about the US exit from Afghanistan
The history of harm done by the US military is now tending to obscure the harm that’s being done by the polar opposite impulse: American isolationism.
Gordon Campbell on why shipping is New Zealand’s big new trade problem
Brexit is not the only concern for New Zealand’s Shipping Trade.
Gordon Campbell on the Brexit Vote Aftermath
Normally when a major policy like this gets so crushingly rejected – by 230 votes – the PM would resign and/or a fresh election called.
Gordon Campbell on the ongoing carnage in Gaza
The past month has devoted a lot of space to the best music and films of 2018, and far less to the past year’s human rights violations.
Gordon Campbell on our history of selling out the Kurds
For the past 100 years, the West has sold out the Kurds over and over again.
Gordon Campbell on the reactionary politics of fear
Fear has become such a routine part of the political toolkit that it hardly gets noticed anymore, for what it is.
Gordon Campbell on whether Trump is likely to be impeached
‘Tis the season to be jolly, and for wrapping a plea bargain under the Christmas tree for all ye formerly merry, Trump-connected gentlemen.
Gordon Campbell on the Brexit & Huawei clusterfudges
Come December 2019, the West’s social democracies could be gone through quite a few changes at the top.
Gordon Campbell on Judgment Day for Theresa May
Crunch time is looming on Tuesday night in Britain, amid every sign that May’s compromise deal for Brexit is headed for a heavy defeat.
Gordon Campbell on why we politely fake the obituaries for politicians
One unfortunate side effect of “personality politics” is that when prominent politicians die, the niceties we observe at the death of private individuals get extended to them as well.
Gordon Campbell on how banning Huawei fits into our new hostility towards China
Consumers will probably have to pay more for 5G services, as a result of the decision to invoke national security concerns to ban Huawei technology from our new 5G networks.
Gordon Campbell on Emmanuel Macron’s no good, very bad year
Earlier this year, PM Jacinda Ardern’s harmonious meeting with Emmanuel Macron was deemed to be the most important political coup of her entire trip to Europe.
Gordon Campbell on the meningococcal vaxing, and NZ’s response to Brexit
The government has announced a vaccination programme to help combat an outbreak of the deadly W strain of meningococcal disease in Northland…
Gordon Campbell on New Zealand’s complicity in Africa’s last great neo-colonial dispute
If David Parker really wants to hone his crisis-managing chops, he maybe should be turning his attention to the Western Sahara
Gordon Campbell on the latest roll of the Brexit dice, and prisoner voting
Brexit has left the British public looking like a nation of Wellington bus commuters.
Gordon Campbell on why the Democratic leadership could now make fatal compromises with Trump
In the end, the Democratic Party won a clear victory in the House, and lost as expected in the Senate…
Gordon Campbell on the Aussie banks and their profits
You will land in big trouble if you try to rob a bank. (Don’t do it people.) But when banks rob us, we will worry about whether they might have an attitude problem.
Gordon Campbell on ministerial transparency, presidential lies (and Bob Dylan)
Minister gets inadequate advice from departmental officials, gets caught out. That’s embarrassing, but hardly of lasting impact…