Category Archives: Society

We are better than this

The recent Canadian election campaign, which ended in the defeat of the conservative Harper government featured one outstanding campaign ad. It was not produced by the opposition but Adbusters, the Vancouver based anti-consumerist organisation. Even if it is pretty shocking … Continue reading

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They have Guns. F–k them. We have Champaign. *

It took me more than a week to turn to one of the more important events of the year the terrorist attacks of Friday the 13th in Paris.  First I had to let the tsunami of media coverage wash over me, let … Continue reading

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Australia = Racism & Xenophobia = Human Rights Abuse

Australia, the lucky country ? Australia likes to call and see itself as the lucky country. And it has many reasons to feel that way. Anyone who has ever visited is struck by it’s natural beauty in great diversity from … Continue reading

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Rugby, Racing & Royal visit – lets feel good

New Zealand the lucky country ? This week presented New Zealand with all possible goodies at once. On Sunday “we”/”our boys” won the Rugby World Cup for the second time in a row. On Tuesday “our” horse won the Melbourne Cup the … Continue reading

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Media – Branch of the Corporate State ?

“We all more or less hate the media as countless polls about the trustworthiness of various professions show. Journalists always rank at the bottom between politicians and used cars salesmen. But we as a democratic society cannot function without news … Continue reading

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TPPA : No bus but sheep truck

TPPA – more of the same old same old This cartoon appeared in the Listener Magazine in 1999. Slane could recycle it for today. Nothing has changed. Then it was the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) conference in Auckland. New Zealand’s … Continue reading

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TPPA : Dining out on dead rats

TPPA – what we don’t know All governments involved in the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) have kept negotiations deliberately secret. This enables them to brush of any criticism from its sceptical citizens as uninformed scaremongering. They won’t release the full text for some … Continue reading

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New Zealand’s growing pains

Growing up (in) New Zealand New Zealand is a young country. That is if you disregard earlier settlers and start with the arrival of Rugby. Growing up as a young country goes in leaps and bounds. In the old days … Continue reading

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Corbyn & Sanders – the end is nigh

It has been a while but now I find the time to reflect on recent events, which have send shockwaves through the political establishment on both sides of the Atlantic. Like the tsunami crossing the pacific at the time of writing … Continue reading

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One image to shame our government

One image has shaken us out of complacency So at least we hope. People who do care are deeply shaken. Just watch Naomi Klein this weekend in the Sidney Opera House addressing the Festival of Dangerous Ideas. The battle hardened author … Continue reading

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