Climate change has been the hot topic that’s been on everyone’s minds and tongues. Theater maker Amber Liberté takes this discussion to the stage. “Our Modern Earth (Is a F*cking Mess)” is a piece of theatre and dance that indulges in the discourse of climate change through the eons that have passed by. The play goes through a visual transformative journey through the use of organic material (like leaves and branches) to more man-made or mechanical material (like plastic). With supporting entities like Generation Zero, the play attempts to make its audience members question the rapid nature of climate change.
This production will unfortunately not go ahead due to COVID-19, but will later be adapted into a film.
Earlier today, the International Comparison of Modern Medicines published a report looking at the public funding of modern medicine in 20 OECD countries. The report showed that New Zealand was in desperate need of access to modern medicine. Patient Voices Aotearoa has long been campaigning for a double and triple in funding for access to modern medicine. The organisation presented their petition to parliament in May 2021, which called for immediate funding. Joe talks to Fiona Tolich from Patient Voice Aotearoa about this need for funding and why it’s so crucial amidst the current COVID environment.
Today, World Vision New Zealand is set to present a strong Modern Slavery Act to the Petition Committee. This comes following a petition which garnered thirty seven thousand signatures and support from over one hundred businesses. Joe speaks to Rebekah Armstrong, the Head of Advocacy and Justice for World Vision New Zealand about the Act and why transparency on the issue of Modern Slavery is so important.
To crack down on modern slavery, the government is working on legislation to hold large companies using exploitative labour accountable.
If implemented, this legislation would meet requirements to tackle modern slavery laid out in the EU and UK free trade agreements.
News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to Deputy Prime Minister Sepuloni about this, and started off our interview by asking what we can expect from their response.
Maya had a kōrero with Raisa Mclean about her current show, Heatwave, on at RM Gallery.
Sofia had a kōrero with Senior Curator International Art at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, Dr Sophie Matthiesson, about the gallery’s latest exhibition - A Century of Modern Art - surveying the visionary painters who transformed Western modern art.
She also had a kōrero with Esther Stone about her show opening at Melanie Roger Gallery next week for Matariki, Taonga Tuku Iho.
Julia Holderness is a Ōtautahi-based artist, producing beautiful installations that combine an array of mediums such as mixed media fabrications, ceramics, textile, and painting. Speaking to Holdernesse's continued dialogue and exploration of modernism, specifically to alternative histories of female modernism in New Zealand.
Within her current show, The Room at Ashenby showing at Sanderson Contemporary Holderness looks to the scene of the Charleston house as a source of inspiration. Presenting a body of hand decorated ceramics, vessels and tiles, alongside selected watercolours from her studio archive. Bringing the viewer into this intimate and domestic site of memory and imagination.
Maya caught up with Julia about the show and overall practice.
Humanity is currently going through a stage in its history known as the “AI Spring”, an ongoing period of advancement in the world of artificial intelligence, heavily impacting the technology we use on a daily basis.
As to be expected, there are numerous ethical concerns to be raised regarding the development of artificial intelligence. The use of AI in modern military conflicts has demonstrated the capabilities of this new technology to cause large-scale destruction to human lives. The Israeli Defence Force, for example, have been using AI in their weapon systems to acquire targets in their war on Gaza, contributing to one the highest rates of civilian casualties in any modern conflict.
Dr Thomas Gregory is a Senior lecturer in politics and international relations at the University of Auckland, with expertise in civilian casualties and contemporary conflict. Oto spoke with him to discuss how AI is being used on the battlefield, and how it has impacted civilian lives in modern conflicts.
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