Following Israel and the US’ large-scale attacks on Iran, and Israel’s continued war on Gaza, this has raised the question on the future of international order.
News and Editorial Director Joel spoke to the Executive Director of the Britain Palestine Project, Dr Brian Brivati, about this turning point in international order, and what we should expect heading forward.
The United States is increasingly moving away from global institutions in a pursuit of populist isolationism. In its wake, it leaves multilateral organisations founded on the assumption of US support, which many smaller nations are dependent on for foreign affairs, health support, defence, or trade.
The World Trade Organisation is facing such pressures now, with a looming threat of US exit following similar policies curbing the organisation’s influence. To discuss what the WTO is, how dependent it is on US support, and what it could mean for a changing global society if the US withdrew, News Director Castor spoke to Professor of Law at the University of Auckland, Jane Kelsey.
Current US foreign policy under the Trump administration has significantly broken with long-term partnerships and traditional structures of the so-called international rules based order. With the US being at odds with its long-term strategic partners Canada and Europe, the future of NATO as well as security in the pacific have become contentious issues. Trump’s actions have revealed contradictions within the previous dominant functioning of International Relations with his administration’s foreign policy radically utilising the power position asserted and given to the US on the world stage.
Flo spoke to Dr John Battersby, senior fellow for the center for defence and security studies at Massey University about current global security, the practical absence of an international rule based order and implications of US foreign policy on New Zealand.
Rosetta has a kōrero with Geneva AM about her new waiata 'Toitū Te Tiriti' ft. Ngā Whetu Ensemble! The pair chat about what's been a busy Matariki period for Geneva, reconnecting with her whakapapa through releases like 'Urban Planning', and dance music as a vehicle for resistance. Geneva AM's debut album Pikipiki is out August 15, you can pre-order the album HERE.
Rosetta and Milly catch up with Adam Whatton, who is Principal Ranger for the Auckland marine district keen to chat. His role is all about engaging the community around Auckland, the Coromandel and the Hauraki Gulf islands with the new marine protections in the Hauraki Gulf. Whakarongo mai nei!
The National party has rolled a series of new proposals aimed at dealing with violent gangs, if they were to win the 2020 election. They’ve said they want to take a much stronger stance than the current government, promising new laws ranging from banning gang patches to revoking parole for those associated with gangs to the setting up of a new task force, modelled after a prolific New South Wales unit called “Strike Force Raptor”. This is apparently only the beginning of a broader “gang action plan” that National has promised to release by next year. Meanwhile Corrections minister Kelvin Davis called the document a "mishmash of reheated ideas", stating that the focus should be on anyone who breaks the law rather than specific groups. University of Auckland Criminologist Dr Ron Kramer said the proposals were "transparently pathetic", "overblown propaganda", and that they provide no substantive impact on crime. William Boyd spoke with Manukau ward councillor Efeso Collins, who has been outspoken in the past about opening up conversation with gangs as opposed to cracking down on them. William started off by asking him for his input on the new proposals.
Holy satanic buttplug, it's Gigi and Kiki of Hex. Discussing inspirational hatred, their Valentine's Day album release, vacuum packed supermarket coffee bricks, their Kings Arms gig tomorrow night, hankies vs. serviettes, fundraising to get to SXSW, _and_ their brand new single 'Sight Beyond the Line'... try and keep up, will you? (Russell did.)
Tickets HERE. Donate HERE. Pre-order The Hill TempleHERE.
Last week, the government’s ban on gang patches officially came into effect. Under the new law, gang insignia is now officially banned in public places and police now have the power to break up large groups in public for causing fear and intimidation and can issue orders preventing gang members from associating or communicating for up to three years.
While hailed by the coalition government as a bold step in their “Tough on Crime” approach to law and order, the law has been questioned by experts and even a number of police officers themselves, who say that a suppression approach to policing gangs is likely to push gang activity to the periphery instead of eradicating it, and that it would disproportionately target marginalised communities.
For our weekly catch up, News and Editorial Director, Joel, spoke to the Green Party’s Ricardo Menendedz-March about the gang patch ban coming into effect and the party’s take on it.
They also had a discussion about the fall in New Zealand’s ranking on the Climate Change Performance Index, as well as the Ministry of Health's evidence brief and position statement on puberty blockers.