The Wire with Caeden

The ongoing war between the U.S.-Israeli coalition and Iran is a battle between three nations of three different faiths—Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Religious rhetoric and imagery have been deployed on all sides in order to arouse public support, with the Republican administration in the U.S. making some less-than-subtle appeals to its evangelical Christian voter-base. 

However, opinion polls show that the war continues to be unpopular in the United States, and while many evangelicals continue to support Trump, the administration’s attempt to frame the conflict as a holy war has been a cause of confusion and annoyance for other sections of the American public.

To help us understand the complex relationship between war, faith, and American politics, producer Toby spoke to Dr. Andrew Shepherd, senior lecturer in theology at the University of Otago.

The war between the US-Israeli coalition and Iran has entered it’s fourth week with an immediate end to the conflict remaining out of sight. The war has caused casualties throughout the Middle East and has significantly affected the global economy with fuel prices soaring worldwide. 

Flo spoke with Professor Richard Jackson, Leading Thinker Chair in Peace and Conflict Studies and Co-Director of Te Ao O Rongomaraeroa - The National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Otago about chances for peace, the widespread effects on the region and the meaning of the conflict for the international rules based order.

This weekend, MOTAT is hosting its STEM Fair. All weekend, hands-on activities and demonstrations will be running in order to provide both education and play to the Innovators of Tomorrow. 

Last week, Tuesday Wire Host Alex and News Director Castor headed to MOTAT to speak with Head of Brand and Communications at the Museum, Samantha Perry, about the STEM fair, and how it fits into MOTAT’s wider ethos.

This week on the Monday Wire... 

For our weekly catch-up with the ACT Party, News Director Castor spoke to MP Simon Court about increasing fuel prices, public transport, and the scrapped clean car discount. 

They also spoke to Professor Alistair Woodward from the University of Auckland about air pollution, how to address it, and also touched on the clean car discount. 

Producer Thomas spoke to Forest and Bird National Conservation Advocate Bianca Ranson about the proposed Fisheries Act amendment bill and the risk it poses to our oceans.

And he talked to University of Auckland Senior Research Fellow Dr Kelly Garton about New Zealand's increasing junk food imports and the detrimental health effects this could have on the country .