My anti-apartheid protest convictions nearly kept me out of Canada. Luckily, I had friends in high places. What though of those many people in our world, especially those seeking refuge from war and oppression, who do not?
Read MoreCanada
Why do the write thing?
The reasons Sir Geoffrey Palmer and Andrew Butler give for their constitution-writing project are not convincing.
Read MoreThere’s a slow, slow train comin’ up around the bend
It's pretty much just a matter of time until aid in dying (or, "voluntary euthanasia", if you're wanting to scare the children) law reform arrives in New Zealand. A couple more signposts for that journey were erected in the last few weeks.
Read MoreCanada's new Trudeau
An anti-incumbant pro-change wave took hold of Canadian politics this week…thrusting to victory the 43 year old son of one of the country's most enigmatic politicians. Canadians may have had a love-hate relationship with Trudeau Snr., but they sure feel the love for his scion.
Read MoreDog-whistle politics and Islamophobia in the Canadian election
With just a week to go in Canada's Federal elections, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has been roundly accused of racism and dog-whistle politics in order to draw attention away from the failings of his administration. Next Monday he will know if his tactics have worked.
Read MoreIs calling for a boycott of Israel a form of hate speech?
Us intolerant liberal types who favour using the power of law to put an end to the sort of intolerant words and deeds that we detest should look to Canada and ... ponder.
Read MoreAll those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain
Canada's Supreme Court just announced that Canadians do not have a duty to live. Why do New Zealanders?
Read MoreAnd if you have to carry a gun to keep your fragile seat at number one ...
Greg O'Connor thinks the shootings in Ottawa, and the way this was ended, demonstrates the need to routinely arm New Zealand's Police. He's completely wrong about that.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday September 5
Moscow denies ceas-fire with Ukraine; Japanese cabinet shuffle brings five women to fore; China and Canada attempt to mend relations; ISIS releases another video; Obama visits Estonia; and more
Read MoreExile is a dream of glorious return
New Zealanders who stay overseas for too long don't get a vote. Is that right?
Read MoreImagine a country so blue, backwards it's adanaC
Canada's Conservative Government is in the middle of trying to change its election rules to benefit itself - while its PM Stephen Harper has become the thing he once most hated.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday February 8
Iran's Ayatollah rejected nuclear talks with US; Russian jets breach Japanese airspace; Chinese crackdown on self-immolations in ethnic Tibetan regions; Mercosur and Canada work towards free trade agreement; and more
Read MoreGuantanamo's kid prisoner goes home...
Ten years ago Omar Khadr was a kid in the Afghanistan theatre of war. Now, instead of a rehabilitated child soldier he's a convicted war criminal - or "terrorist" as his native Canadian government prefers to call the man it has been forced to repatriate.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday August 15
Syrian rebels claim fighter jet downing; South Koreans organise relay swim to disputed islands; North Korean leader's uncle visiting China in bid to increase economic cooperation; nine killed in South African mine dispute; Merkel heads to Canada for financial help; and more
Read MoreMurdered between the mosque and the mall
Canada's justice system has confirmed (again) that there is no such thing as an 'honour killing', but (again) rejection of this twisted, controlling, patriachal notion of honour comes way too late for the latest four victims...all from one immigrant family.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday December 14
US and Iraq negotiate post-war partnership just weeks from withdrawal; Obama warns Iran to respect Iraq's sovereignty; China has been cyber-spying, US intelligence claims; Over 5000 dead in Syria since Assad crackdown; "Holiday Man" working presidential bid in Russia; Canada pulls out of Kyoto after years of complaint; and more
Read MoreHow to rehabilitate prisoners
Rehabilitating prisoners requires more action than rhetoric, says the author of a new book on the justice system
Read MoreTax: Some facts (for a change)
John key says Labour's tax package will make high-income earners "not welcome in New Zealand". Where might they be more welcome than here?
Read MoreThe Idiotic Cocktail of Politics and Religion
In the midst of the Canadian election campaign - the fourth in seven years - the Conservative incumbents have come up with a doozy...hunt the ethnic vote under the guise of an office of global religious freedom.
Read MoreG8 and G20 a billion dollar boondoggle
Canadians are aghast at revelations the government is splurging more than a billion dollars hosting the G8 and G20 summits for three days. While most goes on security and of course flowers, there's also cash for a fake lake
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