Russian trolls and bots: What are they, what they do and how to craft effective responses
By Pamela Williamson Pamela Williamson looks into the world of Russian trolls and bots. The mechanisation of bots to power political messaging is a very new phenomenon, although propaganda during war has been around for a long time. The seminal work of Harold Laswell...
Bad blood: Risk or discrimination?
By Simon Stewart Simon Stewart investigates whether members of the gay community are discriminated against when it comes to the option of donating blood. Blood, collected in very large amounts from the bodies of an ever-growing population of human beings, can be both...
What is voluntourism? Human trafficking and modern slavery
By Claudia Russell What is voluntourism? Claudia Russell looks into the ‘industry’ which has been likened to slavery and human trafficking. While it may seem like an opportunity to see the world while helping those less fortunate, “volunteer abroad”...
Freedom to or freedom from? The question simmering beneath the gun control debate
By Beth Owens Beth Owens explores the issue of gun control in the United States. Dunblane, Scotland, 13th March 1996: Thomas Hamilton shot dead 16 children and one teacher after walking into Dunblane Primary School with four handguns. The following year, the British...
Q+A: Are our indigenous communities really free?
Last week saw the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, on August 9. Indigenous communities still struggle to maintain their autonomy in modern society. In various parts of the world, including Southeast Asia and the Americas, they are subjected to...
Facebook isn’t cool anymore: What killed it?
By Claudia Russell Facebook continues to make profits for the time being, largely due to an increase in users aged 55 and over. However, multiple sources predict that the end is nigh. Waking up and checking your Facebook feed is a morning routine now shared by...
Q+A: How severe is New Zealand’s mental health crisis?
Around 500 New Zealanders die by suicide each year, while the effects of each of these deaths ripple through whanau, friends, colleagues and communities. New Zealand’s youth suicide rates are the worst in the OECD. The latest figures show a sharp and steady rise in...
Change has come? Making sense of the 2018 Malaysian election
By Andrew Lim Andrew Lim tries to make sense of the recent Malaysian election and the changes that have occurred as a result. The 14th Malaysian general election (GE14), held on 9 May 2018, will be long remembered as an important date in Malaysian history. For the...
Q+A: Can we end homelessness in New Zealand?
New Zealand has some of the worst housing deprivation rates in the developed world per capita, and they appear to be getting worse. An article citing OECD statistics by Yale Global Online states that New Zealand has the worst homeless rate in the OECD adding that...Subscribe by Email
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