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The recent elections in Sweden and Italy, which went towards extremist parties campaigning against immigrants, and the Brazil election where they were narrowly knocked back, are a warning for democracy. Lee Duffield sets about finding psychological causes for what he calls the crop of “off-balance” players, “demagogues” on the right wing. … Read More »
When the host county Nauru banned the pool broadcaster, ABC, from the Pacific Islands summit set for September, it was condemned widely for an attack on freedom of the media.
Lee Duffield paid a visit this week to Dan McGarry, head of the Vanuatu Daily Post, who took a lead, declaring his outlet would no longer go. … Read More »
In this second of three articles from Noumea, Lee Duffield (picture) learns about multi-cultural New Caledonia and the events that led to their referendum on independence now just four months away.
What is the shape of decolonisation in the present time, now long after the rush to independence that went on in countries around the world from 1960 to 1980? … Read More »
Even at the “end of the Earth”, or at least a most far-away point from France, they stayed up all night to revel in the country’s great victory.
The scene was a crowded sports bar in Noumea, New Caledonia, out in the mid-Pacific, towards 4 am local time, and 500 spectators dared to believe it was about to happen. … Read More »
Gestures of support have accumulated worldwide for Paris in response to the terror attack on the city on Black Friday 13.11.15. … Read More »
Thousands this September, crossing Hungary’s frontier into Austria, replayed the events at the same place in September 1989, with a clear tinge of irony.
Then as now it was a desperate rush to take advantage of an open frontier, to be received with open arms, moving on to find protection and freedom in Western Europe, writes Lee Duffield. … Read More »
An emergency European summit this week, 23.4.15 at Brussels, agreed to step up sea patrols and move on other measures in response to the immigration crisis in the Mediterranean.
The European Union Heads of Government had been jolted into action by the latest, severe tragedy, the capsize of an overloaded boat last Sunday leading to some 800 deaths. … Read More »