Before you click away, I’m not about to offer some cutting edge commentary on how the famous (or infamous) Youtuber Shane Dawson is a secret Trump supporter. Rather, both Dawson and Trump hold significant places in society, one in popular culture and one in politics. …

In addition to the referendum to legalise recreational cannabis use, New Zealanders also face a choice with the End of Life Choice referendum this election cycle. …

Recently I had the opportunity to meet my idol, New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, at an Indian NewsLink Lecture. I had been volunteering for Ardern’s political party, Labour, in the lead up to the country’s election in October. …

I spent my life believing that solving climate change started and ended with individual action. We’re taught this lesson from a young age. During my schooling In New Zealand, this message was wrapped up in fun catchphrases like ‘be a tidy kiwi,’ a litter prevention campaign that helps New Zealanders…

Early voting has already begun in New Zealand for the 2020 election, and this year New Zealanders must answer two additional questions on the ballot, one of which is whether the country should legalize the use of cannabis. Previously, I knew next to nothing about cannabis. I grew up in…

Around 2 pm last Wednesday, my boyfriend and I sat down to stream the US presidential debate in New Zealand. After watching three rounds of Hillary v Trump back in 2016, I was mildly excited about what the 90-minute debate with no commercial breaks would bring. We were not prepared…

Anti-government protests continue this week across Iran after authorities announced a fifty percent increase in petrol prices. The move sparked demonstrations by tens of thousands of civilians, prompting a strong pushback from Iranian security forces and a “near total internet shutdown.” On Tuesday, Amnesty International said the death toll had…

Over the past few months, you may have noticed that climate change was at the forefront of several major news stories in New Zealand. A few weeks ago, Auckland Council unanimously voted to declare a climate emergency. A few weeks after that, the Government introduced the Zero Carbon Bill to…

In his novel The Radicality of Love, Srećko Horvat warns us, “we are in a general crisis of care and compassion”. Indeed, a cursory glance at today’s political discourse reveals a space in which empathy and love have long since disappeared. In their absence, violence, hatred and racism have taken…