The International Issues that won’t get debated in election 2020

ByMartyn Bradbury

Our media don’t have the capacity to scrutinise our Political Parties on foreign affairs which is especially insane when you consider the pandemic is international in origin and has forced an enormous re-evaluation of the free market dogma that has been the cornerstone of the Neoliberal State.

So here are the big International issues we are too busy ignoring.

  • Combating Chinese influence in the Pacific: I think two ways NZ could uniquely promote its interests into the Pacific against China could be via Rugby Diplomacy and Journalism. The All Blacks doing a tour of the South Pacific would actually be of huge cultural and sporting importance and something the Government should sponsor with taxpayer dollars to help subsidise the costs to the All Blacks as a sign of respect to the sporting and cultural contribution Pacific Island nations have provided NZ. Why shouldn’t we use Rugby as a diplomatic tool to build standing throughout the Pacific? It’s something China couldn’t match and something NZ could excel at. Likewise Journalism. AUT run the excellent Pacific Media Centre to promote quality Journalism throughout the Pacific. What if NZ saw the promotion of quality Journalism as a craft throughout the Pacific as a strong way to counter corruption and Chinese influence? Scholarships, Pacific News Media websites, support of local ethical journalism these could be the pillars of promoting corruption free politics and holding those Governments to account. Rugby diplomacy and promotion of Journalistic standards throughout the Pacific could counter China and promote NZs strategic interests. We can’t outspend China, but we can play a far smarter game.

 

  • The reality of Climate Change: Northland was hit by a 1 in 500 year storm, Auckland is in drought conditions, Siberia is on fire and Antartica is warming more rapidly than believed possible. None of this is even being discussed with the required urgency. Auckland is the largest Pacific Island City and we do little to celebrate or leverage off that. We need to look at offering fundamental migration opportunities for Tuvalu, Tokelau and Kiribati who face the worst impacts of climate change

 

  • Continued ill treatment of New Zealander’s in Australian custody: New Zealanders continue to be treated like second class citizens in Australia and are still renditioned and forcibly deported to NZ. With the ever looming environmental heatwave that will burn life from Australia, NZ needs to be focused on preventing Australians from swamping us as they begin to flee their furnace blasted future.

For a country that bitches about being left off every world map, we will do very little to actually debate foreign affairs policy this election.

 

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25 Comments

  1. We all know that the USA has occupied territories all over the Pacific from Hawai’i to Okinawa to Guam, and military/spying bases in NZ and Australia, and Panama of course. Yes there may be increasing Chinese influence in the Pacific but it’s all economic and soft power as compared to the economic, soft and military power of the USA.
    The EU also tries to project soft power in the Pacific too, and of course France has occupied territories in Tahiti and New Caladonia.
    Let’s not concentrate too much on the mote in China’s eye while ignoring the nuclear powered aircraft carrier in the USA eye

    1. Quite right, Stephen. Just look at all the Yank military bases all around the pacific (and elsewhere) and ask which country is the greater danger. And which country has invaded the most countries. And which country has ratted on the most international agreements. And which country imposes economic blockades on the most countries it doesn’t like, etc., etc.
      Oh, and which piddling country licks that bully country’s boots, eh?

      Alexandra Egerton

    1. Perhaps China need to sail a fleet into Cuba then up the US coast without going near US territorial waters. The annexed island of Hawaii may welcome a goodwill visit from a Chinese ship.

  3. Earth is on track for the ‘Worst Case Scenario’, regarding Climate Change: Science Alert September 2020, Worst Case Scenario Warning

    In California right now there are 50,000 foot smoke plumes and a record-shattering heatwave as the Climate Emergency hits the state: Climate Emergency Grips
    Timelapse footage from space showing Saturday’s explosion of California wildfires led one meteorologist to declare: “It cannot be overstated how terrifying this satellite image is.”

    1. Extinction Rebellion UK have staged overnight blockades of Murdoch’s and others’ media operations.
      UK Climate Campaign Blockade Murdochs

      The real story, according to Extinction Rebellion UK, is that humanity is facing “an emergency of unprecedented scale and the papers we have targeted are not reflecting the scale and urgency of what is happening to our planet.”

      “After staging overnight blockades of newspaper printing and delivery operations owned by right-wing magnate Rupert Murdoch and others for perpetuating the global climate crisis, members of Extinction Rebellion UK on Saturday defended the provocative direct actions by pointing out the life-threatening role these media giants play by wilfully misinforming the public about the emergency now facing humanity.”
      ———————

      “For one night ordinary people — terrified by the climate and ecological emergency that so much of our media is failing to report sufficiently — made these powerful and undemocratic corporations feel the vulnerability ordinary people live with everyday.” — Extinction Rebellion UK

  4. Great article and great response Stephen.

    It truly dismays me that our foreign policy is never ever debated at all by any political party but we just go along with what the bullies of the world primarily the US want.

    1. Unfortunately there is a unwritten rule between the 3 major political parties not to discuss NZ Foreign Affairs & or Defence at election time. Because no one want to want to be held accountable in the following portfolios.
      Have you ever why 3 major parties all talk about wanting to see the NZDF partake and structure the NZDF around Peacekeeping from Chapter 1-7 of the Peacekeeping Charter including Article 51 the right to Self Defence but somehow they don’t want to fund to it?
      Or the lessons learnt from UN Peacekeeping Missions from Bosnia and from Timor-Leste seen by our elected members but it in the the to hard box to gather dust?

    1. Yeah! Like racing against foreign billionaires in ridiculously expensive boats around Waitemata Harbour.

  7. Good objects for discussion. Needs thought. I’ll get round to it later. I hope that some thoughtful, balanced people are doing the hard yards on this. I have just bought book written by Boochan’s Manus Island story. I hope that counts for something.

    Incidentally there is another printing touted which will be a sort of celebration of achievement with beautiful binding etc. – so would be something good to do, and have.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/aug/02/behrouz-boochani-manus-island-and-the-book-written-one-text-at-a-time

    2. Refugees are usually victims of wars, actions displacing people and greed or old conflicts renewed by opportunists and large corporations.

      We need to fight the causes of refugee flight.

      Soon we will have climate and food refugees that we are totally unprepared for.
      Politicians live in a narrow world with blinkers and some show absolutely no regard for our kids future.

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