Stories New Zealand
The votes are in: An overwhelming loss for mainstream media
Those of the left, right, center, communist or socialist blocks all agree about one thing: The failure of the mainstream media in its coverage of the road to the White House. Is this merely post-election griping? It can't all be. What issues afflict the mainstream media?
Fourth World Voices: We Can Too
African-American politician Barack Obama’s White House victory is seen as their own triumph by many in the world. But what does the marginalized and invisible world – the Fourth World – think of America’s first multicultural president? Indigenous peoples offer watchful hope for change; many adopt the spirit of “Yes we can.â€
The view from the Pacific (and its environs)
As the first results come in, what are people living in Oceania and Asia thinking about the election? John Liebhardt brings us the latest reactions from Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and the Philippines.
Debate Watch: What is Joe Biden Up Against?
Since Barack Obama selected Senator Joe Biden as his running mate just prior to the Democratic National Convention in August, little attention has been paid to the Senator from Delaware. With all of the media's attention focused on Obama himself (as well as Sarah Palin of course), little focus has been given to Biden. The blogosphere is the exception, however, as bloggers debate Biden only hours before the vice presidential debate.
Global: Palin Brings Down the House
Love her or hate her, international bloggers say Alaska Governor Sarah Palin brought the house down when she addressed the Republican National Convention, in Saint Paul, Minneapolis. Some even see her as a president one day. Following is a mixed bag of reactions from all four corners of the globe.
Global: Live from the Democratic Convention
All eyes are fixed on the Democratic National Convention - and some of our international bloggers are actually in Denver, Colorado, blogging it live. Others are wishing they were there and turning to their television screens and the Internet, to cover it as the news comes in.
John Edwards: Scummy, fake, manipulative and pretty?
Since the former Democratic Presidential candidate John Edwards admitted to having an extra-marital affair, bloggers from around the world following the story have largely focused on two major issues: First, the sad irony of a politician having an affair while his wife, Elizabeth, fights breast cancer; Secondly, the role the mainstream press played in keeping the story silent.
New Zealand: Citizen Arrest for Condi
In addition to talks with the New Zealand Government, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was in for a surprise when the Auckland University Students' Association (AUSA) announced a $5,000 reward for any student who makes a citizen's arrest on the visiting official. The reward has since been withdrawn and according to Press reports, AUSA had said the arrest would be for Dr Rice's role in “overseeing the illegal invasion and continued occupation†of Iraq, and crimes under the Geneva Conventions Act 1958, and the Crimes of Torture Act 1989."
Obama: Flip-flopping over abortion?
Throughout his candidacy, Barack Obama has consistently been seen as an advocate for abortion rights, earning him support from such organizations as NARAL. But after Obama clarified his position on late-term abortions this past Saturday, saying that he opposed "mental distress" as a reason for late-term (22 weeks or later) abortions, the blogosphere was quick to question Obama's true beliefs.
Obamanation: The World Rejoices at Obama's Nomination
A cursory glance at the foreign blogosphere would seem to indicate that Senator Barack Obama is the favored candidate abroad. Today's rejoicing in the blogosphere over securing the Democratic Party's ticket in the race to the White House only serves to back up that hypothesis, with bloggers celebrating Obama's potential nomination.
