Harper’s magazine is running an essay, Wishful Thinking: The Aspirations and Failures of the United Nations, by Amanda Chicago Lewis. I guess if your name is Chicago you may be forgiven to be somewhat myopic, and present your country in the best light possible, or at least everyone else in a bad light. Over many…
Category: Politics
Two Easy Pieces on Journalism and Journalists, and The Media
I wrote a couple of pieces on journalism and the news media, in general, in my Daily Maverick column. I place excerpts, here, with links to the original posts. All my Daily Maverick columns are available here. Click on image to get to the column
Whose Anger Matters
I was interviewed by SmileFM about my Daily Maverick column of 30 April 2025. Click on the photograph for direct link to the column, and listen to SoundCloud recording below.
SAFM Interview
I was interviewed yesterday by Nqaba Mabece of SAFM about my Daily Maverick column about the challenges that face journalists and journalism. Below is a screenshot of the column. Full column can be read, here.
Calls for Appeasement and Status Quo Patriotism are growing louder and bolder
President Cyril Ramaphosa seems to have accepted the dismissal of Ebrahim Rasool without question, and seems to suffers from the same fear of Trump affliction that has debilitated CEOs in the USA, and driven them into what has been described cowardice. The dismissal of South Africa’s ambassador, Ebrahim Rasool, from Washington is brightening the light…
Nusantaran Boat Building and South East Asian Maritime Trade Routes
I arrived at Pulau Ketam a day after a completed boat had been launched. What remained were remnants of the craft. The workers had all retired to the Kampung in preparation of the evening prayers. ©ismaillagardien Sea explorers from Nusantara set foot on the African Continent through Madagascar since the early days of Christian era…
Video: Terengganu on the Western Shores of the South China Sea
Scenes in the City: Kuala Lumpur
Shutting down of Al Jazeera Offices and the Deafening Silence of South African Journalism
There has been a quite strange silence from South African journalism – from working professionals and the academy – about the Israeli military closing down Al Jazeera’s offices in Palestine. I may have missed commentary and/or criticism, but it has been a little strange – yet unsurprising. We’re all trying to save careers and income…
Malaysia’s road to BRICS is laden with traps and mines
Malaysia’s decision to apply to BRICS for membership is visionary, but fraught with problems. These problems are mainly external, non-governmental, it should be said, and will probably continue to nag the application process and bedevil Malaysia’s actual membership and participation in the BRICS. The likely challenges Malaysia faces, more especially the Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim,…