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Transforming New Zealand: Why is the Left failing?
Writing contemporary history is challenging. New evidence appears; events move on; it is hard to provide thoughtful reflections about events close to the writing. The last chapters of my economic history of Aotearoa New Zealand, Not in Stormy Seas, are no exception. I tried to avoid providing a conclusion in Chapter 55 by offering three alternatives from three different ideological perspectives. Even then, I added a further five chapters in a section called ‘Ongoings’ which took events up to the time of sending the book to the printer in 2020.
But events progressed. I returned to contemporary history almost five years later, in In Open Seas. It was written in a different, more personal, style from a conventional history like Not in Stormy Seas. Writing about options for the future would inevitably be influenced by my own values. I wanted to express my values while encouraging the reader to use theirs. That is where the ‘open’ in the book’s title comes from – it was to open possibilities.
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Fabian Fundraiser - Movie "Twilight Time"
Twilight Time looks at the life and work of Desmond Ball, (1947-2016), a barefooted academic from ‘down under’ who was hailed by Jimmy Carter as “the man who saved the world”, as he proved the fallacy of the doctrine of limited nuclear war. His study of Pine Gap – the world’s largest spy base outside of the US, right in Australia’s red heart – infuriated Australia’s defence establishment. Des gazed at spy bases around the world and worked out what they did and why. An important though under-acknowledged Australian, Des Ball died in October 2016. He is remembered as the ‘Insurgent Intellectual’.This movie is very relevant as Pine Gap is still used for targetting in Gaza and Ukraine. Nuclear-capable B52s are based in Northern Australia on a "neither confirm nor deny" basis. Nicky Hager will speak and offer comment. The trailer for the film is here.
Lighthouse Cuba, Wigan Street, Wellington, Sunday 6 April 5:30pm, $25.00. If you would like to attend, please register and pay here.
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The NZ Fabian Society is an independent membership based policy forum providing open, pluralist space for education and debate on progressive policies. We aim to apply progressive values to contemporary issues. |