journamalism
« Previous EntriesSelling Democracy (Slight Return)
Thursday, November 17th, 2011Writing about the influence of the Internet on pro-democracy movements earlier this year, I observed: As individual control over the flow of information rises, central control wanes. And this, obviously, is the crux of the dilemma facing businesses and governments across North Africa and throughout the world. They are belatedly coming to realise that they [...]
Vanuatu Applauds Call for ‘Government Intelligence’
Wednesday, May 25th, 2011[Originally published on sathed.vu - Vanuatu's Satire website] Police Commissioner Joshua Bong’s call for improved government intelligence was roundly supported by all sectors of Vanuatu Society. The announcement, made at the closing of a recent security conference, met with enthusiastic responses from everyone this writer interviewed. A survey of 100 people asking the question ‘Do [...]
The Powerful and the Good
Tuesday, May 17th, 2011[This review of Wan Smolbag Theatre's new play, Zero Balans was written for the Vanuatu Daily Post.] Zero Balans, the new play from Wan Smolbag Theatre, seems to argue that you can be powerful and you can be good, but you can’t be both at once. This political morality tale recounts the story of Ezekiel. [...]
Governance and Goodness
Friday, March 18th, 2011I’ll say this again, in all sincerity: A principled man who’s willing to walk that muddy road is a better man than I, because I would always take that principled stand, keep my conscience clear, and fail entirely as a politician.
That may sound back-handed to some. It’s not. Life is a complex and messy thing; there are no simple answers. And sometimes staying pure and principled means staying powerless.
For my part I’m willing to abdicate that power, because once in a while things need to be said at any cost.
It’s easy for me to say this, but I don’t say it lightly. I say it because others can’t:
If a Government Minister resorts to political violence and coercion and the government takes no action to remedy this, that government deserves to fall.
Forget Fear
Thursday, March 10th, 2011[Originally published in the weekend edition of the Vanuatu Daily Post] My name is Dan McGarry. I’ve been using the nom de plume of Graham Crumb since 1995, but today I have decided to draw aside the literary veil. I do so in solidarity with Marc Neil-Jones, publisher of the Daily Post, in order to [...]
The Internet ≠ the Network
Monday, February 7th, 2011Douglas Rushkoff just posted a piece with which I largely agree, but which indulges in some remarkably lazy language in the process: “Some of us might like to believe that the genie is out of the bottle and that we all have access to an unstoppable decentralized network. In reality, the internet is entirely controlled [...]
Infowar – A Case Study
Friday, February 4th, 2011[This weekend's Opinion column in the Daily Post] The recent decision by the Mubarak regime in Egypt to cut off all Internet access for its citizens is a textbook example of using a silver bullet to shoot oneself in the foot. The whys and wherefores of how they’ve gone about doing so provide a useful [...]
My Privacy, Your Secrecy
Monday, December 27th, 2010There is a new, defining conflict in the world. Technology’s assault on secrecy will succeed just as surely as it has on our privacy. There are only two ways to come to terms with Wikileaks and its successors: Repression or negotiation.
"Journalism"
Sunday, December 12th, 2010I’m not arguing that complete access to all information is the only true form of journalism. I’m suggesting that making a distinction between WikiLeaks and ‘journalism’ as we understand the word does not describe the process; it describes the actors.
What Necessity?
Saturday, December 11th, 2010If indeed, the threat of force was used to bar the public and press from a session of Parliament in which a change of government took place, and there was no compelling reason for this action, then Vanuatu’s politicians, no matter how inspired or high-minded their intentions, have led the country away from its roots.
Transparency is not just the name of a local political gadfly. It is a real thing. It is crucial to the country’s well-being. And it is not possible to like it on Monday, ignore it on a Tuesday and promise to be back Wednesday.
As the recent WikiLeaks controversy has shown us, a shining light can be discomforting, even embarrassing at times. It can actually make it more difficult to get things done. But –and here’s the key– it makes it more difficult for us to do wrong, too.
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