I was recently interviewed by Lulaine Compere for leading American music magazine The Source: The system of capitalism is always being debated. In most countries people are fighting it, seeking to replace it, or trying to improve it. The mere presence of capitalism also brings with it values and ideas that will have huge consequences…
The “war on drugs” in Guinea-Bissau translated into French
Late last year I visited Guinea-Bissau in West Africa to investigate the country’s role as a key drug smuggling hub between South America and Europe. I published a number of stories about it including in… Foreign Policy. Leading French website… Ulyces… is committed to translating investigative stories from across the world and bringing back the tradition of financially…
The UN on trial: debate at the London School of Economics
During my recent time in London I was an expert witness at the London School of Economics during a fascinating event putting the UN on trial. 70 years old and always controversial, prosecution and defence lawyers tried the UN and asked both a jury and large audience if the UN should continue. A number of…
Disaster Capitalism documentary selected for prestigious Hot Docs festival
For over four years I’ve been working on the documentary, Disaster Capitalism. I was shooting footage myself when I started researching the book that eventually became my recent Disaster Capitalism: Making A Killing Out Of Catastrophe. I partnered with New York film-maker Thor Neureiter in 2012 (and Norwegian film-maker Spencer Austad has shot some amazing…
Debating Disaster Capitalism at the London School of Economics
During my recent visit to London, where I debated the future of the UN at the London School of Economics (LSE), I also discussed my book Disaster Capitalism at the LSE with three articulate and critical women:… Dr Brenna Bhandar, Dr Marsha Henry and… Dr Devika Hovell. I was challenged on my choice of interviewees in the…
Migrant Podcast interview on refugees and immigration
The Migrant Crisis Podcast is an interesting new initiative by two journalists keen to explore the often unreported aspects of the refugee issue. I was recently interviewed in Berlin about asylum seekers, Europe and immigration:
German radio station Bayerischer Rundfunk on privatised immigration
During my recent period in Berlin, Germany, as a Visiting Researcher… at WZB Social Science Centre, I was interviewed by Bayerischer Rundfunk (Bavarian Broadcasting) about Europe and Germany’s moves towards outsourcing its refugee “problem” to private corporations. My interview begins at 36.17. Other people on the show are social scientist Manuela Bojadzijev, political scientist Sandro Mezzadra,…
Private immigration facilities making money from misery
My debut article in the New York Times: Berlin — Immigration and Customs Enforcement calls the detention site in Dilley, Tex., a “family residential center.” But to the 2,000 migrant children and mothers who live there, it’s something else: “People who say this is not a prison are lying,” Yancy Maricela Mejia Guerra, a detainee…
Interview in German newspaper Berliner Zeitung about privatised immigration
During my recent time in Berlin, Germany, I was interviewed by one of Germany’s leading newspapers, Berliner Zeitung, about Europe’s growing reliance on privatised and unaccountable detention facilities for refugees. I’ve investigated this issue in my book, Disaster Capitalism. The interview was conducted in English and then translated into German. I’m a German citizen but…
The war on drugs has failed, end it now
My column in the Guardian: It takes a brave politician to advocate for the legalisation of all drugs in the current political climate. In Australia, Greens leader Richard Di Natale is… pushing… for the decriminalisation of illicit substances, arguing that drug-taking is a health issue rather than a criminal offence. Selling and distributing drugs would still be…