I was invited to this year’s Ubud Writer’s Festival in Bali, Indonesia, one of the best literary festivals in the world. I attended twice more than a decade ago (and had extraordinary experiences in the Muslim-majority province, Aceh). This year, now run online, is a session about my drug war book, Pills, Powder and Smoke: Inside the Bloody War on Drugs, in conversation with…
Crime Spot podcast on the drug war
Austrian-based podcast, Crime Spot, “picks up on current events and looks behind the scenes to better understand the role played by organized crime in shaping modern events and crises.” I was recently interviewed about my latest book, Pills, Powder and Smoke: Inside the Bloody War on Drugs.
The Jist podcast interview on disaster capitalism and privatised immigration
In many ways, it’s a sad reality that my book, Disaster Capitalism: Making A Killing Out Of Catastrophe, continues to be deeply relevant (especially during this Covid-19 year). I discussed these issues, along with privatised immigration, on the UK-based The Jist podcast:
Make sure that green energy sources are ethical and sustainable
My story in Foreign Policy co-written with Ketan Joshi: Clean Energy Tech Needs Secure, Moral Supply Chains
The false allure of El Chapo’s capture
My book review appeared in last weekend’s Australian newspaper: El Jefe: The Stalking of Chapo Guzman By Alan Feuer Simon and Schuster, 256pp, $32.99 On the day in February 2019 that the world’s most notorious drug cartel boss, Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, was found guilty in a Brooklyn courtroom, the prosecution was ecstatic. Richard P.…
Sydney Writer’s Festival interview on Pills, Powder and Smoke
This year’s Sydney Writer’s Festival was cancelled due to Covid-19 so it’s now gone online. I’ve been interviewed about my recent book, Pills, Powder and Smoke: Inside the Bloody War on Drugs, by criminologist Dr George (Kev) Dertadian. My other writer’s festival event this year is a conversation about the rise of far-right fascism.
The dark underbelly of Newcastle, Britain
In my recent book, Pills, Powder and Smoke: Inside the Bloody War on Drugs, I spend time across the UK, including the city of Newcastle, documenting the often brutal ways that the state mishandles drug users and addiction. The UK Sun newspaper commissioned me recently to write about my experiences in Newcastle. It’s not a…
Disaster capitalism in the age of Covid-19
My 2018 film, Disaster Capitalism, investigates the reality of privatised forces in Afghanistan, Haiti and Papua New Guinea. Last week, the film’s co-producers, Media Stockade, hosted me in a public conversation/Q&A about the film, my book of the same name and how disaster capitalists are exploiting the current Covid-19 moment:
UK Times Radio interview on “ethical cocaine” etc
Every now and then, a politician desperate for attention announces a policy to be tough on drug users. The latest person is the Conservative candidate for London mayor, Shaun Bailey, who wants companies to drug test their employees. It won’t work. In light of my recent book, Pills, Powder and Smoke: Inside the Bloody War…
How to Sell a Massacre book launch
Back in 2019, Al Jazeera English released a stunning 3-year long investigation into the National Rifle Association (NRA) and Australia’s One Nation political party, How to Sell a Massacre. The journalist behind the story, Peter Charley, has written a fine book about it and I recently interviewed him at a (virtual) book launch.