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…
Showing all posts tagged human rights
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:
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.
The future of cocaine is being written now
Cocaine is a hugely popular drug that causes global carnage. It should be legalised and regulated. I investigate these issues in the current edition of UK magazine Gentleman’s Journal:
Covid-19 welcomes disaster capitalists
I recently spoke at Virtual Progress 2020, a conference on civil rights and progressive politics. I talked about disaster capitalism. I was then interviewed by Australian outlet Right Now about these issues. Sarah Joseph conducted the interview: Antony Loewenstein has spent the past decade following corporations around the world, examining how they cash in on…
LSE tackles Pills, Power and Smoke
Happy to see another (relatively positive) book review of my latest book, Pills, Powder and Smoke: Inside the Bloody War on Drugs, just published in the London School of Economics by Alessandro Ford. The book was released in the UK in late 2019 so it’s pleasing to see it still being discussed (after all, the…
What will Europe do if Israel starts annexing?
As Israel flirts with annexing parts of the West Bank, Europe’s likely response is weak (at best). Global broadcaster TRT World asked me about this issue: Israel has occupied Palestinian land for over 50 years and Europe has barely mustered more than a few terse statements in opposition,” Antony Loewenstein, an independent journalist and filmmaker…
Bring Julian Assange home
I’ve been a supporter of Wikileaks since its inception in 2006. It’s been a wild ride, full of challenges and exhilaration. Right now, the life of founder Julian Assange is in danger so I’m happy to have signed a letter, alongside other prominent Australian writers and journalists, asking Australia’s Foreign Minister Marise Payne to take…
The drug war = class war
My interview in UK newspaper Morning Star about my drug war book, Pills, Powder and Smoke: Inside the Bloody War on Drugs. The interview was conducted by writer Miles Ellingham: Independent, investigative journalist and author, Antony Loewenstein has been a maverick player on the left-field of journalism for almost 15 years, reporting on the Israel-Palestine…
War on drugs will continue long after Covid-19 is done
What’s happening to the drug war during Covid-19 and where will it lead once it’s over? My essay/analysis for British outlet Unherd: The image was startling in its brazenness and simplicity. The convicted Mexican drug cartel head Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán is in a maximum security prison in the US, but his daughter, Alejandrina Guzmán,…