Oxfam applauds NZ government’s response to Sudan crisis

Our media release earlier today calling on the government to contribute to the relief effort in western Sudan and Chad has been overtaken by the welcome news that the New Zealand government will contribute NZ$2 million towards humanitarian aid for the crisis.

Although this crisis hasn’t received much coverage in the New Zealand media, it is gratifying to know that the New Zealand government are responding quickly to what a United Nations spokesperson on the ground has described as “the biggest humanitarian drama of our time”.

Oxfam New Zealand launched an emergency appeal to the New Zealand public last week, seeking contribution s to the NZ$3 million that Oxfam needs for its vital work in Darfur and Chad. Call 0800 600 700.

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>