http://werewolf.co.nz/

Hi and welcome to the 32nd issue of Werewolf. With some anxiety and trepidation, our cover story this month analyses the current state of the peak oil concept – which was supposed to herald the beginning of the end of fossil fuel inflicted damage to the planet, but which now itself faces a tough political climate and a potential glut in oil and gas production. Both of which seem likely to make the switch to renewables even harder to accomplish that it seemed back in the heady clean energy hey days of 2005 -2008. In this same issue, Alison McCulloch begins a two part examination of the current state (and vibrant history) of the township of Waihi, and of the struggle being waged by Waihi residents to reach a fair compensation deal for the impact that the local gold mine is having upon their lives.

In the first what may become an occasional series from Britain, Rory MacKinnon uses the looming anniversary of last year’s riots to re-examine the causes of those days of rage, and the vested interests still intent on not acknowledging the real causes. So far, the civil war in Mali has been ignored by a media that’s tuned obsessively to events in Syria. For this issue, Werewolf has interviewed the West’s leading expert on the Tuareg, and presents evidence that neighbouring Algeria could well be manipulating the West’s chronic paranoia about Al Qaeda in order to conjure up a terrorist threat for its own regional advantage, while diverting attention from the real prize – which is about who gets to control the cocaine trade routes from Colombia through North Africa, and into Europe?

In his From The Hood column this month, our resident satirist Lyndon Hood - just back from holidays in Spain – ponders our self declared reputation for virtue, and their sunny, olive tree be-decked indebtedness and wonders what went wrong – and is it us, or them or the relative absence of cows? In another article, we consider the perverse uses to which the fine old word “ efficiency” is being put these days, in order to give legitimacy to some pretty nasty policies and ideological fixations.

A quarter century after the Graceland album was released, Paul Simon is touring again with some of the same musicians, and has released a film about the political controversy that his actions generated at the time among the opponents of apartheid. We look back at the anger, and at the album. In our Milestone Movies column, we consider two films about the indelible legacy of memory – the 1947 film noir classic Out of the Past and last year’s chilling Martha Marcy May Marlene. In both films, deserting proves relatively easy, but escape becomes nigh on impossible. In our music column The Complicatist this month, we celebrate the career and works of the New York producer El-P and the Atlanta rapper Killer Mike, who have recently joined forces in what is arguably this year’s best album to date, R.A.P. Music. Cartoon Alley this month features the next instalment of the “The Princess and the Whaler” story by Mat Tait and Mike Brown, plus there’s new work by Brent Willis featuring the further adventures of Ranga the Paranoid Ape.

Thanks to Lyndon Hood and Alastair Thompson for helping me post this issue online. Werewolf is a thank you to Scoop readers and intended as an outlet for local writers and artists. If you want to be involved, contact me at gordon@scoop.co.nz

Cheers,
Gordon Campbell
Werewolf/Scoop
gordon@werewolf.co.nz

The contents of this edition are:

Has The Peak Oil Idea… Peaked?
http://werewolf.co.nz/2012/06/has-the-peak-oil-idea-peaked/
And if so, does the planet stand a chance?
by Gordon Campbell

Efficiency Is Not Your Friend
http://werewolf.co.nz/2012/06/efficiency-is-not-your-friend/
When they say ‘efficiency’ that’s when you should reach for your revolver
by Gordon Campbell

On Shaky Ground
http://werewolf.co.nz/2012/06/on-shaky-ground/
Waihi tries to come to terms with the mine in its midst
by Alison McCulloch

Ghosts and Empty Sockets
http://werewolf.co.nz/2012/06/ghosts-and-empty-sockets/
Looking back at Paul Simon, Graceland and the end of apartheid
by Gordon Campbell

Manufacturing a Menace
http://werewolf.co.nz/2012/06/manufacturing-a-menace/
Is Algeria Orchestrating the Terrorist Threat in Mali ?
by Gordon Campbell

London Calling: A Society in Lockdown
http://werewolf.co.nz/2012/06/london-calling-a-society-under-pressure/
Forget the Queen’s diamond jubilee – the riots anniversary tells a different story about the state of Britain
by Rory MacKinnon

… and from Werewolf #31…
Return of the DIY Abortion
http://werewolf.co.nz/2012/05/return-of-the-diy-abortion/
A hostile law, and stretched services, are pushing women onto the Internet for abortion care
by Alison McCulloch

Would Jesus Support Asset Sales?
http://werewolf.co.nz/2012/05/would-jesus-support-asset-sales/
The role of the Almighty in political debate
by Gordon Campbell

From The Hood: Eurorecovery Made Easy
http://werewolf.co.nz/2012/06/from-the-hood-eurorecovery-made-easy/
The Spanish Economy, by a New Zealand Observer
by Lyndon Hood

The Complicatist: El-P, Killer Mike
http://werewolf.co.nz/2012/06/the-complicatist-killer-mike-el-p/
Philip K. Dick Meets the Rappers, Downtown
by Gordon Campbell

Cartoon Alley : Mat Tait & Mike Brown
http://werewolf.co.nz/2012/06/cartoon-alley-mike-brown-mat-tait/
Mat Tait is a South Island based cartoonist and illustrator. Mike Brown lives in Wellington and is currently writing a PhD thesis on New Zealand vernacular musics.
by Mike Brown & Mat Tait

Cartoon Alley : Brent Willis
http://werewolf.co.nz/2012/06/cartoon-alley-brent-willis/
Brent Willis currently lives in Lyall Bay, Wellington and has been making underground self-published comics since the mid 1990s.
by Brent Willis

Milestone Movies: Out of the Past (1947) and Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011)
http://werewolf.co.nz/2012/06/milestone-movies-out-of-the-past-1947-and-martha-marcy-may-marlene-2011/
The past may be a far country, but we still live in it
by Gordon Campbell

* * * * * WEREWOLF ISSUE 31, May 21, 2012 * * * * *

http://werewolf.co.nz/2012/06/draft-cover-may-2012/
The May 2012 Edition of Werewolf
by Werewolf

THE IMPORTANT BIT - WHY WEREWOLF?
from Scoop General Manager Alastair Thompson

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