Author Archives: Derek Turner

Hari kari In yesterday’s Independent, prize winning journalist Johann Hari admitted that he had inserted earlier texts into ‘interviews’ without indicating their origin (“My journalism is at the centre of a storm. This is what I have learned”, Wednesday 29 … Continue reading →

The Columbine Pilgrim – Andy Nowicki’s new novel Here’s my review of Andy Nowicki’s excellent new novel, which is in the July issue of the New English Review http://www.newenglishreview.org/custpage.cfm/frm/91749/sec_id/91749 Derek Turner 30 June 2011 Free Google Ad cialis drugs no … Continue reading →

The Human Rights Act – the gift that keeps on giving Good old Tony Blair, who incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law with the 1998 Human Rights Act – although he modestly declined to take any … Continue reading →

Sycophancy in Soweto Amusing how supposedly hard-bitten journalists go all weak at the knees and pre-pubescent girlish whenever any of the following magical spells are uttered –  Nelson Mandela, Barack Obama, Michelle Obama… http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13872735 Yesterday on the ITV news the … Continue reading →

When free trade fails to deliver This is my latest article, this one in The University Bookman, Russell Kirk”s journal. http://www.kirkcenter.org/index.php/bookman/article/when-free-trade-is-not-fair-exchange/ My view on free trade has always been that it is a good thing between countries on comparable socio-economic … Continue reading →

G4S and the vexatious vacationers The BBC has been excited today by a report that “more than 700 complaints” were made by illegal immigrants against G4S, a company which polices immigration removal centres. Shock, horror, UN resolution, send in the … Continue reading →

The truth about US “isolationism” This is a letter QR American editor Matk G. Brennan  sent to the New York Times today June 15, 2011 Dear Mr. Zeleny: I am writing in reference to your (mis)use of the word “isolationism” … Continue reading →

Stopping the trafficking – or perhaps not Iain Duncan Smith’s think-tank the Centre for Social Justice is examining the issue of human trafficking, which apparently affects 6,000 unfortunates every year. BBC report here – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-13775276 This is just one of … Continue reading →

R.I. P. Patrick Leigh-Fermor Very sorry, if not surprised, to learn of the death of Patrick Leigh-Fermor, at the age of 96. He did history’s most enviable walk, and wrote about it in two of the 20th century’s greatest travel … Continue reading →

Turkey in Europe? Thanks but no thanks The BBC today reports an exodus of Syrian refugees into Turkey – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-13710588 Of course I feel sorry for the refugees – I’d do just as they are doing if I were a Syrian … Continue reading →