Wednesday, December 6, 2023
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Gwynne Dyer

Gwynne Dyer is a United Kingdom-based independent journalist who writes a column for The Hill Times.

Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | December 4, 2023
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pictured, and the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) both dismiss U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s strenuous warnings about the need to avoid high Palestinian casualties in the renewed bombing as just so much hot air. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | December 4, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | December 4, 2023
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pictured, and the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) both dismiss U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s strenuous warnings about the need to avoid high Palestinian casualties in the renewed bombing as just so much hot air. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | November 30, 2023
Climate scientist James Hansen has returned to tell us that it’s bad news when it comes to how much warming we will get in the long run from doubling the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Photograph courtesy of Chris Bentley/Flickr
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | November 30, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | November 30, 2023
Climate scientist James Hansen has returned to tell us that it’s bad news when it comes to how much warming we will get in the long run from doubling the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Photograph courtesy of Chris Bentley/Flickr
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | November 22, 2023
U.S. President Joe Biden, left, and Israeli Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Oct. 18, 2023 Biden urgently wants a permanent ceasefire. Netanyahu wants the war to continue in order to 'complete the elimination of Hamas and ensure that there will be no new threat to the State of Israel from Gaza.' Image courtesy of @POTUS
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | November 22, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | November 22, 2023
U.S. President Joe Biden, left, and Israeli Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Oct. 18, 2023 Biden urgently wants a permanent ceasefire. Netanyahu wants the war to continue in order to 'complete the elimination of Hamas and ensure that there will be no new threat to the State of Israel from Gaza.' Image courtesy of @POTUS
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | November 16, 2023
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pictured at a press conference on the Hill in Ottawa in 2012. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | November 16, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | November 16, 2023
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pictured at a press conference on the Hill in Ottawa in 2012. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | November 15, 2023
Argentina's presidential candidates Sergio Massa, left, and Javier Milei. Photographs courtesy of Commons Wikimedia
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | November 15, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | November 15, 2023
Argentina's presidential candidates Sergio Massa, left, and Javier Milei. Photographs courtesy of Commons Wikimedia
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | November 9, 2023
Despite global tech leaders opining that AI is an 'existential threat' to humanity, that threat will only arise if the machines were to be endowed with something called 'artificial general intelligence,' which does not currently exists, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Pixabay
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | November 9, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | November 9, 2023
Despite global tech leaders opining that AI is an 'existential threat' to humanity, that threat will only arise if the machines were to be endowed with something called 'artificial general intelligence,' which does not currently exists, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Pixabay
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | November 6, 2023
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pictured on Parliament Hill in March 2012. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | November 6, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | November 6, 2023
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pictured on Parliament Hill in March 2012. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | November 2, 2023
The great Ukrainian offensive, led by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, finally got through most of the minefields and the ‘dragon’s teeth’ by early September, but they ran out of reserves, writes Gwynn Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/President of Ukraine
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | November 2, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | November 2, 2023
The great Ukrainian offensive, led by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, finally got through most of the minefields and the ‘dragon’s teeth’ by early September, but they ran out of reserves, writes Gwynn Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/President of Ukraine
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | October 18, 2023
U.S. President Joe Biden, left, and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Oct. 18, 2023. Photograph courtesy of @POTUS
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | October 18, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | October 18, 2023
U.S. President Joe Biden, left, and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Oct. 18, 2023. Photograph courtesy of @POTUS
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | October 13, 2023
An Israel Defence Forces (IDF) tank. The IDF intends is to create a 'free-fire zone' in the northern third of the Gaza Strip where its soldiers can use maximum firepower without killing large numbers of civilians, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph via Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | October 13, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | October 13, 2023
An Israel Defence Forces (IDF) tank. The IDF intends is to create a 'free-fire zone' in the northern third of the Gaza Strip where its soldiers can use maximum firepower without killing large numbers of civilians, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph via Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | October 11, 2023
When you see Australians adapting to diversity, but still treating Aboriginal people the same old way, you realize that it’s a specific situation, not just the Australian version of a general one. If you require confirmation, just look at New Zealand, where Maori is actually one of the national languages, writes Gwynne Dyer. Pixabay photograph courtesy of RebeccaLintzPhotography
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | October 11, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | October 11, 2023
When you see Australians adapting to diversity, but still treating Aboriginal people the same old way, you realize that it’s a specific situation, not just the Australian version of a general one. If you require confirmation, just look at New Zealand, where Maori is actually one of the national languages, writes Gwynne Dyer. Pixabay photograph courtesy of RebeccaLintzPhotography
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | October 9, 2023
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's promise to rain down on the Gaza Strip is exactly what Hamas wants, the mightier the better. The whole point is to get the Israelis to send its soldiers in on the ground, because that’s when the casualties start going up steeply, writes Gwynne Dyer. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | October 9, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | October 9, 2023
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's promise to rain down on the Gaza Strip is exactly what Hamas wants, the mightier the better. The whole point is to get the Israelis to send its soldiers in on the ground, because that’s when the casualties start going up steeply, writes Gwynne Dyer. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | October 5, 2023
Then-minister of families, children, and social development Karina Gould, left, shares a toast with Israel's Ambassador to Canada Ronen Pinchas Hoffman at a celebration for Israel's 75th independence day on May 16, 2023. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | October 5, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | October 5, 2023
Then-minister of families, children, and social development Karina Gould, left, shares a toast with Israel's Ambassador to Canada Ronen Pinchas Hoffman at a celebration for Israel's 75th independence day on May 16, 2023. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | October 2, 2023
Nikol Pashinyan, the prime minister of Armenia (the actual country, not the enclave within Azerbaijan that has now been reclaimed by that country) said: 'This is a direct act of ethnic cleansing, something we had long been warning the international community about.' Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | October 2, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | October 2, 2023
Nikol Pashinyan, the prime minister of Armenia (the actual country, not the enclave within Azerbaijan that has now been reclaimed by that country) said: 'This is a direct act of ethnic cleansing, something we had long been warning the international community about.' Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | September 28, 2023
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been defending his country against Russia's invasion. Some politicians in Slovakia and Poland are running on pro-Russian, anti-Ukrainian platforms in upcoming elections, but are unlikely to follow through on these promises if they gain power, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/President of Ukraine
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | September 28, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | September 28, 2023
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been defending his country against Russia's invasion. Some politicians in Slovakia and Poland are running on pro-Russian, anti-Ukrainian platforms in upcoming elections, but are unlikely to follow through on these promises if they gain power, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/President of Ukraine
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | September 20, 2023
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly and Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc discuss Canada’s intelligence alleging India's involvement in the killing of a Sikh leader in B.C at a press conference in the House of Commons Foyer on Sept. 18. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | September 20, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | September 20, 2023
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly and Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc discuss Canada’s intelligence alleging India's involvement in the killing of a Sikh leader in B.C at a press conference in the House of Commons Foyer on Sept. 18. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | September 18, 2023
Guyana President Irfaan Ali and his successors must use the next 10 or 15 years of high oil income to transform the country in a sustainable way, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of the United States Department of State/Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | September 18, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | September 18, 2023
Guyana President Irfaan Ali and his successors must use the next 10 or 15 years of high oil income to transform the country in a sustainable way, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of the United States Department of State/Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | September 13, 2023
This artist's impression shows the planet K2-18b, its host star and an accompanying planet. Planet K2-18b is 8.6 times bigger than Earth, but it has an atmosphere containing carbon dioxide and methane, both commonly emitted by living things—and also dimethyl sulphide, a trace gas that is definitely a strong ‘biomarker’ for life. Courtesy of ESA/Hubble, M. Kornmesser
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | September 13, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | September 13, 2023
This artist's impression shows the planet K2-18b, its host star and an accompanying planet. Planet K2-18b is 8.6 times bigger than Earth, but it has an atmosphere containing carbon dioxide and methane, both commonly emitted by living things—and also dimethyl sulphide, a trace gas that is definitely a strong ‘biomarker’ for life. Courtesy of ESA/Hubble, M. Kornmesser
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | September 6, 2023
The meat industry knows its time is coming to a close, just like Big Oil knew about its own impact on climate change in the 1970s. Photograph courtesy of Pixabay
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | September 6, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | September 6, 2023
The meat industry knows its time is coming to a close, just like Big Oil knew about its own impact on climate change in the 1970s. Photograph courtesy of Pixabay
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | September 4, 2023
If you insult King Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand, or challenge the establishment, you’re in deep trouble, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Thailand’s Department of Public Relations, Office of the Secretariat of the Prime Minister
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | September 4, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | September 4, 2023
If you insult King Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand, or challenge the establishment, you’re in deep trouble, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Thailand’s Department of Public Relations, Office of the Secretariat of the Prime Minister
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 31, 2023
Pope Francis condemns the 'obsession' of some Catholics with issues like “abortion, gay marriage and the use of contraceptive methods” and welcomes transgender Catholics in the Church, but says gender transitioning is a sin and strongly criticizes gender studies, calling it 'dangerous,' writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Long Thiên on Flickr/Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 31, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 31, 2023
Pope Francis condemns the 'obsession' of some Catholics with issues like “abortion, gay marriage and the use of contraceptive methods” and welcomes transgender Catholics in the Church, but says gender transitioning is a sin and strongly criticizes gender studies, calling it 'dangerous,' writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Long Thiên on Flickr/Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 29, 2023
From left, Brazilian President Lula da Silva, Chinese President Xi Jinping, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the 2023 BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. Photograph by Government of South Africa/Flickr
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 29, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 29, 2023
From left, Brazilian President Lula da Silva, Chinese President Xi Jinping, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the 2023 BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. Photograph by Government of South Africa/Flickr
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 23, 2023
Chinese President Xi Jinping, pictured in 2017, should learn from Vladimir Putin's mistake, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of the United Nations/Jean-Marc Ferré on Flickr
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 23, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 23, 2023
Chinese President Xi Jinping, pictured in 2017, should learn from Vladimir Putin's mistake, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of the United Nations/Jean-Marc Ferré on Flickr
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 21, 2023
Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa, pictured at the UN in 2022, and his ZANU-PF party are expected to win the country's general election later this week. Photograph courtesy of UN Photo/Cia Pak
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 21, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 21, 2023
Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa, pictured at the UN in 2022, and his ZANU-PF party are expected to win the country's general election later this week. Photograph courtesy of UN Photo/Cia Pak
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 17, 2023
Donald Trump pictured on the campaign trail in 2020. While many believe the indictments against Trump are strengthening his support among his 'core' supporters, that won't be enough to win the next general election, writes Gwynne Dyer. Screenshot courtesy of CPAC
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 17, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 17, 2023
Donald Trump pictured on the campaign trail in 2020. While many believe the indictments against Trump are strengthening his support among his 'core' supporters, that won't be enough to win the next general election, writes Gwynne Dyer. Screenshot courtesy of CPAC
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 14, 2023
The 1967 Outer Space Treaty established that no nation can own the moon. The subsequent 1979 Moon Agreement states more specifically that no nation, organization, or private individual can own resources on the moon—but only four countries have signed it, not including the U.S., China, or Russia. Photograph courtesy of JB on Pixabay
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 14, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 14, 2023
The 1967 Outer Space Treaty established that no nation can own the moon. The subsequent 1979 Moon Agreement states more specifically that no nation, organization, or private individual can own resources on the moon—but only four countries have signed it, not including the U.S., China, or Russia. Photograph courtesy of JB on Pixabay
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 10, 2023
From youthful commander in the genocidal Khmer Rouge, to Vietnamese puppet, to coup-maker, to dynastic autocrat, the former (official) ruler of Cambodia Hun Sen did it all without ever caring about either ideology or loyalty writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Hun Sen on Facebook
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 10, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 10, 2023
From youthful commander in the genocidal Khmer Rouge, to Vietnamese puppet, to coup-maker, to dynastic autocrat, the former (official) ruler of Cambodia Hun Sen did it all without ever caring about either ideology or loyalty writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Hun Sen on Facebook
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 9, 2023
Donald Trump, left, is under five indictments in three jurisdictions, potentially involving up to 10 years in jail, with more indictments to come. Rahul Gandhi, leader of India’s main opposition party, was facing two years in prison for insulting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In Pakistan, former prime minister Imran Khan has just been arrested. Photographs courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 9, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 9, 2023
Donald Trump, left, is under five indictments in three jurisdictions, potentially involving up to 10 years in jail, with more indictments to come. Rahul Gandhi, leader of India’s main opposition party, was facing two years in prison for insulting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In Pakistan, former prime minister Imran Khan has just been arrested. Photographs courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 2, 2023
El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele, pictured in 2016 when he was mayor of San Salvador, in front of a banner that reads 'ruling with the people,' in Spanish. He is a populist icon throughout Latin America, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Presidencia El Salvador on Flickr
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 2, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 2, 2023
El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele, pictured in 2016 when he was mayor of San Salvador, in front of a banner that reads 'ruling with the people,' in Spanish. He is a populist icon throughout Latin America, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Presidencia El Salvador on Flickr
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | July 27, 2023
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was indicted on charges of breach of trust, taking bribes, and fraud in 2019. He was facing up to 10 years in jail, if found guilty, when he returned to the prime ministership. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | July 27, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | July 27, 2023
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was indicted on charges of breach of trust, taking bribes, and fraud in 2019. He was facing up to 10 years in jail, if found guilty, when he returned to the prime ministership. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | July 24, 2023
Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that he won’t be going to South Africa for next month’s summit of the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa), although all the other leaders will be there. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | July 24, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | July 24, 2023
Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that he won’t be going to South Africa for next month’s summit of the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa), although all the other leaders will be there. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | July 19, 2023
Santiago Abascal, the leader of Spain’s far-right Vox Party, pictured in 2018, is the bogeyman in the July 23 snap election there. Some delusional panic-mongers see him as the Second Coming of dictator Francisco Franco, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | July 19, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | July 19, 2023
Santiago Abascal, the leader of Spain’s far-right Vox Party, pictured in 2018, is the bogeyman in the July 23 snap election there. Some delusional panic-mongers see him as the Second Coming of dictator Francisco Franco, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | July 17, 2023
The Chapel Creek wildfire north of Blue River in British Columbia. There are 885 wildfires burning in Canada, and counting. Photograph courtesy of the B.C. Wildfire Service
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | July 17, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | July 17, 2023
The Chapel Creek wildfire north of Blue River in British Columbia. There are 885 wildfires burning in Canada, and counting. Photograph courtesy of the B.C. Wildfire Service