Red Pepper is an independent UK magazine of the political left. I was first invited to write for them while at university, in 2008, and my writing and interests have developed considerably since then. I’m now a Commissioning Editor involved in the development and continued success of the magazine. I enjoy finding new writers and bringing them into the fold, as others did with me. Get in touch if you’re interested in joining the team.
I focus on grassroots activism, international politics, feminism, film and culture.
International Politics
- Anabel Hernández: Breaking the silence (August 2014) Interview with Anabel Hernández, the investigative journalist whose book Narcoland brought international attention to Mexican politicians’ collusion with drug cartels.
- Out of the furnace, into the fire? (April 2014) Report on the recent Anti-Homosexuality Act passed in Uganda, and the UK’s own draconian approach to LGBT asylum seekers. Co-authored with Prossy Kakooza.
- Married strife: going beyond marriage equality (January 2013) Response to the UK Same-Sex Marriage act – a call to reassess the priorities of LGBT rights activists celebrating a right-wing government.
- Occupy: A Turning Point in US Politics? (December 2011) Reflections from occupiers during the early days of Occupy DC.
Lead image from “Casualties of War” article - Youth rises against bloodshed in Mexico, armed with poetry and art (April 2011) Report on the growing protest backlash against the war on drugs in Mexico (follow-up to article below).
- Mexico: The casualties of war (February 2011) Behind the bloody headlines of Mexico’s war on drugs, creeping militarism and corruption is silencing public dissent. In-depth analysis of how government policy failures are leading to social breakdown.
- Wake Up and Smell the Roses (May 2008) Report on the exploitative traffic of roses from Kenya, written during the post-election riots and crackdowns in 2008.
Grassroots / Arts Activism
- Oil City: campaigning theatre (June 2013) review of Oil City, an immersive, site-specific play produced by campaign group Platform.
- You’ve Got To Fight For The Left To Party (April 2013) Arguing that, despite their detractors, celebrations of Margaret Thather’s death were important and very political.
- Media empowerment (September 2010) Interview with the Adbusters Media Foundation editor Kale Lasn
- From Barking to Venice (September 2010) Coverage of the collaborative art and architecture practice muf, representing the UK at the Venice Biennial.
- All together now (July 2010) Analysis of the feminist fightback against cuts, arguing for grassroots involvement.
- Putting the protest back in Pride (July 2010) Analysis of the fight to reclaim Pride from commercial interests, in Manchester and beyond.
- Slash and Burn at the Beeb (July 2010) Rounding up alternative visions for the BBC in response to their controversial, budget slashing White Paper.
- Feelbad Britain: Many Paths (July 2009) Analysis of the issue’s essay article regarding the future of the left in Britain. See here for the original essay feature.
- Occupations against the Occupation (May 2009) Reporting from the Student Occupation for Gaza at the University of Manchester.
Film
- Epitaph to a generation (March 2012) Interview with celebrated black British filmmaker and artist, John Akomfrah
- Crowd Allowed (August 2011) Coverage of Just Do It a crowd-funded documentary on direct action and environmentalism.
- Film review: Unwrapping the drugs debate (July 2011) Review of Cocaine Unwrapped, a documentary on the global drug trade.
- From kitchen sink to fish tank (June 2011) A potted history of social realism in British cinema. Accompanies article on how the genre is starting to make a comeback, which is here.
- Beating Burma’s blackout (Dec 2009) Report on the making and marketing of Oscar-nominated documentary, Burma VJ.
- Letting People Speak (March 2008) Interview with documentarian Kim Longinotto.
Siobhán McGuirk 