Helen Clark

"This is a moment of choice. Either the international community allows the values that have long underpinned global cooperation to erode, or it comes together to defend and renew them." - Helen Clark, Member of The Elders

✉️NEWSLETTER | We must reject a world governed by raw power

Helen Clark reflects on Davos, President Trump’s Board of Peace and pushing back against “might-is-right” as The Elders head to the Munich Security Conference.

Read & subscribe: theelders.org/news/we-must...

"A Board of Peace should remain wholly and urgently focused on the continued crisis in Gaza as provided for in the Security Council’s time-limited mandate." - Helen Clark, Member of The Elders

The UN Security Council supported a Board of Peace for Gaza’s interim administration, but what emerged at Davos is worrying.

In our latest newsletter, Helen Clark explores what this means for a multilateral system already under strain.

theelders.org/news/we-must...

Standing up for international law and cooperation at #MSC2026 | The Elders YouTube video by The Elders

At #MSC2026, The Elders spoke up in defence of international law and multilateralism.

In meetings with global leaders, they underscored one message: security is built through dialogue and cooperation.

youtube.com/shorts/33v1e...

The AI Impact Summit has concluded without clear plans to tackle growing risks.

Leaders must heed the findings of Yoshua Bengio and his team's International AI Safety Report and ensure that AI's development does not continue to outpace our ability to govern it.

Without New START the world faces a dangerous new nuclear arms race

President Trump has himself acknowledged that there are already enough nuclear weapons to destroy the world “100 times over”, and has called for talks on denuclearisation with both Russia and China. The time for those talks is now.

Without nuclear safeguards, risks multiply.

With no treaty limiting US and Russian nuclear arsenals, decades of restraint give way to uncertainty, competition and greater danger for all.

The Last Safeguard on US & Russian Nuclear Weapons is Gone. How Worried Should We Be? YouTube video by The Elders

The New START treaty, the last guardrail limiting US and Russian nuclear weapons is about to expire.

Presidents Trump and Putin must agree an extension to prevent a new nuclear arms race.

youtu.be/Qn0VIjRMAbs

Eugene Doyle: Mark Carney’s moment – a new non-aligned movement? | Asia Pacific Report

Eugene Doyle: Mark Carney’s moment – a new non-aligned movement? #asiapacificreport #Canada #MarkCarney #nonaligned #sovereignty #globalcooperation #truthtopower @petercronau.bsky.social @helenclarknz.bsky.social
asiapacificreport.nz/2026/01/22/e...

We must reject a world governed by raw power Helen Clark reflects on Davos, President Trump’s Board of Peace, and the urgency of pushing back against “might is right,” as The Elders head to Munich Security Conference this week

Among the invited members of the #BoardofPeace are 2 indicted by the #InternationalCriminalCourt. There is a $1Bln price tag for permanent membership of the Board. This is not a proper way to run international affairs @helenclarknz.bsky.social @theelders.bsky.social theelders.org/news/we-must...

With Dame Sally Davies at #AMR conference in Sydney

Antimicrobial resistance is threat to humanity; claims 1 million+ lives annually. Vaccines are 1 of tools to address #AMR: investments in @gavi.org help tackle this ‘silent’ pandemic. Pleased to attend 2026 #AMR Summit, hosted by #CSIRO & #FlemingCentre & discuss issues w/ UK AMR Envoy Sally Davies

Meet the political leaders speaking at WD2026 who are driving what comes next.

The Right Hon. Dame Jacinda Ardern: is the Former Prime Minister of New Zealand.

Hon. Helen Clark: served three terms as Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1999-2008, following a long parliamentary career and championing sustainability, climate action, and active international engagement.

Hon. Julia Gillard AC: is Australia’s 27th Prime Minister and the first and only woman to hold the role.

📣 We’re proud to spotlight 3 political leaders taking the stage at #WD2026:
✨Hon. Dame @jacindaardern.bsky.social
✨Hon. @helenclarknz.bsky.social
✨Hon. Julia Gillard AC

Join us on April 27–30, 2026, in Narrm, Australia.

👉See the full speaker lineup: https://womendeliver.org/wd2026/speakers/

"I think it's time that we made our voice clear. Foreign policy in this country has been traditionally bipartisan. We have stood up for the rule of law internationally."
#nzpol

Consistency

"There is no doubt that Donald Trump's attack on Venezuela was illegal, former prime minister and UN leader Helen Clark says."

"Article 24 of the UN charter says states must refrain from using military force against each other an respect their sovereignty."
#nzpol

U.S. Plays Down Quick Return to Democracy in Venezuela Many Venezuelans welcome the ouster of Maduro, but worry his repressive regime remains in place.

President Trump ticked off a list of reasons for his decision to capture and arrest Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. One thing that wasn’t mentioned: a desire to restore democracy in Venezuela.

US attack on Venezuela clearly illegal under UN charter - Helen Clark The former PM says there is a case for Nicolás Maduro to appear before a criminal court, but the attack wasn't legal.

On #Venezuela: @IntlCrimCourt is the right court for Maduro to be tried in for crimes against humanity following due process & findings from @UN_HRC Fact-Finding Mission. What has happened this week is illegal under international law: ref Art 24 UN Charter/
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...

US attack on Venezuela clearly illegal under UN charter - Helen Clark The former PM says there is a case for Nicolás Maduro to appear before a criminal court, but the attack wasn't legal.

Here is the link 🔗 to my Radio NZ interview this morning: www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...

Venezuela: Torture, arbitrary detention and abuse of dozens of children must stir international justice into action Venezuela-torture-abuses-against-children Research exposing the arbitrary detention, torture and gross violations of the right of children after the elections in Venezuela

Frankly they are not just claims. There is plenty of reporting on the repressive nature of the regime; for ex, see this from #AmnestyInternational: www.amnesty.org/en/latest/ne.... Nonetheless the breach of international law was not justified.

Audacious Maduro raid relied on months of preparation, surprise strike Under cover of darkness, highly trained Delta Force troops arrived by helicopter and descended into a compound to grab the Venezuelan president and his wife.

Saturday’s raid makes good on President Trump’s long-held desire to remove Venezuelan President Maduro, but was done without congressional authorization, is in apparent violation of international law and leaves open questions about Venezuela’s future.

Actually that is not the way the post is written….

It’s clear that the US action is a breach of international law - as the tweet says. No excuses for it are being made by me - either for the intervention or for Maduro. Wording on these posts is limited & accordingly perhaps nuance is lost.

It’s clear that the US action is a breach of international law - as the tweet says. No excuses for it are being made by me - either for the intervention or for Maduro. Wording on these posts is limited & accordingly perhaps nuance is lost.

World reacts to U.S. strikes on Venezuela, capture of Maduro | CBC News Reactions from world leaders to news of U.S. strikes in Venezuela that led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

Hard not to conclude that 🇺🇸 intervention in #Venezuela is a breach of international law. Maduro was dictatorial ruler presiding over arbitrary detention & torture of opponents. Iraq 2003 precedent, however, suggests unpredictable path ahead for the country.
www.cbc.ca/news/world/u...

Helen Clark farewells father George, 103, after life spanning a century of change OPINION: George Clark lost three uncles in World War I before he was even born.

Reflecting on the life of my late father, George Clark, who passed away on 6 December at 103 years & nine months of age. Here I reflect on the passage of time & the flux of life of Dad’s long lifespan. How fortunate we were to have him for so long: www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/helen-cla...

Will the bottom rung of the career ladder disappear? The class of 2026 will face a job market increasingly influenced by AI. Those graduating in the coming year have two options to consider

The job-market impact of AI may already be visible at the bottom of the career ladder. In The World Ahead, we examine what this means for graduates in the coming year

Opinion | The Economy Made It Through 2025. The New Year Will Be Harder. The new year will pose numerous problems that won’t be so easily overcome.

In @nytopinion.nytimes.com

“In 2025, the American and global economy, led by A.I. and capital markets, skated through a series of obstacles. But the next round is just beginning,” Mohamed El-Erian writes.

Tariff uncertainty is throwing Chinese manufacturing into chaos Donald Trump’s tariff chaos is likely to persist in 2026. Meanwhile, trade between China and other Asian countries will continue to grow

To deal with the uncertainty of the trade war, Chinese companies’ best bet in the coming year will be to continue to diversify away from exporting to America and to focus on other markets, notably South-East Asia

Happy New Year 2026. Rain is considered to be a good omen across many cultures, and there is plenty of it in New Zealand today. May it portend better times - more peace ☮️, justice ⚖️, equity, and sustainability 🌳 for our challenged world.

Merry Christmas to all gathering with family & friends. This year Xmas is tinged with sadness for our family following death of our father earlier this month. Our hearts go out to all others who’ve suffered bereavements, including of the many killed in conflicts & terror attacks. Hoping for more ☮️.

Keep Up the Multilateral Effort – Joint Statement  - RANI Released in advance of the Fourth Meeting of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG4; 1-5 Dec. 2025). We encourage steadfast work to advance text negotiations of the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sha...

Ahead of #IGWG4, @rani.co joined @nschwalbe.bsky.social Spark Street Advisors, Panel for a Global Public Health Convention & @helenclarknz.bsky.social @theindpanel.bsky.social in encouraging steadfast work on a #multilateral #PABS Annex in the midst of bilateral maneuvering.

rani.co/keep-up-the-...

6️⃣ Statement by @rani.co (formerly PAN) @helenclarknz.bsky.social of @theindpanel.bsky.social Spark Street Advisors' @nschwalbe.bsky.social and the Panel for a Global Public Health Convention underscored that only global solidarity & coordination can deliver equitable health security...

Africa Is Stuck Between Global Pathogen-Sharing Talks And Conflicting US Bilateral Agreements - Health Policy Watch African countries affirmed their commitment to a global agreement to share information about pathogens that may cause pandemics on Monday – yet several of

🌎African countries reaffirmed support for a global pathogen-sharing framework — even as some negotiate bilateral US MOUs that could undermine it.

✍️ @kerrycullinan.bsky.social
@helenclarknz.bsky.social @rani.co
@theindpanel.bsky.social @nschwalbe.bsky.social
#PABS
📖⬇️ & 🙏🔁