The Standard » human rights

He’s not the messiah, he’s a very naughty boy

Zetetic — Mon, 07 May 2012 18:21:39 +0000

Don't get me wrong. Apart from a couple of policies (asset sales, overseas investment, no borrowing for tax cuts), Colin Craig's politics are bad. But I like his Boscawen-like mad honesty. It's fun. Mainly because it makes him so uncomfortable for his new National suitors. But his up-frontness ends when asked about his compulsory Christianity employment contracts.

After Homs

Michael Valley — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 22:04:52 +0000

In my previous post I laid out the reasons why a NATO/US intervention in Syria is unlikely, even though the alternative will almost certainly be defeat of the freedom fighters and even more mass murder by the regime. There's no strategic gain from the Right's perspective and many on the Left would rather see a massacre than US military action. Homs has fallen. So, what next for the rebels?

Syria

Michael Valley — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 20:00:30 +0000

In a perfect world, we would all live free, in some kind of ideal democracy. We're not there. But what we and the rest of the developed world have is a hell of a lot better than what the people of Syria have: despotic rule by the murderous son of their former murderous despot. The Syrians are trying to overthrow their tyrant, should the world help?

NRT: The nuclear option

The Standard — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:53:08 +0000

Lockwood 'small hands' Smith is digging himself deeper into a hole that is going to destroy his legacy as Speaker over the Mojo Mathers' right to participate in Parliamentary debate. The Minister for Disabilities, Tariana Turia, is missing in action (probably off granting more of your money to her mates). Key wants nothing to do with it. So, I/S at NoRightTurn has proposed the 'nuclear option'.

NoRightTurn – Catch-22

The Standard — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 20:37:28 +0000

The Nats won't give employees greater access to pay information to detect gender pay disparities, saying employees suspecting gender discrimination should a labour inspector to find the evidence. When 261 workers did just that the govt said it wouldn't look for evidence of discrimination without evidence there was discrimination.

Slave fishing – NZ’s shame

Eddie — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 17:48:27 +0000

You won't find much praise for Talley's on this site. But, fair dues, they harvest their fish with Kiwi crews and have this to say on slave fishing: "If it is uneconomic to harvest a New Zealand resource under New Zealand labour conditions and costs then it is not a resource. Blood diamonds and Asian textile sweatshops use the same justification"

Amnesty International: Arrest Bush for war crimes

the sprout — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 21:30:03 +0000

Perhaps Mr Key’s staff might like to explain to him what the implications of this development, in conjunction with the recent UN Report on NZ SAS rendering prisoners in Afghanistan and the housing of CIA operations at NZDF bases, might mean for the PM. Amnesty International (London) has issued a call to Canadian authorities to arrest ...

Let the courts decide

the sprout — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 20:46:18 +0000

The threat of invoking defamation is a standard tactic to intimidate those who can’t afford the legals bills to shut their mouths. Such threats are sometimes known as strategic lawsuits against public participation or SLAPPS. My understanding of Lange v. Atkinson (2000) and the qualified privilege afforded to political commentary that it enshrines, suggests there is no way ...

Why an apology should be delivered to the Urewera 18

Guest post — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 19:25:01 +0000

Four years ago we were told tales about military style training camps, terrorism, Molotov Cocktails, firearms etc. Police laid charges and put people's lives through hell. Now, four years later, they can't prove any of it. If you or I were put through what they were put through we’d expect, and deserve, an apology. Why should it be any different for them?

Freedom and security

Anthony R0bins — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 21:22:09 +0000

The government is planning a crack down on "organised crime". What could possibly be wrong with that?

Blood money

The Standard — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 23:12:11 +0000

Nats to deport slave-fishing witnesses

Eddie — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 23:01:53 +0000

An Auckland University study, "Not in our waters, surely?" was released last night. It details a gruesome list of human rights abuses, crimes, and breaches of labour law being carried out abroad the slave ships contracted by our quota-holders to harvest our fish. Now, the government is moving to deport the prime witnesses before they can testify.

The refugees

The Standard — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 00:45:07 +0000

Nats to slash wages

Zetetic — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 06:38:49 +0000

Patrick Gower has revealed the Nats are poised to announce a policy to reintroduce the youth minimum wage at a rate of about $10 an hour, and potentially make it apply to people in their 20s. Outrageous and a breach of human rights. You should get paid for the work you do. Not your gender. Not your ethnicity. Not your sexuality. Not your age.

Free speech hate speech

r0b — Thu, 12 May 2011 23:08:38 +0000

The free speech / hate speech boundary is always a difficult call. I'm glad to live in a country that tries to err on the side of the former. Even so, the latest bullshit from the "Right Wing Resistance" really rankles.