"Our findings show that numbers of children affected by COVID-19-associated orphanhood and caregiver death almost doubled in 6 months compared with the amount after the first 14 months of the pandemic. Over the entire 20-month period, 5·0 million COVID-19 deaths meant that 5·2 million children lost a parent or caregiver. Our data on children's ages and circumstances should support pandemic response planning for children globally."
So Ukrainian self determination should take a back seat to Russia's imperialist ideology, Poots is as paranoid AF about Russians getting above themselves and wanting a Western way of life, Ukrainian desires for a Western way of life be fucked and they should STFU and do what they're told. Or else. And fascists.
And besides, Poots would never do such a thing and even if he did, he couldn't. And if he ever did what he would never and couldn't do it would be too hard and it might bankrupt Russia too, so he wouldn't.
Have I got that right?
When Russian leaders look at Western social engineering in Ukraine, they worry that
their country might be next. And such fears are hardly groundless. In September 2013,
Gershman wrote in The Washington Post, “Ukraine’s choice to join Europe will
accelerate the demise of the ideology of Russian imperialism that Putin represents.” He added: “Russians, too, face a choice, and Putin may find himself on the losing end not just in the near abroad but within Russia itself.”
[…]
The West’s triple package of policies — NATO enlargement, EU expansion, and
democracy promotion — added fuel to a fire waiting to ignite. The spark came in
November 2013, when Yanukovych rejected a major economic deal he had been
negotiating with the EU and decided to accept a $15 billion Russian counter offer instead. That decision gave rise to antigovernment demonstrations that escalated over
the following three months and that by mid-February had led to the deaths of some one hundred protesters. Western emissaries hurriedly flew to Kiev to resolve the crisis. On February 21, the government and the opposition struck a deal that allowed Yanukovych to stay in power until new elections were held. But it immediately fell apart, and Yanukovych fled to Russia the next day. The new government in Kiev was pro-Western and anti-Russian to the core, and it contained four high-ranking members who could legitimately be labeled neofascists.
[…]
Other analysts allege, more plausibly, that Putin regrets the demise of the Soviet Union and is determined to reverse it by expanding Russia’s borders. According to this
interpretation, Putin, having taken Crimea, is now testing the waters to see if the time is right to conquer Ukraine, or at least its eastern part, and he will eventually behave
aggressively toward other countries in Russia’s neighborhood. For some in this camp,
Putin represents a modern-day Adolf Hitler, and striking any kind of deal with him
would repeat the mistake of Munich. Thus, NATO must admit Georgia and Ukraine to
contain Russia before it dominates its neighbors and threatens western Europe.
This argument falls apart on close inspection. If Putin were committed to creating a
greater Russia, signs of his intentions would almost certainly have arisen before
February 22. But there is virtually no evidence that he was bent on taking Crimea, much less any other territory in Ukraine, before that date. Even Western leaders who supported NATO expansion were not doing so out of a fear that Russia was about to use military force. Putin’s actions in Crimea took them by complete surprise and appear to have been a spontaneous reaction to Yanukovych’s ouster. Right afterward, even Putin said he opposed Crimean secession, before quickly changing his mind.
Besides, even if it wanted to, Russia lacks the capability to easily conquer and annex
eastern Ukraine, much less the entire country. Roughly 15 million people — one-third of Ukraine’s population — live between the Dnieper River, which bisects the country, and the Russian border. An overwhelming majority of those people want to remain part of Ukraine and would surely resist a Russian occupation. Furthermore, Russia’s mediocre army, which shows few signs of turning into a modern Wehrmacht, would have little chance of pacifying all of Ukraine. Moscow is also poorly positioned to pay for a costly occupation; its weak economy would suffer even more in the face of the resulting sanctions.
You suggest that people turn off the MSM and listen Mearshiemer.
For starters the idea that the solution to a single view you disagree with is a different single view but just one you do agree with is hardly a serious proposition.
I’d also be curious as to your understanding of Realist theory or to be specific in Mearshiemer’s case ‘offensive neo realism’ because its one thing to nod along with something that confirms your prior world view, quite another to actually grasp where he’s coming from and it’s implications.
Realist theory makes a bunch of assumptions without which the theory doesn’t make sense, it’s subject to serious critiques because of the implications of those assumptions.
In simple terms arguing for a ‘balance of power’ as the correct endgame without accounting for the nature of any particular regime has serious implications, one’s which may actually be worse than disrupting the balance power.
My guess is that whenever I see anyone sharing clips of Mearshiemer they don’t understand any of that, they’re just happy to find something that looks like it justifies their reflexive ani Americanism.
I’m also assuming you haven’t watch the clip of Mearshiemer saying Putin wouldn’t actually invade because it was bad strategy, Putin was a really smart guy and why would he invade when he was already winning.
I bet clips of Mearshiemer saying that aren’t making rounds?
A vast amount of commentators all around the world were supprised putin invaded andrew so why would anyone bother making a clip of mearshiemer saying the same ?
I was arguing Putin would not be so dumb because he had Germany spending 1% on defence, signing up to Nordstrom and preventing SWIFT sanctions on Russia …
His argument is simple – hegemony to Europeans in Europe, in Asia to Asians and Americans in the Americas. He bases it on the Monroe Doctrine.
This was supposedly superseded by the UN in 1945 – collective security of nations (which 1949-1990 was the Cold War) internationalism.
He however re-imagines the Monroe Doctrine as a form containment of Russia and China without confrontation by respecting their regional supremacy.
The British (balance of power in Europe) and now American policy is to reject such regional dominance as a threat to the international regime/collective security of nations.
One of the oldest tricks in the playbook… produce screeds of letters of complaint and pass then on to supporters to sign and send? Lets face it VoF have plenty of money coming from 'we'd like to know who' to be able to conduct such a campaign.
Yep we know the Fire Service Union is not happy but… grist for the mill among the freedom lovers.
Thanks, Anne, but I always struggle to read Trotter's dirge. This one is the usual shite, taking a bob each way.
He admitted this of himself at least;
That so many members of the Free Speech movement genuflect to the Right, rather than the Left.
Maybe there is hope Trotter's own reflection in the mirror might one day be free of misty condensation.
But the end. This is where Trotter really channels his alt-right fantasies and literally rallies his friends to action;
To the stone-throwers and tent-burners out there, girding their loins for another crack at the lizard people and their lackeys, the most useful advice is simple and direct:
Oh I wouldn't go that far M. He has a flowery turn of phrase which often leaves me perplexed but I wouldn't describe him as dangerous. He's basically right. The NZ security apparatus will be ramped up several notches after the antics in Wellington. Somewhat ironic given its the 'freedom lovers' who are at least partially responsible.
I still don't understand what these mandate's are and quite honestly I don't give a flying fuck. As far as I am concerned a Man Date is when two male go out on a date. I have some friends who have been down to Wellington however they have got themselves so wound up on the big Conspiracy Thing and an extreme dislike for Labour and Jacinda, it is verging on physcotic behaviour imo.
Let's keep telling it like it is – there are many who have got themselves wound up in some big Conspiracy Thing. They want to attack someone, Jacinda is it.
Every now and then we read of someone who's been done over in some online scam. We shake our heads and look to make sense of how someone could be sucked in. And sometimes it's again and again. The conspiracy thing shows there are so many really dumb people.
Remember the Billy TK things before the last election? When we said, "Nah, people aren't that stupid"? They are.
A thoughtful piece by Max Rashbrooke on the post-riot future. Sums it up well: these are not the "down the middle" divisions of the Springbok tour, and healing requires both tough and gentle, as he puts it, not either/or.
In light of the news today of Russian forces shelling a nuclear power station, I was reminded of this song Russians now 40 years old but still with some resonance. Lyrics slightly altered
In Europe and America there's a growing feeling of hysteria
Conditioned to respond to all the threats
In the rhetorical speeches of ex Soviets
Mister Putin said, "We will bury you"
I don't subscribe to this point of view
It'd be such an ignorant thing to do
If the Russians love their children too
How can I save my little boy from Oppenheimer's deadly toy?
There is no monopoly on common sense
On either side of the political fence
We share the same biology, regardless of ideology
Believe me when I say to you
I hope the Russians love their children too
There’s no such thing as a winnable war
It’s a lie we don’t believe anymore
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Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Asia Pacific Report A score of Palestine solidarity protesters draped themselves in white shrouds with mock blood in a sombre “die-in” demonstration at Te Komitanga Square — the heart of Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city — today as speakers urged people to take a stronger boycott against Israeli products. The ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Tackling violence against women will be the sole agenda item for a national cabinet meeting Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has convened for Wednesday. The meeting, held remotely, follows thousands of Australians attending rallies across ...
The protest outside the White House correspondents’ dinner hotel. Image: Anatolu video screenshot APR More than two dozen Palestinian journalists had called for a boycott of the dinner, writing an open letter urging their American colleagues not to attend. “You have a unique responsibility to speak truth to power and ...
“Our exporters should, therefore, be deeply concerned that the Fast-track Approvals Bill was not assessed for consistency with any of our free trade commitments prior to being introduced to the House,” says Gary Taylor, Chief Executive of the Environmental ...
NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff is calling on all political parties to support the new Member’s Bill from Labour’s workplace relations and safety spokesperson Camilla Belich MP that would ensure negligent companies are held accountable when their employees ...
A historian with an uncanny track record of predicting US election winners tells RNZ's Sunday Morning that President Biden looks to be on track for another term, but things could still go very wrong for him. ...
A historian with a track record of predicting US election winners tells RNZ's Sunday Morning that President Biden looks to be on track for another term, but things could still go wrong for him. ...
Ngaio Marsh House is one of Christchurch’s best kept secrets – and contains more than a few mysteries of its own.Trust Ngaio Marsh to leave more than a few mysteries scattered through her house long after her departure. For a start, there’s the curious concrete portal in the garden, ...
Appointment viewing has been lost to the mists of time, but memories of Montana Sunday Theatre can still be conjured by hitting play on a particular piece of classical music. “You’re not going to be able to sell it.” Over 30 years on, Karen Bieleski still recalls how the task ...
Performance Review King Luxon sat behind His massive polished oak desk. It is Performance Review time. There is a knock on the door. “Enter!” says the King. In steps Minister of Disabilities and Carer Pedicures, Penny Simmonds. “I can explain everything …” she begins. “Fine,” says King Luxon, pressing the ...
The pair opened their first fully collaborative exhibition, Nina for Flowers, last Saturday. Gabi Lardies visited their studio to find out who Nina is and what working together was like.‘It didn’t start out like, ‘This is a show about Nina,’” says Josephine Jelicich, gripping a thermos of peppermint tea. ...
Thank you, Dr Maximilian Oskar Bircher-Benner, for your brilliant invention. I’m another mid-20s Kiwi who had an OE last year. I hopped on my bicycle where France meets the Atlantic and cycled east. I pedalled through the Loire Valley, down rivers lined with willows and ancient wisteria-draped chateaus. I relished ...
Asia Pacific Report From France to Australia, university pro-Palestine protests in the United States have now spread to several countries with students pitching on-campus camps. And students at Columbia and other US universities remain defiant as campuses have witnessed the biggest protests since the anti-Vietnam war and anti-apartheid eras in ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards, Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)New Zealand Government’s Fast Track legislation. Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government ...
Tara Ward talks to presenter Naomi Toilalo about the new TV show that turns food waste into a three course feast. Naomi Toilalo is standing in the warehouse at Good Neighbour Tauranga, helping unpack the two-and-a-half tonnes of rejected food that will arrive at the community support hub that day. ...
Scout is our latest Dog of the Month. This feature was offered as a reward during our What’s Eating Aotearoa PledgeMe campaign. Thank you to Scout’s human, Avril, for her support. Dog name: Scout (named after the little girl in To Kill a Mockingbird – she inherited the independent spirit ...
Megan Alatini takes us through her life in TV, including ‘terrible’ daytime TV, the class of Carol Hirschfeld and her most embarrassing TrueBliss moment. When she responded to a vague newspaper ad asking “do you have what it takes to be a popstar?” 25 years ago, Megan Alatini never guessed ...
A new exhibition in Wellington showcases the faces behind your local goods and services. Back in 1977, when I was a fine arts student at the University of Canterbury, I took a series of photographs of Christchurch shopkeepers. The photos were for a calendar – a project for my end ...
Toomaj and his resistance to tyranny through his songs have become an icon for the youth of Iran, so his sentence has hit the nation hard. Toomaj Salehi is not the first artist to pay the price for standing with the people. ...
My cousin Dylan and I spotted these big eels under the bridge that summer. We watched them lounging under the dark weed, facing into the flow of water, their mouths frozen open. Dylan and I couldn’t stop thinking about those eels. The night we went down to the creek, we ...
Newsroom, home of satire. My long-running weekly satirical series The Secret Diary has moved to Newsroom and will appear every Saturday, with Victor Billot’s wildly popular satirical Odes continuing to appear every Sunday. Diaries, Odes – while serious political columnists toil at meaningful opinions and stroke their chins to an ...
Tara Ward unravels the many nuanced layers of a cartoon about talking dogs.This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. It’s not often an episode of a children’s cartoon has adults sobbing into their sleeves, but that’s exactly what happened this week when ...
Working as a doctor in developing countries to help communities achieve better health outcomes is nothing short of a life goal for Jessica Tater. The University of Otago medical student has her sights firmly set on joining the international humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) when she qualifies ...
There’s an island in the far reaches of Auckland’s territory, sitting off the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula, 30 minutes by air from the city or four hours on the slow boat. Aotea Great Barrier is off-grid, it has a population of fewer than a thousand people … and most ...
Asia Pacific Report An Australian author and advocate, Jim Aubrey, today led a national symbolic one minute’s silence to mark the “blood debt” owed to Papuan allies during the Second World War indigenous resistance against the invading Japanese forces. “A promise to most people is a promise,” Aubrey said in ...
Asia Pacific Report The Freedom Flotilla is ready to sail to Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. All the required paperwork has been submitted to the port authority, and the cargo has been loaded and prepared for the humanitarian trip to the besieged enclave. However, organisers received word of an “administrative ...
Pacific Media Watch Palestine solidarity protesters today demonstrated at the Auckland headquarters of Television New Zealand, accusing the country’s major TV network of broadcasting “propaganda” backing Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. About 50 protesters targeted the main entrance to the TVNZ building near Sky Tower and also picketed a side ...
Opinion by Lynley Hood. Forty years on from my 1985 Fulbright Grant, my disquiet over the war in Gaza evoked some troubling questions. The answer to my first question – What is the primary purpose of the Fulbright Programme? – was on the Fulbright NZ website. It says: US Senator, ...
The ministers responsible for green-lighting major projects need to be open about potential conflicts of interest, says Transparency International. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Powell, Professor, Family and Sexual Violence, RMIT University It has been a particularly distressing start to the year. There is little that can ease the current grief of individuals, families and communities who have needlessly lost a loved one to men’s ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Whiteford, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The government’s Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee has just published its second report. It was set up by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth in 2022 to provide: ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne The Queensland state election will be held in October. A YouGov poll for The Courier Mail, conducted April 9–17 from a sample ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Naeni, PhD candidate at Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University There’s been much talk in recent months about what a possible second Donald Trump presidency in the United States could mean for Europe, Russia’s war in Ukraine, the ...
A brief round-up of submissions on the controversial proposed law. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week, submissions on the controversial Fast-track Approvals Bill closed just hours after the government released a list of stakeholder organisations who were sent letters advising how they could ...
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The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38)A handsomely produced (debossed cover, lovely ...
The Commissioner's decision validates the longstanding efforts of the local community and ensures that Awataha Marae will be managed to serve the needs of the local community, particularly for hosting tangihanga. ...
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Horrified by what is happening in Ukraine. Makes our situation at Parliament look very insignificant
What's happening in NZ is Chicken Feed compared to what is going on in Europe at present.
Covid toll on children.
"Our findings show that numbers of children affected by COVID-19-associated orphanhood and caregiver death almost doubled in 6 months compared with the amount after the first 14 months of the pandemic. Over the entire 20-month period, 5·0 million COVID-19 deaths meant that 5·2 million children lost a parent or caregiver. Our data on children's ages and circumstances should support pandemic response planning for children globally."
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanchi/article/PIIS2352-4642(22)00005-0/fulltext
I see Chris Luxon is delivering another state of the nation speech on Sunday, barely two weeks since he gave his last state of the nation speech.
Are we to endure state of the nation speeches regularly and fortnightly from Chris Luxon?
As long as the Nats consider it 'profitable' they will keep doing it. Ugh
He has to say something though. Corporate speak won't cut it with NZ at the moment, especially after what we have been through.
Personally I don't think Chrome Dome will cut the mustard he hasn't got the rat cunning his mentor John Key had.
Agree. Too nice, which says something about the people who voted for Key.
the subject of RATS features in pretty much all of his comments, it's almost the Nat policy on covid 19
He's obviously a RAT specialist and this is the line that Crosby Textor have advised him to go down.
Ratlines…..would even Crosby Textor stoop so low? Well I suppose that depth has never been plumbed. FAR down…
The Nats don’t do policy, they do bullet points – policy is for politicians with real responsibility for governing this country.
Luxon probably doesn't know National's Policy off the back of hiss hand so he is obviously treading very carefully.
Come on, how hard can it be to memorise a few bullet points? The guy used to run an airline so being LOTO is a walk in the park without tinklers on.
I guess if he does know LOTO inside out politics should be a piece of cake.
"They're just like us! They aren't from one of those shitholes that we dont give a rat's about! They matter!"
/
https://twitter.com/non_philosophy/status/1498000420815396872
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1498000420815396872.html
Yeah for FFS these are white people who are just like you and I.
I highly recommend people on the Standard read or listen to John Mearsheimer on the Ukraine.
His principal work on Ukraine is “Why the Ukraine Crisis Is the West’s Fault: The Liberal Delusions That Provoked Putin,"
There is now the first Mearsheimer talk online after the Russian invasion.
Turn off the MSM and instead watch him explain the causes and his predictions.
This man might just save humanity, if he's listened to.
He starts talking at 3.49.
So Ukrainian self determination should take a back seat to Russia's imperialist ideology, Poots is as paranoid AF about Russians getting above themselves and wanting a Western way of life, Ukrainian desires for a Western way of life be fucked and they should STFU and do what they're told. Or else. And fascists.
And besides, Poots would never do such a thing and even if he did, he couldn't. And if he ever did what he would never and couldn't do it would be too hard and it might bankrupt Russia too, so he wouldn't.
Have I got that right?
When Russian leaders look at Western social engineering in Ukraine, they worry that
their country might be next. And such fears are hardly groundless. In September 2013,
Gershman wrote in The Washington Post, “Ukraine’s choice to join Europe will
accelerate the demise of the ideology of Russian imperialism that Putin represents.” He added: “Russians, too, face a choice, and Putin may find himself on the losing end not just in the near abroad but within Russia itself.”
[…]
The West’s triple package of policies — NATO enlargement, EU expansion, and
democracy promotion — added fuel to a fire waiting to ignite. The spark came in
November 2013, when Yanukovych rejected a major economic deal he had been
negotiating with the EU and decided to accept a $15 billion Russian counter offer instead. That decision gave rise to antigovernment demonstrations that escalated over
the following three months and that by mid-February had led to the deaths of some one hundred protesters. Western emissaries hurriedly flew to Kiev to resolve the crisis. On February 21, the government and the opposition struck a deal that allowed Yanukovych to stay in power until new elections were held. But it immediately fell apart, and Yanukovych fled to Russia the next day. The new government in Kiev was pro-Western and anti-Russian to the core, and it contained four high-ranking members who could legitimately be labeled neofascists.
[…]
Other analysts allege, more plausibly, that Putin regrets the demise of the Soviet Union and is determined to reverse it by expanding Russia’s borders. According to this
interpretation, Putin, having taken Crimea, is now testing the waters to see if the time is right to conquer Ukraine, or at least its eastern part, and he will eventually behave
aggressively toward other countries in Russia’s neighborhood. For some in this camp,
Putin represents a modern-day Adolf Hitler, and striking any kind of deal with him
would repeat the mistake of Munich. Thus, NATO must admit Georgia and Ukraine to
contain Russia before it dominates its neighbors and threatens western Europe.
This argument falls apart on close inspection. If Putin were committed to creating a
greater Russia, signs of his intentions would almost certainly have arisen before
February 22. But there is virtually no evidence that he was bent on taking Crimea, much less any other territory in Ukraine, before that date. Even Western leaders who supported NATO expansion were not doing so out of a fear that Russia was about to use military force. Putin’s actions in Crimea took them by complete surprise and appear to have been a spontaneous reaction to Yanukovych’s ouster. Right afterward, even Putin said he opposed Crimean secession, before quickly changing his mind.
Besides, even if it wanted to, Russia lacks the capability to easily conquer and annex
eastern Ukraine, much less the entire country. Roughly 15 million people — one-third of Ukraine’s population — live between the Dnieper River, which bisects the country, and the Russian border. An overwhelming majority of those people want to remain part of Ukraine and would surely resist a Russian occupation. Furthermore, Russia’s mediocre army, which shows few signs of turning into a modern Wehrmacht, would have little chance of pacifying all of Ukraine. Moscow is also poorly positioned to pay for a costly occupation; its weak economy would suffer even more in the face of the resulting sanctions.
https://www.natur.cuni.cz/geografie/socialni-geografie-a-regionalni-rozvoj/studium/doktorske-studium/kolokvium/kolokvium-2013-2014-materialy/ukrajina-a-rusko-mearsheimer-souleimanov.pdf
“So Ukrainian self determination should take a back seat to Russia's imperialist ideology”
Yes, but it’s “legitimate strategic interests”.
You suggest that people turn off the MSM and listen Mearshiemer.
For starters the idea that the solution to a single view you disagree with is a different single view but just one you do agree with is hardly a serious proposition.
I’d also be curious as to your understanding of Realist theory or to be specific in Mearshiemer’s case ‘offensive neo realism’ because its one thing to nod along with something that confirms your prior world view, quite another to actually grasp where he’s coming from and it’s implications.
Realist theory makes a bunch of assumptions without which the theory doesn’t make sense, it’s subject to serious critiques because of the implications of those assumptions.
In simple terms arguing for a ‘balance of power’ as the correct endgame without accounting for the nature of any particular regime has serious implications, one’s which may actually be worse than disrupting the balance power.
My guess is that whenever I see anyone sharing clips of Mearshiemer they don’t understand any of that, they’re just happy to find something that looks like it justifies their reflexive ani Americanism.
I’m also assuming you haven’t watch the clip of Mearshiemer saying Putin wouldn’t actually invade because it was bad strategy, Putin was a really smart guy and why would he invade when he was already winning.
I bet clips of Mearshiemer saying that aren’t making rounds?
A vast amount of commentators all around the world were supprised putin invaded andrew so why would anyone bother making a clip of mearshiemer saying the same ?
I was arguing Putin would not be so dumb because he had Germany spending 1% on defence, signing up to Nordstrom and preventing SWIFT sanctions on Russia …
His argument is simple – hegemony to Europeans in Europe, in Asia to Asians and Americans in the Americas. He bases it on the Monroe Doctrine.
This was supposedly superseded by the UN in 1945 – collective security of nations (which 1949-1990 was the Cold War) internationalism.
He however re-imagines the Monroe Doctrine as a form containment of Russia and China without confrontation by respecting their regional supremacy.
The British (balance of power in Europe) and now American policy is to reject such regional dominance as a threat to the international regime/collective security of nations.
Hey ed thanks for that good line up of good thinkers without the hysteria most refreshing !!
It's all in here. Why we are doing what we are doing.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300532964/covid19-how-nz-is-avoiding-the-omicron-perfect-storm-thats-killing-hundreds-in-hong-kong
We're just about out the other side now so it would be great if the anti mandate, pandemic minimisers would shut up for the next few weeks.
Sorry mate. They're on to their next tactic now:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/127949237/ipca-receives-more-than-1600-complaints-over-parliament-occupation-fire-association-says-use-of-fire-hoses-by-police-unacceptable
One of the oldest tricks in the playbook… produce screeds of letters of complaint and pass then on to supporters to sign and send? Lets face it VoF have plenty of money coming from 'we'd like to know who' to be able to conduct such a campaign.
Yep we know the Fire Service Union is not happy but… grist for the mill among the freedom lovers.
Someone mentioned Chris Trotter's latest post earlier today. Worth repeating the link:
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2022/03/03/beware-the-backlash-the-state-will-not-be-surprised-a-second-time/
I think he's close to the truth. Our security boffins will not be pleased with recent events.
Thanks, Anne, but I always struggle to read Trotter's dirge. This one is the usual shite, taking a bob each way.
He admitted this of himself at least;
Maybe there is hope Trotter's own reflection in the mirror might one day be free of misty condensation.
But the end. This is where Trotter really channels his alt-right fantasies and literally rallies his friends to action;
What a dangerous, bumptious wanker.
Oh I wouldn't go that far M. He has a flowery turn of phrase which often leaves me perplexed but I wouldn't describe him as dangerous. He's basically right. The NZ security apparatus will be ramped up several notches after the antics in Wellington. Somewhat ironic given its the 'freedom lovers' who are at least partially responsible.
I took,
"From now on, assume that you are not alone.",
to mean, you'll be being watched (by the state).
Shouldnt all the protestors be in hospital or dead by now?
Shouldn’t you be in bed by now?
That you Trevor?
quack
Why did the duck wear pants ?
….
To cover it's butt-quack.
Real ducks go commando and use a coattail.
Bottoms up!
If they were in China or Russia they probably would be.
Not in Bed but Dead.
I still don't understand what these mandate's are and quite honestly I don't give a flying fuck. As far as I am concerned a Man Date is when two male go out on a date. I have some friends who have been down to Wellington however they have got themselves so wound up on the big Conspiracy Thing and an extreme dislike for Labour and Jacinda, it is verging on physcotic behaviour imo.
Let's keep telling it like it is – there are many who have got themselves wound up in some big Conspiracy Thing. They want to attack someone, Jacinda is it.
Every now and then we read of someone who's been done over in some online scam. We shake our heads and look to make sense of how someone could be sucked in. And sometimes it's again and again. The conspiracy thing shows there are so many really dumb people.
Remember the Billy TK things before the last election? When we said, "Nah, people aren't that stupid"? They are.
A thoughtful piece by Max Rashbrooke on the post-riot future. Sums it up well: these are not the "down the middle" divisions of the Springbok tour, and healing requires both tough and gentle, as he puts it, not either/or.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/commentisfree/2022/mar/04/nzs-parliament-protests-were-frightening-but-they-dont-mean-the-country-is-splintering
In light of the news today of Russian forces shelling a nuclear power station, I was reminded of this song Russians now 40 years old but still with some resonance. Lyrics slightly altered
In Europe and America there's a growing feeling of hysteria
Conditioned to respond to all the threats
In the rhetorical speeches of ex Soviets
Mister Putin said, "We will bury you"
I don't subscribe to this point of view
It'd be such an ignorant thing to do
If the Russians love their children too
How can I save my little boy from Oppenheimer's deadly toy?
There is no monopoly on common sense
On either side of the political fence
We share the same biology, regardless of ideology
Believe me when I say to you
I hope the Russians love their children too
There’s no such thing as a winnable war
It’s a lie we don’t believe anymore
This is a short spoof on the Canadian Trucker convoy – based on Willie Wonka. A bit cheesy.
Bugger – the girls lost to the West Indies in the opening match of the World Cup.
An exciting, if not exactly a good game.
Where's Pucky for a comment?
Been busy at work so no time to post (yes really), expect something on the mens cricket on sunday
So, I remembered this and given the state of the world, I had a wee play…
https://nuclearsecrecy.com/nukemap/
I'm guessing that's a barrel of laughs.