really phillip? That is your contribution to people honouring a legacy that expresses the rare symbiosis of a great actor and a globally respected character? 🙄
🙂 apparently! It’s too soon to give an opinion unless positive.
Just checking tho’. We are allowed to call out Magaret Thatcher on her BS, yes? How about Frank Bainimarama and his Esmeralda jaunts?
Any timeframe on when Sabin is a fair, dignified pluck?
Christ! I HOPE like hell when it comes time for me to fertilise the fig tree, people won’t hold back. I already know who the false arsehole pretenders are anyway – and I’m picking they won’t have the guts to show up.
Ekshully @ Phil ….. just the sort of attitude ….. nah I’m thinking they can’t cope! – better I STFU, but the comment was to do with the reason cnuts like that BBC icon and a few Kethlick priests got away with things for as long asa they did.
I’m talking about attitude btw – NOT suggesting Nimoy was in that bracket (someone I actually admired) – Just your right to expression without people clutching their pearls in horros.
Indeed – apparently its too soon to call a spade a spade. Get some fukkin learnings will ya!
God you’re an awful human being. Be as republican as you like, but I’m going to link to this comment next time you try to attack feminists for not caring about animal rights.
With such attitudes it surprises me that you didn’t make biltong out of your recently deceased pooch and sell it on the side of the street along with some potted herbs.
goose and gander I always think. I feel sorry at the passing of Nimoy like many others. I’m just not going to clutch my pearls if others feel differently or try to inflict my values on them. Nor do I expect them to inflict their values on me.
When there are assholes like (say) Whaleoil and his accomplices about, I’m not about to waste my energy on them. There are far better causes to worry about.
As I say, I’ll miss Nimoy (and many others), but I don’t EXPECT others to feel the same and if they drop a clanger or two from time to time, I’m not about to string ’em up.
(It never ceases to amaze me how quick some are to give PU a hard time over his attitude to various things, and his campaigning, whilst all the while harping on like a stuck record themselves.)
I preferred coming home from skool in Oz to watch George Reeves in Superman – now that was camp/corny. Nimoy was a bit of humour tho’ I must admit. It seems he’s been elevated to the opium of the people status though. Nothing wrong with a bit of escapism tho eh PU? Sanity is becoming more expensive these days.
Because if you had, your ignorant comment about the quotations being from scriptwriters may not have been made. Or is accuracy just another literary affectation that you feel constrains your creativity?
Less than two years earlier, the heroic London Snipper would have been tolerated, or even lauded as a hero, if only he’d stuck to killing official enemies, like this bloke did…. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZfFno6sq4k
Are they both right?
One side of the Key War from Fran O’Sullivan “…Committing the New Zealand military to Iraq is the right thing to do.
Not simply from a moral purpose – although that is highly important – but also because it is rational….
…The Prime Minister hadn’t helped himself when he said that joining the coalition against Islamic State was “the price of joining the club”.
If he had just added a rider that the “club” was that group of nations who had already committed troops to assist Iraq to repel Isis he may have achieved greater carriage for the Government’s argument that committing military to train Iraqi soldiers and provide support behind the wire was necessary.” http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11409263
And then John Armstrong’s very different one: “..If last Monday’s “misguided” decision by the Cabinet to dispatch a contingent to Iraq was the price of New Zealand’s membership of the exclusive Five Eyes intelligence-gathering “club” – as the Prime Minister admitted a month ago – what did that say about the transparency and credibility of the country’s supposedly “independent” foreign policy?…..
The Cabinet decision has rather made nonsense of a core selling-point in New Zealand’s successful campaign for a seat on the United Nations Security Council” http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11409236
There’s no question that Emwazi was an extremist – that’s why MI5 was interested in him. But in this case, as in others, their heavy-handed tactics seem to have made things worse, not better, and pushed him over the edge into murder. Its the war on terror in miniature, where the US/UK’s abuses simply drive more people to terrorism. we’ve seen it over US torture, which is a recruiting poster for radicals. We’ve seen it over Iraq and Afghanistan, where the US invasion provided an endless stream of atrocities. And we’re seeing it in Australia at the moment, where Tony Abbott’s war on Muslims is fuelling rather than quenching domestic radicalism. And sadly, John Key seems to be marching us down exactly the same path. And the only people who do well out of such tactics are spies and terrorists, who seem to paradoxically need each other to survive.
`
What a horrible bloodthirsty rant by Key. And his reeling off the number of Labour parties around the world that are pro war was just disturbing. The USA is doubling down on its mission to fuck up the Middle East.
Taking a page from their British mothers, their Canadian brothers, and their American bosses cousins, Australian politics is dominated by two parties, the centre-right Australian Labor Party (who can’t spell) and the right-centre Liberal Party of Australia (who can spell but don’t own a dictionary). While Britain’s Liberal Democrats are in a coalition government, and Canada’s NDP became the Official Opposition, Australia is identical to America in having a two-party duopoly, where both parties are closely aligned in policy (even if they aren’t in rhetoric). To the credit of Canberra, they don’t have any true-blue nationalist parties that have any chance at anything…
It’s a good read and cerainly a creepy image. However, there are a couple of typos. Firstly; “politicians where dubious at best”, where “where” should be; “were” (it’s always the ones that make it through the spell-checker that are hardest to catch!). Secondly; omitting the macron on Māori (which I wouldn’t mention except you managed the umlaut on naïve just fine). Personally; I’d add more commas and semi-colons too, but that’s just individual style.
Thanks for pointing out the typos. My first language is Dutch and yes, some of them slip through. Let me return the favour. Cerainly should be certainly! 😆
By the way the macron does not come easy in even my international keyboard whereas the umlaut does!
cut and paste from the Māori dictionary http://www.maoridictionary.co.nz/ – build up a file of common words – that is what i do – very simple which is good for me
This is interesting [WARNING linked article contains descriptions of torture; do not read if eating, or easily distressed]:
Lama was arrested in 2013 after settling in St Leonard-on-Sea, East Sussex, with his family… Charged with presiding over the torture of two men – Janak Raut and Karam Hussain – while in charge of Gorusinghe barracks in Kapilvastu in 2005….
“The authorities in this country have an obligation in cases where torture is alleged to have been committed if the alleged perpetrators are found within England.
“This commitment to prosecute alleged torturers even if the torture happened in an entirely different country and continent is sometimes called the principle of providing no safe haven for torturers.”
I think we are signatories to the same treaty, so any torturers who settle here in future will be liable to prosecution in a similar manner. What does this mean for our troops in Afghanistan who handed prisoners over to US soldiers for “enhanced interrogations”? How about those NZ soldiers may end up being in charge of ISIL prisoners who Iraq?
This alleged torture was four years after the massacre:
On 1 June 2001, there was a massacre in the royal palace. King Birendra, Queen Aiswarya, and seven other members of the royal family were killed. The perpetrator was Crown Prince Dipendra, who committed suicide (he died three days later)
Thanks for that. I gasped when I read this bit from your link:
“Factionalism inside the royal family led to a period of instability. In 1846 a plot was discovered revealing that the reigning queen had planned to overthrow Jung Bahadur Kunwar, a fast-rising military leader. This led to the Kot Massacre; armed clashes between military personnel and administrators loyal to the queen led to the execution of several hundred princes and chieftains around the country. Jung Bahadur Kunwar emerged victorious and founded the Rana Lineage and was later known as Jung Bahadur Rana”
Shows that the wholesale mass murders of royal families is not a recent phenomenon there!
I have not been to Nepal. I have been to the Himalayas and Darjeeling and met many Nepalese there. The common people of Napalese origin are very nice people.
Have you visited there?
Dean Barker says he has had a gutsful of Team New Zealand. He is not on his own. I think the whole country has. We are sick and tired of the childish antics, the leaking of information when it suits, the unavailability to comment when it doesn’t. Most of all, we are fed up with the backstabbing and the public statements which defy common sense.
[…]
Dalton should never have called a lay-day during the last America’s Cup. It should not have been his call. It should have been the sole right of Dean Barker to make that call, as skipper. Barker didn’t even know that Dalton had made the call. Dalton made the call for commercial reasons … some of the key sponsors hadn’t arrived in San Francisco and he wanted them to see the final victory. This decision, on its own, is so bad it should have led to his resignation.
Who wants to put money into an organisation that was so badly structured that at its key moment in recent history it had a board of only one member? Who wants to put money into an organisation that loses an event when it leads 8-1 and requires only one more victory?
In the history of modern sport this has to be the greatest choke of all time. Yet we have not been given any adequate explanation. We are of course entitled to one, because we have a $36 million stake in it.
If this was a private syndicate, we would have no right to know anything. However, this is a team that revels in the title Team New Zealand, that raises money because it uses the name of our country and that thrives on our support, our patriotism. That comes at a cost. We need to know the facts and we need to know why the next challenge will lead to a success, not another failure.
It is apparent that the Government, John Key and Steven Joyce particularly, have not realised the depth of feeling against Team New Zealand. If the Government funds Team New Zealand under its present leadership and structure, it will pay for it at the polling booths. I could not bring myself to vote for any party supporting the current bunch.
Team nz represents elitism and jobs for the boys typified by the arrogant dalton who deemed himself good enough to still be crew, we blew it in sanfranciso yet nobody got sacked.
Just like rugby world in 07, boys club members like dalton and graham live a charmed life.
I suppose your implication is that Putin had the former deputy Prime Minister Nemtsov killed. Shot multiple times while he was walking not far from the Kremlin.
Seriously, even if Putin on 80% popularity ratings could be bothered to order such a thing, I think as an ex KGB Colonel he would have made it a tad more subtle and deniable.
Yep. The CIA is responsible for all of the problems in Russia. Without their meddling Russia would be a civilised, democratic paradise that didnt rank close to last in the world of unimportant things like freedom of the press, income inequality, harassment of dissidents, corruption, judicial corruption, murder of journalists etc. And their leadership would never have stolen several hundreds of billions of dollars without being forced to by the CIA.
So criticism of John Key extends to all New Zealanders? This is exactly the sort of thing I’m talking about: Buzz’s mind control techniques are messing with your head.
nadis – I’d simply note that Russia doesn’t destabilise nations and start wars in faraway lands killing hundreds of thousands. And then head in for seconds and thirds because it fucked up those places so badly to begin with.
And yes, Russia has many of the hallmarks of a plutocracy, but so has the UK and USA.
Apparently if you rub a dead cat on your face it will heal the pain. According to an alternative healer (who carefully did not claim to bea medical practitioner, just a healer) on the interwebz
McFlock
Do you remember if he/she said that it also worked with toy cats (sort of dead)? Does it have to have real fur or not? If you can’t get a dead cat, or a toy cat in real fur, would a koala bear made out of kangaroo skin work?
Waiting in anticipation while my head and tooth aches. Please hurry and advise.
I think I saw a dead cat in the local reservoir, so rubbing the ultra-diluted tapwater on your head and rinsing your mouth with it should have the same healing properties as the cat itself.
Koalas are good for chlamydia, because most of ’em have it, the dirty buggers.
And yes, Russia has many of the hallmarks of a plutocracy
Let me fix that for you:
And yes, Russia has many of the hallmarks of a fascist mafia kleptcracy…
I’m sorry, unless you are deluded and have a complete blindspot/hard-on for Russia, the political systems of Russia versus the USA and UK arent even on the same planet.
Oh I think they are moving closer together as we speak. The FVEY nations have learnt to bring all the techniques of the East German Stasi into the 21st century, for instance. US government torture programmes used techniques detailed in SS/Gestapo handbooks from WWII. And of course, it is natural to prefer the governmental systems of the USA – if you aren’t poor and black.
CR
There is a one man show on in Wellington written about Paul Robeson and how it was to be a black in free advanced USA. And how they in gummint felt free to oppress USA citizens. At one time he was forbidden to sing and his passport was withheld so he couldn’t leave the USA. He suffered a bit of depression around that time I think.
No joyride living there! http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/20169090
Playing Favourites with Tayo Aluko ( 53′ 35″ )
10:08 Nigerian-born, UK-based writer and performer of Call Mr Robeson: a Life with Songs, based on the musical career and political activism of the US singer Paul Robeson.
On another note, the US still has Black Panther political activists locked up from the 1970s, most likely on trumped up/falsified charges. Those men are American political prisoners and will never see a free day in their lives again.
The noble western ideals of democracy, freedom, fraternity and equality have, in practical terms, been altered as freedom for the wealthy and the powerful minority to do as they wish in their own special interests, while the poor, the under privileged and the ordinary people get to enjoy neither equality nor fraternity nor true democracy in effect.
I also can’t believe the number of Lefties who get sucked into the idea of waging war, droning ‘bad guys’, overthrowing governments and impoverishing nations all in the righteous name of freedom, democracy, equality and human rights.
Apart from the fact that I have knowledge of your absurdist denial of all knowledge, so really there’s a 50/50 chance that you’d have looked down the long end of the gun before pulling the trigger, so you’re not competent enough to have done it, so the speculation of your guilt is not as valid as putin having ordered someone else to do it.
But then the weak anthropic principle comes in, that maybe you’re just one incredibly lucky imbecile…
Lol
So you replied to me with a passive-aggressive reference to a previous argument that you completely failed to understand, and any reply I make after that is stalking? Piss off.
As for the rest, your acataleptic doubt is amusing, but leaves you fucking useless.
0pen mike, doofus. FWIW, I ignore most of your idiocies unless you reply to me. But every so often one of your comments is so spectacularly pretentious and useless that I feel the need to point out the gaping hole to you.
And being told to pick up my game by someone who invents definitions to suit their delusional claims of victory is just funny.
Oh yes the Putin is the crazy, irrational, blood thirsty one out of the the current set of world leaders meme.
You scientism acolytes are surprisingly weak minded to fall for this kind of thing.
Tell you what, take a look at the 3 hour plus no questions barred annual pressor he did last year and ask yourself why you’ll never see Obama, Cameron, Abbott or Key fielding unscripted questions from the global media like that.
I thought you were the one asserting Putin is very special, and hence deserving of special attention to be sorted out. Sorry I must have mistaken your intent.
Like many liberals, you’re a sponge for propaganda messaging from authority figures.
That’s not a gain, and further, it foments political dissatisfaction with the Kremlin. As I said earlier, it’s other players who would benefit from that but it seems that you’re not listening.
It depends entirely on what the guy was about to say. Putin might well be much better off with enemies in fear and no disturbing revelations than he would be if the guy were left alive.
Your suggestion that “other players” would manage an elaborate plan to increase Russian instability by eliminating putin’s opponents, in secret, with massive geopolitical blowback if the slightest legitimate suspicion were raised, is incredibly unlikely for the simple reason that anyone dumb enough to try it would not be competent enough to achieve it.
… so, apart from silence, and the intimidation of other opponents, and an increased reputation as a ‘strong man’*, what has Putin ever gained from this?
Putin will blame “Dark western forces” or “chechen gangsters” or “Ukrainian fascists”. The majority of Russians will lap it up becasue that is the only narrative they will get (complete state control of TV, complete state censorship of the internet)
The small opposition that the message is directed at will understand completely. Criticising Putin in Russia as a journalist or politician is generally a death sentence, or prison at best.
I have been to Russia though that was some time ago – 1997-2003 – on multiple visits for business, though they didnt give me a huge lot of insight into how average russians lived or thought. Though I do have some great anecdotes about how business was done and who was doing it.
Subsequently I have read a lot of books both by Russians and outsiders. You want a reading list? Defending Russia without having read at least some of the books I could recommend makes you look a bit stupid.
Yes I agree that’s worse than the US, where they generally only fire journalists for printing unpalatable stories about US government or Israeli government activities.
Mind you, the US does tend to spy on, intimidate, prosecute and imprison journalists sources and whistleblowers of conscience, sometimes for decades at a time.
Then there’s things like the extra-judicial exiling of people like Edward Snowden.
“Then there’s things like the extra-judicial exiling of people like Edward Snowden.”
Funny way to describe being on the run. Snowden can go home any time he wants so he’s not actually exiled extra-judicially. Or judicially, for that matter. It’s entirely a self-exile.
The US government cancelled his passport when he arrived in Moscow to prevent him from fleeing to Ecuador (or anywhere else). That was effectively exiling (stranding) Snowden in Russia.
Snowden can go home any time he wants
How? And regardless, he’d never get a fair trial if the secret grand jury has charged him with crimes under the Espionage Act.
Revoking his passport doesn’t stop him going home. He can return any time he wants so he’s not exiled.
As for his trial, he knowingly broke the laws of his country. I think he did it for the greater good, but he still chose to do so. On the up side, he doesn’t appear to have raped anyone, so good on him for showing some restraint 😉
As for his trial, he knowingly broke the laws of his country.
Yep. Just like freeing slaves or helping Jews escape across the border broke the laws of those lands. Or sitting in White only sections of the bus, restaurant or movie theatre.
On the up side, he doesn’t appear to have raped anyone, so good on him for showing some restraint 😉
Yeah, you’re a prick. And again, a prime sponge for smearing propaganda.
he actually can mount a defence that the lawbreaking was for the greater good.
Not a permissible defense for charges brought under the Espionage Act.
But hey, don’t let that get in the way of endlessly excusing and apologising for authority, while slamming any ingrate who dares question, undermine or challenge it. I mean, we all know authority is to be revered at all times and in all circumstances.
Bill, you might be well be a suck up to authority, but I really don’t revere it the way you claim to. So let’s focus on the facts, eh?
Snowden knew what he was doing was illegal and while it’s an uphill struggle to get a not guilty verdict (what with him being guilty an’ all) he is entitled to use the public good defence in both the case itself and the sentencing aspect, if convicted.
Whether it works for him is entirely another matter.
Bill is right of course, and TRP you are wrong. The problem TRP is that you have assumed that Snowden would have natural justice on return to the USA. That is not the case. Even Daniel Ellsberg has said that Snowden is right to not return to the USA, given how much conditions have deteriorated since he leaked the Pentagon Papers.
Snowden would not be permitted to use a public good defence, he also would not be able to use a defence that no material harm was done to the interests of the United States.
he is entitled to use the public good defence in both the case itself…
What is it that you’re not getting about ‘the public good’ (or whatever) not being permissible grounds of defense for charges brought under the Espionage Act!?
The Espionage Act is kinda somewhat like trespass is in this country. There is, to all practical purposes, no fcking possible defense if the Act is used against you.
Well, you’re almost there, Bill. It is permissible as a defence, but whether it works is another matter. Kinda like you think the trespass Act that you mentioned works.
The best defence is a) don’t break the law, b) don’t broadcast what you’ve done if you do. Snowden’s defence is weak not because the public good defence isn’t available to him (it is), it’s just that he has already admitted knowingly breaking the law. If he’d been more selective in what he released, he would have more of a chance of using that defence. ie he could say “I only released specific things such as incidents of lawbreaking that the public had a right to know about”. But a general dumping of the info he took substantially weakens any defence he might have had.
If he’s found guilty, he can still plead the public good in mitigation during the sentencing phase. But again, non specific dumps don’t support that either.
CR is right. A public interest defence is prohibited for charges brought under the Espionage Act. However, Hilary Clinton agrees with you. She doesn’t seem to know US law either.
As for the best defence being to not break the law, wow. You really are authoritarian. This is one of the reasons the Labour Party is becoming increasingly irrelevant in making the needed changes in the way things are run.
A killing like this of a high profile opponent sneds a pretty clear message to other opponents.
Lets be honest. Putin doesnt and never has given a shit about appearances, except those ones that make him look like a Stalin-esque leader.
He’s never cared in the past when as mayor of St Petersburg he personally signed thousands of import export licenses in return for 30% kickbacks, didnt care when killing journalists in moscow, didnt care when dosing tea with polonium, doesn’t care when arbitrarily stripping assets from opponents.
He may not have anything to do with it, but I think it is unlikely the hand of the Russian state is either directly or indirectly involved. Russian organised crime doesnt do anything in Russia without a nod from the FSB, so the chances of an organised hit within Russia happening without state input is low. I guess we’ll see on the aftermath. If no-one or only a patsy is captured then you know it was a state hit.
OK let’s say it was a state sanctioned hit. Let’s even say that Putin personally signed off on the assassination to make a public point ahead of the upcoming opposition protest march. Let’s even say that the power of being perpetual president has gone to his head and he’s decided he might be the New Stalin of the 21st century.
Now what. Shall we go to war with Russia?
Or shall we just settle for organising a “colour revolution” in Moscow and settle for regime change?
Go on then, support a colour revolution, maybe a Moscow Spring. The IMF, World Bank and Goldman Sachs are usually close behind helping wave the flags for “freedom”.
Russia has already had their neoliberal “spring” (aided by their own version of Rogernomics) and now the oligarchs are in control. Goldman Sachs would have trouble against the Russian gangster capitalists.
Indeed. It’s why I wonder about the complaints that Russia is a mafia plutocracy. After all, it’s exactly the way that the IMF, GS, JPM etc set it up in the 90’s. Their problem with it I believe is that they expected it to be THEIR mafia to be in charge, not Putin’s.
The newly-selected Labour candidate to stand against George Galloway in Bradford West, London-based Amina Ali, has suddenly pulled out citing the disruption it would cause to her family life if she moved north to Bradford. The councillor in London’s Tower Hamlets said that fighting for a seat 200 miles away in Yorkshire would have too great an impact on her children’s schoolwork.
She was only selected 4 days ago and, according to reports, said it was “a dream come true” to be picked. But according to The Times, Ms Ali had “a look of shock and horror on her face” immediately after learning she’d won the selection contest.
Bradford West had been comfortably held by Labour since boundary changes in 1974 (Labour held the seat with a 6000-vote majority in 2010). But at the 2012 By-Election, George Galloway won the seat in spectacular style, achieving a majority of more than 10,000 with the largest UK By-Election swing in 30 years (he has since referred to the win as the Bradford Spring).
Long may he continue to shame both the Tories/Coalition and UK Labour’s venal, Neo-liberal elite.
See, workers are basically terrorists who need to be broken to make the world safe for corporations.
Walker sought to address this gap Thursday evening at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference when he was asked a question on stage about how he would take on the threat of Islamic State jihadists. Walker claimed he was prepared to confront this threat because of his experience confronting thousands of protesters who gathered in Madison in 2011 to decry his push to undo collective bargaining for public employees in the state. “We need a leader with that kind of confidence. If I can take on 100,000 protesters, I can do the same across the world,” he declared.
`
Linked: Matt Damon on civil disobedience.
The political elites of USA and Russia have more in common with one another than with their own people. Civil _obedience_ is in their best interests. Meanwhile poor people are jailed for petty infractions and wall street bankers remain at large.
USA and other financiers who play risk games and lose get bailed out but Kim Dotcom is to be roasted and stripped of money for his defence. I wonder whether Courts down here withh carry forward the alleged harsh controls on his reimbursement.
Great article and interesting comment below it Lies are to mass communication what bio-tech fraudulent substances are to agriculture. Both are being disseminated in such mad rushes as to taint the currencies of nutrition along with “food for thought.”
Exactly how dirty politics has polluted public discourse in NZ
There is an interesting article in the New York Times dealing with the fact that conservatives on the whole do not regard environmental issues as moral ones and therefore are less likely to support governments to make changes that are beneficial although possibly involving some cost.
“While the number of Republicans who say global warming is a serious problem has reached high levels, there remains a very large gap in moral engagement with the issue. We found that conservatives were less likely than liberals to describe pro-environmental efforts in moral terms, or to pass moral judgment on someone who behaved in an environmentally unfriendly way, for example by not recycling. Where liberals view environmental issues as matters of right and wrong, conservatives generally do not.”
“Our research points to a different factor in the moralization gap: the terms in which these issues are commonly discussed in the media. We enlisted a team of research assistants to code the moral content of 51 environmental public service announcements and 402 opinion articles appearing in major American newspapers. The arguments found in these messages most often discussed environmental issues like climate change in terms of the need to protect people and ecosystems from harm and destruction. Protection from harm is a moral concern that, past research finds, resonates significantly more with American liberals than conservatives. By contrast, moral concerns more unique to conservatives like patriotism, respect for authority, sanctity or purity rarely appeared in the environmental appeals we studied.”
“To assess this, we conducted a final study in which we constructed a pro-environmental message based in moral purity. This message emphasized the need to protect natural habitats from “desecration” so that our children can experience the “uncontaminated purity and value of nature.” We presented one group of self-identified conservatives with this message, another group with a more conventional message emphasizing the need to protect ecosystems from harm, and a third group with a neutral essay that didn’t mention the environment. The conservatives presented with the purity message reported significantly greater support for pro-environmental legislation than the other two groups — indeed, they were as supportive as a group of liberals we also surveyed. Conservatives who read the moral purity message even reported greater belief in global warming, though the message itself didn’t mention global warming, only environmental issues in general.” http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/01/opinion/sunday/is-the-environment-a-moral-cause.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=c-column-top-span-region®ion=c-column-top-span-region&WT.nav=c-column-top-span-region
I found this article very thought-provoking. It seems that the moral issues have to be spelt out if Conservative commitment to positive action is the goal. (Mind you, when I look at the way that National has abused the political donation system, why am I surprised? There seems to be a disengagement of the ethical /moral viewpoint on the justification that if it’s legal, then it is right.) Conservative support for the short term planning by this government, whereby resources are squandered and problems are foisted onto future generations, may need to be countered differently by highlighting the moral deficiencies of plundering on the future generations.
The way to forge back from the neoliberal NACT policy stronghold in NZ is to counter with ‘moral’ and ‘ethical’ messages from the left but in an emotional way. The emotion is missing often from the left. You do not change hearts and minds with ‘logic’ – you do it with passion. Russell Norman has passion such as his fantastic speech on sending troops to Iraq recently. In the previous election 2011? Greens had billboards with children on it. That was much more successful than the current ones from the Greens, which I actually don’t even remember.
The Labour MP’s need to be more visionary but not in a contrived way but from the heart. To my mind it feels like Labour are too scared to really speak out on real issues. This presents an unauthentic muddle like the 24 hr surveillance bill. You are either into surveillance or out on surveillance. It is not a time frame issue it is a human right moral issue. You believe it is ok for the CIA to torture or it is not ok for the CIA to torture. For an MP not being able to answer a moral question clearly or evading it just makes anyone look untrustworthy. Likewise with policy – what do you stand for?
saveNZ,
The missing million do not see it that way. They are important issues and starkly illustrate the moral lobotomization of our society. Dirty politics has polluted all parties, and corporate lies have corrupted the MSM. No wonder so many people have decided to ignore the whole farce.
TMM,
US Conservatives are a weird bunch, tied up in religious myths and apocalyptic fantasies, their moral compasses confused by terrible perversions from the pulpit. Most conservatives are lovely hospitable and kind people but they feel it’s their moral duty to feed their sons and daughters into the bloodthirsty military industrial machine. Jesus wept. Fred Clark of the “Slacktivist” blog dissects the religious mindset, it’s awful but fascinating reading.
I agree with you, Save NZ. Labour cannot simply copy Key’s technique of changing his tack every five minutes depending on the feedback from the focus group because progressives would be able to spot the lack of authenticity straight away. It seems that the moral importance of proposed policy has to be really spelt out in a way that gets through to the Conservative mind that seems to be able to accept anything that comes out of John Key’s mouth without subjecting it to any critical analysis for BS or comparison with previous utterings. There seems to be a faith-based belief in Key that bypasses the critical thinking parts of the brain for many people .
For those in Dunedin, Prof Jane Kelsey is giving a public talk at Dunedin Hospital, lunchtime Monday, on the TPP and its profound implications for public health.
Interesting article about how donations and voting in the internet age mean
Internet-era politics means safe seats are a thing of the past
In 2004, the Howard Dean campaign made electoral history by harnessing the power of the internet to raise more than any other Democratic contender: more than $25m raised, largely in small-money donations averaging $80 – a marked contrast to the usual way of doing things, which involves raising titanic sums from rich people whom you then owe a lot of favours to, whether or not you take office.
Tools such as I’ll Vote Green If You Do mean isolated pockets of resistance can unite to become effective agents of political change
In case you haven’t caught up with John Oliver do his bit about Tobacco and PM cigarettes.
He gives it good coverage and lively as well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UsHHOCH4q8
I would just like to point out that the red climate change advertisement that is always on the right of the page, is not showing the full story.
It is missing context.
In order for it to be relevant, it must include the ACTUAL temperature readings of the earth as far back as we have been able to measure it, then also include the CURRENT temperature of the earth.
The only acceptable method of measurement is the ‘actual temperature percentage difference over time’. It’s the only figure which displays the actual story.
The method used on the advertisement is childish AND extremely misleading. On top of that it uses a negative connotation to express its point (Hiroshima). It seems like a fear inducing advertisement.
Am I the only technical savvy person who writes on The Standard? Because ALL technical minded people should be able to pick up on it.
If your not afraid of heating the Earth at the rate of 4 Hiroshima’s per second, then you should be. Remember – over 90% of that heat ends up in the oceans.
You might think your a technically savvy person, but you naivety suggests otherwise.
Imagine (as a technically savvy person) the effect on a pot of water sitting on a stove top that is on. What are the things that happen? That is just what we are doing to the Earth as we pour more and more GHG’s into the atmosphere.
Last year was the warmest on record (world wide). The past decade has been the warmest on record (world wide). This past month in Perth (where I am currently staying) has been (on average) 1 degree above the average for the past 30 years, and even warmer than that on the long term average. There are bush fires here on a daily basis. More importantly the minimum temperatures are on average at least 1 degree above average. That is one of the main signatures for an increasing Green House Effect (with no GHG the Earth would cool to – 18 degrees every night and become a snowball).
You might have noticed increasing winds around NZ over recent times. Have you observed that heating pot yet? Notice how the convection currents build up speed as more and more energy is transferred into the system. Wind speeds world wide have increased on average http://www.nature.com/news/2008/080903/full/news.2008.1079.html
and they will continue to increase as we continue to heat the Earth.
So the short answer is – this is a graphic way to continually bring to peoples attention the sad fact that the Western World is carrying out a very dangerous experiment which will affect all of humankind.
“So the short answer is – this is a graphic way to continually bring to peoples attention the sad fact that the Western World is carrying out a very dangerous experiment which will affect all of humankind.”
What about the eastern countries, China and India?
Do they see the problem?
As Macro pointed out – “Last year was the warmest on record (world wide). The past decade has been the warmest on record (world wide)”… and “More importantly the minimum temperatures are on average at least 1 degree above average. That is one of the main signatures for an increasing Green House Effect”
Yes the developing countries add to the total GHG
But ask yourself this question
who consumes the majority of India and China’s production?
Where is your wardrobe made? Where were the brake pads for your car produced? Where were the tyres manufactured? etc etc…
You know and I know that the Western World are the major consumers of the developing nations production. In other words we have EXPORTED our GHG production to these countries and now you are castigating them for it!
They would not have such escalating GHG totals if we didn’t buy so much stuff!
On the other hand China in particular is doing something about it! It’s GHG is actually declining in comparison to it’s GDP growth. Not substantially, but it is heading in the right direction – unlike NZ!
No, I wasn’t! How and why did you presume such a thing?
I was asking a simple honest question for your statement, “sad fact that the Western World is carrying out a very dangerous experiment which will affect all of humankind”, without substantiating what that dangerous experiment was!
Jeez!
Now that you have clarified what you meant, tell me clearly how do we stop people buying the cheap and essential stuff from China and other countries? What is your sensible, doable, practical, workable solution, and in what time, not just for the tiny New Zealand but for all the world? These are legitimate questions. Do not presume something else.
The dangerous experiment is the continuing unmitigated emissions of GHG by the continual burning of fossil fuels so that we can have cheap stuff. By continually raising the concentration of GHG in the atmosphere Humans are trapping more and more energy that would have been radiated back into space. That extra energy is being recorded at the rate of around 4 Hiroshima bombs every second. That is the numbers being shown on the widget at the top right of the page, and is an approximate record of the total additional energy that has been added to the Earth since 1979. The experiment is to find out what happens! Well we have a damn good idea of what will happen, and frankly its not very pretty.
We can go on demanding cheap stuff – and for a few more years we can carry on – but the longer we keep on demanding cheap stuff the worse it will get. The consequences of our demands will make life for our descendants very miserable indeed. My grandchildren will certainly live in a far poorer and depleted world than I have had the fortune to experience. I don’t think they will thank me for it.
Storms will be more severe. Drought will be more severe, as will rainfall. Seems contradictory doesn’t it. But every 1 degree increase in atmospheric temperature increases the capacity of air to hold water vapour by 4%. Water is an even more potent GHG than CO2 – so that feeds back into increasing the solar energy trapped by the Green house effect. Winds are increasing and damage caused by extreme weather events will escalate. Many economists (Including Lord Stern) have considered this problem and concluded that the cheapest solution is to stop emitting GHG’s – not wait until we are forced to do something.
The first solution should be a direct tax on Carbon. British Columbia introduced such a tax some years back. It is the only Province in Canada to record a reduction in GHG emissions. Not only that, BC is still growing its Wealth. Regretfully this is through mining and exploitative industries such as exporting unsawn logs to China, but the fact is that by reinvesting that tax in improving Public transport (The Vancouver sky train from the airport to the city is amazing) and promoting electric cars etc (I travelled with a venture capitalist who was working with Tesla on one occasion – very informative). The carbon tax gives the province the wherewithal to invest in an alternative and more sustainable future.
Because the Western World has predominantly caused this sad state of affairs, and has had the lions share of the benefits, it has the moral responsibility to do more than others to deal with the outcomes. This is not something that NZ Australia and USA etc want to face up to. And NZ to our shame has been one of the worst players (along with Australia) in the recent past in owning up to this – indeed our “contribution” at the recent Lima COP talks were downright appalling. But that is another issue in this sorry affair.
You did not really respond to my last part of the comment, “Now that you have clarified what you meant, tell me clearly how do we stop people buying the cheap and essential stuff from China and other countries? What is your sensible, doable, practical, workable solution, and in what time, not just for the tiny New Zealand but for all the world? These are legitimate questions. Do not presume something else”
Your solution was carbon tax, electric cars and may be rails. I agree with those.
But is that it in reply to my query about cheap stuff from China etc and sensible, doable, practical, workable solution immediately now around the world?
But no worries if you can’t or don’t wish to answer that very difficult issue.
Sorry I have just been rewatching the cricket 🙂
Very enjoyable watching over here you understand. and got carried away.
As for the cheap stuff from China etc. I believe we have to rethink the free trade deals and globalisation. I’m not opposed to trade as such, I just believe trade should be fair trade.
Take for instance the export of logs to China. I see logging trucks day after day carrying thousands of logs to Tauranga for shipping to China. In Vancouver I saw the same thing – vast numbers being towed by tugs to the ships for loading – acres of them. But China only wants logs and refuses sawn timber. I say if they want the wood – then we saw it too! If you don’t take that – you don’t get.
NZ used to be the world leader in forestry and timber production. In WW2 the Mosquito (a wooden aircraft) was made possible to be produced by a battalion of the NZ Army – Foresters. The Brits didn’t know how to cut down and mill the timber fast enough! The NZers reduced the spruce forests of Cirencester in short order…
Until recently wine was not only produced in NZ but also the bottles were manufactured here. We now import our wine bottles from China!
How do we change this? Its reactionary I know – but we have to – as the First Labour Govt did place import quotas on goods. NZ is foolish to think that it can be so pure in this when elsewhere other nations place restrictions on their boarders.
Not only do we restrict the importation of cheap and often unreliable goods but we improve the employment prospects for many. WE used to clothe ourselves until we started to import cheap clothing from offshore. Thousands lost their work as factories closed. Hoping that people will buy locally produced doesn’t work. Cheap always wins out over quality.
But with more people in employment there is more buying power as there is more money to go around. Local products, though more expensive at first, become more affordable because people have more money and maybe are not having to buy so frequently.
That is only one suggestion – there are many others but I have a g’son to put to bed. So I’ll leave my suggestions there. I’m sure others can offer even better ideas.
I’d say I’m reasonably technically savvy and I see nothing wrong with it. You don’t seem as knowledgeable as you think, though. As an example, what is the temperature of the Earth, and why is it relevant to climate change? Let’s see if you know what you’re talking about.
As for not showing the full story – it shows one measure among many that are possible. Personally, I think the amount of heat being added to the climate is a very apt measure, although what exactly this means is left unclear. It shows that we are adding a lot of heat, and that is scary.
I can’t jump in on the discussion above with regards to the murder of Nemtsov in Russia. The reply buttons were missing!
What gets me is that for some reason people are more than willing to contemplate murderous conspiracies when it concerns Putin but stay in total denial of the real and proven manipulation of Russian politics by the NATO/UN.
Here is a telephone conversation from Victoria Nullen (The United States’ top diplomat for European affairs) with the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine stating that, as the US had spend $ 5 billion on destabilizing Ukraine to get their puppet in place (she names the one she wants) the EU could go fuck themselves because the US wanted their man in power.
As I write this every country around Russia is being armed to the teeth and we are being primed with all kinds of Propaganda to hate Russia once again and the idea that we have to go to war with them. When will people beging to see that we are on the side of the bastards not the good guys.
Oh, and by the way Putin yesterday announced that his administration would get a 10% cut in their salary. I call that leadership by example!
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
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Negative yesterday, negative today. Negative all year, according to one departing reader telling me I’ve grown strident and predictable. Fair enough. If it’s any help, every time I go to write about a certain topic that begins with C and ends with arrrrs, I do brace myself and ask: Again? Are ...
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Inspirational: The Family of Man is a glorious hymn to human equality, but, more than that, it is a clarion call to human freedom. Because equality, unleavened by liberty, is a broken piano, an unstrung harp; upon which the songs of fraternity will never be played.“Somebody must have been telling lies about ...
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It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support for the various parties in ...
Buzz from the Beehive Housing Minister Chris Bishop delivered news – packed with the ingredients to enflame political passions – worthy of supplanting Winston Peters in headline writers’ priorities. He popped up at the post-Cabinet press conference to promise a crackdown on unruly and antisocial state housing tenants. His ...
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Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
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Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
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Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
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I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
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TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
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“I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
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TL;DR:Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
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The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
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Bob Edlin writes – The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
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Kicking the most vulnerable people out of state housing and pushing them towards homelessness will result in a proliferation of poverty and trauma across our most vulnerable communities. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. “I’m calling on all political parties to support my ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
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Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
The New Zealand public voted for a change in direction at the 2023 general election and that is exactly what this coalition government has been delivering in its first 100 days. There was an immediate focus on the economy, easing the cost of living, cracking down on law and order ...
The Government has left the health system as an afterthought, announcing half-baked targets at the last minute of their 100-day plan, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
Kiwis are still waiting for their promised cost of living support after 100 days of a National Government that is taking us backwards, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
100 days of National taking NZ backwardsThe National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
The Government must commit to funding free and healthy school lunches, as thousands of people sign the petition to keep them, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti says. ...
If the Government was serious about moving families into public housing, they would build more houses so there is actually somewhere for people to go. ...
The free and healthy school lunches programme feeds our kids, helps them to learn, and saves families money – but it is at risk under this Government, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
The Government’s proposed changes to Firearms Prohibition Orders (FPO) add almost nothing new and are merely an attempt to distract from its plans to loosen gun laws, police spokesperson Ginny Andersen and justice spokesperson Dr Duncan Webb said. ...
The great Victorian era English politician Lord Macauley stood in the British House of Parliament and said, "The gallery in which the reporters sit has become a fourth estate of the realm".He understood and outlined even way back then, the significant role and influence media have in a democracy. ...
The government’s attack on Māori health this week is committing tangata-whenua to a premature death, says Te Pāti Māori. “The government have begun their onslaught on Māori health with the abolishment of the Māori Health Authority and smokefree laws in the same day” said health spokesperson and co-leader, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. ...
"The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April. ...
Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand. Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships. “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland Acknowledgements and opening Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says. “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024 Acknowledgements and opening Morena, Nga Mihi Nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country. “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week. “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee. “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today. “The Amendment Paper represents ...
Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level. “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024. “Lower fruit and vege ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction. Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness. It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology. It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Deborah Lupton, SHARP Professor, Vitalities Lab, Centre for Social Research in Health and Social Policy Centre, and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society, UNSW Sydney kitzcorner/Shutterstock The assertion from Queensland’s chief health officer John Gerrard that ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Shutterstock Why are musicians so keen to get played on the radio? It can’t be because of the money. In Australia they are paid at rates so low they ...
"Farmers make a point not to tell our urban cousins how to live, yet Chlöe from central Auckland is hell-bent on having her say about farmers," says ACT Rural Communities spokesman Mark Cameron. “On her first day in the House as Green ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards – Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Curran, Associate Professor of Ecology, Lincoln University, New Zealand Getty Images/Gerald Corsi In the latest move to reform environmental laws in New Zealand, the coalition government has introduced a bill to fast-track consenting processes for projects deemed to ...
Uber has argued it does not have as much control over drivers as the unions suggest, and wants a judgment ruling that drivers are employees and not contractors set aside and sent back to the Employment Court. The 2022 ruling followed a three-week hearing in which four drivers sought to ...
What can and can’t be purchased by disabled people or their carers has been slashed in an effort by the Ministry of Disabled People Whaikaha to save money. The purchasing guidelines, a set of rules that sets out what can be purchased using the various streams of Government disability funding, ...
The Treasury has published today a new Analytical Note by Tod Wright and Hien Nguyen, Fiscal incidence in New Zealand: The effects of taxes and benefits on household incomes in tax year 2018/19 . Analyses of the distributional impact of taxation and government ...
The Treasury has published today a new Analytical Note by Cory Davis, Boston Hart and Benjamin Stubbing, Household cost-of-living impacts from the Emissions Trading Scheme and using transfers to mitigate regressive outcomes . This Analytical Note ...
A coalition of public transport and climate organisations, united as ‘Transport for All’, is actively opposing the government’s transport proposals. The draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) includes plans for higher fares for public transport, ...
Greater Wellington is inviting feedback on proposed changes to its Revenue and Financing Policy. The Revenue and Financing Policy covers the Council’s various sources of funding, and how the cost of services is shared across the region. This includes ...
Labour has conceded it could have done more to deal with disruptive state housing tenants while in government but says the current coalition is going too far. ...
The band has asked their record label to issue a cease and desist to stop the NZ First leader using their 1997 hit to support his ‘misguided political views’. “I get knocked down, but I get up again,” blared through the speakers on Sunday as Winston Peters took the stage ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist Food rationing is underway in remote areas in Papua New Guinea’s Highlands following torrential rain and flash flooding. More than 20 people have been reported dead in Chimbu Province. In nearby Enga Province, the centre of last month’s massacre, a 15-year-old boy has been ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Hughes, Lecturer, Research School of Management, Australian National University After months of debate and intrigue, the AFL’s 19th and newest team, the Tasmania Devils, finally launched its jumper, logo and colours in Devonport this week. The Devils will wear green, ...
Brannavan Gnanalingam reviews the debut novel by Saraid de Silva.One of the most baffling things for children who move to a new country is what their parents’ (or grandparents’) lives were like prior to moving – for kids in particular, they’re too busy trying to fit in in their ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Gaunson, Associate Professor in Cinema Studies, RMIT University Narelle Portanier/Binge “If you don’t know who your mob are, you don’t know who you are,” Detective Andrea “Andie” Whitford (played by Leah Purcell) is told early into the new crime ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elise Klein, Associate professor, Australian National University It’s commonly accepted that women do the vast majority of caregiving in Australian society. But less appreciated is that Indigenous women do larger amounts of unpaid care than any other group. Working with the Aboriginal ...
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 Joe Biden and Donald Trump have both secured their parties’ nominations for the November 5 United States general election by winning a ...
Comment: There has been a striking contrast in trans-Tasman interest about Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi’s visit to New Zealand and Australia. While the Australian press has been full of articles about the visit – including his curious decision to meet with former prime minister and China booster Paul Keating ...
After years of pressuring banks and other institutions to stop investing in fossil fuels, climate campaigners are making some progress. So how does divestment work?For years, climate activists have been pushing banks and other big institutions to divest from fossil fuels. New research from climate advocacy group 350 Aotearoa ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. The three young Polynesians are part of a K-pop fan community in Tāmaki Makaurau. It’s one of many that have sprung up worldwide as K-pop has gone ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. This one-off documentary presents three intimate portraits of young Polynesians who are pulled into a Korean cultural phenomenon. K-POLYS is directed by Litia Tuiburelevu, Produced by Hex ...
There’s ample evidence demonstrating free school lunch programmes provide wide benefits across schools, households and communities according to public health researchers. ACT Minister David Seymour wants to reduce the spending on Aotearoa New Zealand’s ...
By Wata Shaw in Suva Fiji is facing an exodus of Fijians as many are leaving for overseas seeking employment and education and others are migrating, says Opposition MP Viliame Naupoto. Speaking in Parliament, he said: “His Excellency’s speech (Ratu Wiliame Katonivere) comes after a little over one year of ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming comments from Christopher Luxon this morning recommitting to ‘no new taxes’ as part of Budget 2024. “Mr Luxon’s refusal at the Post-Cabinet press conference yesterday to repeat the ‘no new taxes’ promise ...
SAFE is urgently calling on the Environment Committee to reject the Government’s Fast-Track Approvals Bill, and is urging New Zealanders to rally behind the call. The proposed Bill, currently under consideration with the Environment select committee, ...
Teammates who spend all their time picking fights with spectators are only helpful for the other team, writes Madeleine Chapman. Anyone who has ever played a team sport competitively, particularly as a child and particularly, for some reason, basketball, will know that there’s a lot of politics involved. While there ...
The long-running Wellington music festival is too focused on the Jim Beam-ness and not enough on the Homegrown-ness.There is something about Homegrown that’s difficult to place. A barely perceptible-ness. Like feeling a ghost is watching you from the corner of the room but when you look, there’s nothing there. ...
The latest Ipsos New Zealand Issues Monitor reveals that fewer New Zealanders believe crime / law and order is one of the top issues facing our country. In 2018, Ipsos New Zealand started tracking the key issues facing New Zealand. In this wave ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Griffiths, Deputy Program Director, Budgets and Government, Grattan Institute Australia’s political donations rules are woefully inadequate, but donations reform is finally on the agenda. The federal government has signalled its interest in reform and will soon begin briefing MPs on its ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Patrick Taylor, Chief Environmental Scientist, EPA Victoria; Honorary Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Naiyana Somchitkaeo/Shutterstock A recent study published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine has linked microplastics with risk to human health. The study ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Global climate records were shattered in 2023, from air and sea temperatures to sea-level rise and sea-ice extent. Scores of countries recorded their hottest year ...
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a teacher explains why he and his partner are in frugal mode – and how they’re making it work. Gender: Male Age: 35Ethnicity: Pākehā Role: I am an intermediate school teacher and my partner is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Bendall, Senior Lecturer, Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences, Australian Catholic University Binge Mary & George, the new British television drama series, depicts the real-life story of Mary Villiers and her son George, and their social climbing at the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jason Nassios, Associate Professor, Centre of Policy Studies, Victoria University This article is part of The Conversation’s series examining the housing crisis. Read the other articles in the series here. Australian state and federal governments spend money in many ways to ...
The finance minister is denying that there’s a $5.6b shortfall in paying for the government’s campaign promises, including tax cuts. At his post-cabinet press conference yesterday, the PM refused to rule out new taxes to pay for the cuts, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s ...
Kāinga Ora tenants abused by their neighbours are doubting the government's crackdown on disruptive tenants will make a difference on their behaviour. ...
Kāinga Ora is New Zealand’s biggest residential landlord, housing more than 180,000 vulnerable people in more than 67,000 properties. Yesterday the government announced a crackdown on its tenants who fall behind on rent. One longtime Kāinga Ora tenant shares her experience.For 18 years I lived in a 1960s standalone ...
Why does this myth persist, and what’s the real reason our skin is suffering?It’s one of the biggest international grievances New Zealanders hold, up there with the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior and 1981’s underarm incident. We’re quick to tell international travellers that the world’s pollution led to the ...
Bob’s relationship with certain members of Lincoln’s academic staff continued to deteriorate in the 1990s. Others supported him publicly, though articles such as Roland Clark’s 1993 piece in Growing Today cannot have pleased the university management. Clark wrote that Bob was selling onions from the Biological Husbandry Unit to a ...
SailGP’s races feature in-your-face action, with agile, hydro-foiling catamarans tacking and jibing for the title over several days. However, public comments ahead of the global series’ return to New Zealand have left this past year’s controversy in the shadows, as a key appointment attracts criticism from dolphin advocates. A year ...
Opinion: We are fast approaching a fundamental change in prisons. As the number of people on custodial remand looks set to overtake the number of sentenced prisoners, the main function of prisons in New Zealand may become incarcerating un-sentenced people who may not be guilty of offending. We have already ...
A huge seven months lies in store for the White Ferns, beginning this week with the visit of England and culminating with the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in September and October. Starting on Tuesday in Dunedin, the world ranked No. 2 visitors will play five T20s and three ODIs, ...
Opinion: In a move that has shocked road safety advocates across the country, the new Minister of Transport, Simeon Brown, is poised to abandon the previous government’s speed limit reduction policy, particularly around schools. Even more alarmingly, he wants school speed limits to be variable rather than full-time, arguing ...
Auckland Council is opposing a fast-track development backed by Sir John Kirwan and Spark NZ, because it doesn’t meet stringent new climate adaptation requirements The post Surf-data centre faces new 3.8C climate warming rules appeared first on Newsroom. ...
When the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act was introduced in 2009 it was firmly targeted at gangs and drugs. The legislation means police no longer need a conviction to seize assets that criminals can’t prove were paid for legitimately, as long as their alleged offences are punishable by more than a ...
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The letters, which were published last week, were addressed to Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Chairperson Megawati Sukarnoputri, National Democrat Party (NasDem) Chairperson Surya Paloh, National Awakening Party (PKB) Chairperson Muhaimin Iskandar, Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS) President Ahmad Syaikhu and United Development Party (PPP) Chairperson Muhammad Mardiono. In ...
Evicting more people from state housing is ignorant to the consequences of poverty, the Greens say, but the Housing Minister says it's a privilege that can be taken away if abused. ...
Evicting more people from state housing is ignorant to the consequences of poverty, the Greens say, but the Housing Minister says it's a privilege that can be taken away if abused. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emerald L King, Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania IMDB Between Netflix’s 2023 live-action version of One Piece, and its latest take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, fans are once again asking: why are live-action anime adaptations so tricky to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emerald L King, Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania IMDB Between Netflix’s 2023 live-action version of One Piece, and its latest take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, fans are once again asking: why are live-action anime adaptations so tricky to ...
The government says it still intends to deliver tax cuts by July, but will not lock them in until they have got them past their coalition partners. ...
Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII has hosted members of the Green Party Caucus at Tuurangawaewae Marae in Ngaaruawahia. The audience follows the King’s Hui-aa-Motu on 20 January, where more than 10,000 people gathered to discuss national ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dr Rachael Potter, Research Associate and Lecturer in Work and Organisational Psychology, University of South Australia Ground Picture/Shutterstock Pregnant women and workers with children are often unfairly treated by their bosses and colleagues, despite laws to protect against workplace discrimination ...
Reacting to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s refusal to rule out introducing new taxes at the budget, Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns Manager, Connor Molloy, said: “Today’s refusal to rule out new taxes suggests the Government is nothing more ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Duckett, Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne Aila Images/Shutterstock Aged-care workers will receive a significant pay increase after the Fair Work Commission ruled they ...
He’s bringing ‘Sophie’ back, yeah. Goodshirt’s ‘Sophie’ music video is one of the most instantly recognisable New Zealand music videos of all time. Featuring a woman listening to the song on headphones while her entire house is burgled behind her, the video won the New Zealand music award for Best ...
R.I.P.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11409519
So Sad.
Great final tweet:
Respect.
http://www.idigitaltimes.com/leonard-nimoy-dies-83-20-best-quotes-remember-star-trek-actor-418149
R.I.P. Mr Nimoy
um..!..these were lines penned by his scriptwriters..eh..?
..let’s not get too conflate-y..
really phillip? That is your contribution to people honouring a legacy that expresses the rare symbiosis of a great actor and a globally respected character? 🙄
too soon..?
🙂 apparently! It’s too soon to give an opinion unless positive.
Just checking tho’. We are allowed to call out Magaret Thatcher on her BS, yes? How about Frank Bainimarama and his Esmeralda jaunts?
Any timeframe on when Sabin is a fair, dignified pluck?
Christ! I HOPE like hell when it comes time for me to fertilise the fig tree, people won’t hold back. I already know who the false arsehole pretenders are anyway – and I’m picking they won’t have the guts to show up.
Comparing Leonard Nimoy to Thatcher and Bainimarama: such respect. So tasteful. Very classy. 🙄
fools don’t get it and never will – rest in peace leonard
V/
Ekshully @ Phil ….. just the sort of attitude ….. nah I’m thinking they can’t cope! – better I STFU, but the comment was to do with the reason cnuts like that BBC icon and a few Kethlick priests got away with things for as long asa they did.
I’m talking about attitude btw – NOT suggesting Nimoy was in that bracket (someone I actually admired) – Just your right to expression without people clutching their pearls in horros.
Indeed – apparently its too soon to call a spade a spade. Get some fukkin learnings will ya!
my most (in)famous ‘too soon’..
..was @ bfm the mon morn after diana copped it in that tunnel in paris…
.all around me was wailing and gnashing of teeth…
..in the regular op-ed piece i did…i took the opportunity to curse the fact that her death/motherless-sons would revive the british royal family..
..(which at that stage was seriously on the back-foot..republicanism as an option was widely discussed at that time..
..and that all ended with that death..)
..the looks of horror on the faces of the inhabitants of this ‘radical’ radio station after i finished..
..were a sight to behold..
..(and the switchboard ‘lit up’..as they say..)
..and as it turned out..i was correct..eh..?
..just ‘too soon’…
so street and edgy lol – it’s called empathy and sensitivity – think about it and feelings of loss you may have felt recently
we are talking princess diana..and spock..
..a breeder for the royal family..
..and a character from a crap tv show..(!)
..figures of stature/real-change…?
..as in mandela ?….yes….’empathy/sensitivity’..
..them..?..no…
(i once got to shake mandelas’ hand..and he put his other hand on my shoulder at the same time..
..it was like a shock of electricity..he was one seriously ‘there’ dude..and yep..!..i cried when he died..)
(and i dare say some of those diana-grievers wd now feel a tad embarrassed about the significance they attached to that at that time..
..my general loathing of the royal family..and all they stand/stood for..
..just meant i just got there sooner than them..)
(and really..all i pointed out in my initial comment..
..was that the ‘revered’-lines are not his..
.surely people didn’t believe they were…?
..did/do they..?..)
“a breeder”
God you’re an awful human being. Be as republican as you like, but I’m going to link to this comment next time you try to attack feminists for not caring about animal rights.
Gosh phil you’re so staunch.
With such attitudes it surprises me that you didn’t make biltong out of your recently deceased pooch and sell it on the side of the street along with some potted herbs.
horrible comment – shows a lot about you – what a nasty shit you are
Giving Phil a taste of his own medicine, well, I suppose it’s rather nasty medicine and so-on.
goose and gander I always think. I feel sorry at the passing of Nimoy like many others. I’m just not going to clutch my pearls if others feel differently or try to inflict my values on them. Nor do I expect them to inflict their values on me.
When there are assholes like (say) Whaleoil and his accomplices about, I’m not about to waste my energy on them. There are far better causes to worry about.
As I say, I’ll miss Nimoy (and many others), but I don’t EXPECT others to feel the same and if they drop a clanger or two from time to time, I’m not about to string ’em up.
(It never ceases to amaze me how quick some are to give PU a hard time over his attitude to various things, and his campaigning, whilst all the while harping on like a stuck record themselves.)
and um..!..the reality is that star trek was a pile of corny schlock when it was first made..
(the ‘thorn birds’ of space-opera..(kim hill listeners will get that one..)
..and i couldn’t bring myself to watch it for those critical reasons…
..and i put down our fascination with spock down to our longtime/ongoing fascination with the possibilities of alien-life..
..and what that wd mean for us..
..and he was the first one we had that wasn’t green and issuing noxious gases..
..and one who seemed – to be ‘better’ ..in some ways – than us miserable humans..
..spock/trek-fandom is a manifestation of an existential-yearning..
..and it’s obvious glaring faults are glossed-over/ignored for those reasons..
Yeah, Phil doesn’t like Star Trek so no-one else should care either.
no..just don’t expect me to..
(and i don’t even care enough to ‘not like’…
..i am totally agnostic on the subject of nimoy..)
“and i don’t even care enough to ‘not like’…”
Yeah you care so little you have made several different posts on it
i noted that scriptwriters were involved..
..everything since then has been backlash..
..(and awww..!!..a rightwing trekkie..?..how cute..!..
..and what an anomaly..!..
..do give us the rightwing reading of star trek..!
..did the authoritarianism/strong-leader appeal..?..)
I’m not a right winger nor do have any love for Star Trek.
So you ain’t got shit and have spent most of this thread making comments about something you don’t even care about.
it’s all about the journey..
(now that could almost qualify as a new spockism..)
If you don’t care, then why comment at all, other than to be a shit.
Worry not Tim you won’t be mourned or mocked, you’re not that interesting. Fuck off with your shabby self.
Oh sorry Realblue – I wasn’t aware we knew each other – not even in the virtual reality sphere until now. Is there somewhere I can give you a ‘like’?
Would have been good to read the link first, Phil. Half the quotes are Spock and half are Leonard Nimoy.
sorry murray..
..i just don’t care enough to read the link..
..and why should i..?
..83 yr old bit-player in a camp/corny tv series from the 60’s..
..he had a long life..good on him..!
..he lived long and prospered..
..but that is about it..
I preferred coming home from skool in Oz to watch George Reeves in Superman – now that was camp/corny. Nimoy was a bit of humour tho’ I must admit. It seems he’s been elevated to the opium of the people status though. Nothing wrong with a bit of escapism tho eh PU? Sanity is becoming more expensive these days.
“..i just don’t care enough to read the link..
..and why should i..?”
Because if you had, your ignorant comment about the quotations being from scriptwriters may not have been made. Or is accuracy just another literary affectation that you feel constrains your creativity?
And when and where did you shake Mandela’s hand?
@ st matthews in the city in ak….
@ the ‘thank you’ gathering of anti-tour protestors..
..when he came here in the mid-90’s..
d’ya wanna hear about yoko onos’ birthday party too..?
(i’m having an attack of the ‘skinnys’ here..
..name-dropping like a snowstorm..)
Cool. It’s a shame that South Africa only had one of him. One hundred and it might be a better place today.
and of course..nimoy s gone..
..but we do still have his doppelganger..
..green mp david clendon..eh..?
i guess if politics doesn’t work out for him..
..clendon cd have a second-career as a nimoy-tribute-act..
🙁
http://i.imgur.com/5lf2rx1.png
RIP Mr Spock/Nimoy and thanks for the dreams and memories.
btw, saw this interview a while ago, fascinating.
https://archive.org/details/LeonardNimoy15Oct2013YiddishBookCenter
And then there’s this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lul-Y8vSr0I
RIP Leonard Nimoy, LLAP Spock.
Nimoy talks about social justice, diversity, jewish identity, being an outsider and the origins of Spock’s greeting.
“..Bill Maher Blasts NFL Ban on Weed..
..Real Time host Bill Maher accused the National Football League on Thursday of hypocrisy –
– for promoting efforts against domestic violence –
– after years of doing the same for ‘official beer’ maker Anheuser-Busch.
‘We appreciate your sudden awareness of domestic violence’ – Maher said.
‘But then – right into the Budweiser commercial?
Are you kidding me?
Beer is responsible for more violence against women than the Taliban’..”
(cont..)
http://www.alternet.org/drugs/bill-maher-blasts-nfl-ban-weed-maybe-its-because-pot-doesnt-make-you-violent
(ed:..a great line from maher:..’the only sport marijuana-use cd improve –
– wd be a hotdog-eating contest’..)
Clint Eastwood’s English Snipper should be a hit
I can’t wait for the Clint Eastwood hagiography of this hero….
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/feb/26/isis-murderer-is-londoner-on-m15s-radar-since-2009?CMP=EMCNEWEML6619I2
Less than two years earlier, the heroic London Snipper would have been tolerated, or even lauded as a hero, if only he’d stuck to killing official enemies, like this bloke did….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZfFno6sq4k
Here’s a transcipt you’ll find funny, Moz: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/feb/27/phone-transcript-reveals-sara-netanyahu-rant-at-political-rivals-wife
Funny? It’s hilarious! Thanks very much.
I love the comment by one JackJay: “Sarah shows she is not a classy person.”
“..You’re Not the Boss of Me! – Why Libertarianism Is a Childish Sham..
..Libertarians believe they’re rebels –
– but they are really political children who scream through tears..”
(cont..)
http://www.alternet.org/youre-not-boss-me-why-libertarianism-childish-sham
A cartoon that puts it in a nutshell:
http://leftycartoons.com/2008/07/10/if-housepets-were-libertarians/
heh..!
gower just set a new benchmark in ‘soft’-interviews..
..letting key bullshit at will…
I see he’s from Taranaki (according to his “for me it’s 3” crap). I hope like hell I’m not related
is everyone related in taranaki..?
whoar..!
(cue ‘dueling banjoes’…)
Are they both right?
One side of the Key War from Fran O’Sullivan “…Committing the New Zealand military to Iraq is the right thing to do.
Not simply from a moral purpose – although that is highly important – but also because it is rational….
…The Prime Minister hadn’t helped himself when he said that joining the coalition against Islamic State was “the price of joining the club”.
If he had just added a rider that the “club” was that group of nations who had already committed troops to assist Iraq to repel Isis he may have achieved greater carriage for the Government’s argument that committing military to train Iraqi soldiers and provide support behind the wire was necessary.”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11409263
And then John Armstrong’s very different one: “..If last Monday’s “misguided” decision by the Cabinet to dispatch a contingent to Iraq was the price of New Zealand’s membership of the exclusive Five Eyes intelligence-gathering “club” – as the Prime Minister admitted a month ago – what did that say about the transparency and credibility of the country’s supposedly “independent” foreign policy?…..
The Cabinet decision has rather made nonsense of a core selling-point in New Zealand’s successful campaign for a seat on the United Nations Security Council”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11409236
John Key is increasing terrorist risks… totally agree with
http://www.norightturn.blogspot.co.nz
There’s no question that Emwazi was an extremist – that’s why MI5 was interested in him. But in this case, as in others, their heavy-handed tactics seem to have made things worse, not better, and pushed him over the edge into murder. Its the war on terror in miniature, where the US/UK’s abuses simply drive more people to terrorism. we’ve seen it over US torture, which is a recruiting poster for radicals. We’ve seen it over Iraq and Afghanistan, where the US invasion provided an endless stream of atrocities. And we’re seeing it in Australia at the moment, where Tony Abbott’s war on Muslims is fuelling rather than quenching domestic radicalism. And sadly, John Key seems to be marching us down exactly the same path. And the only people who do well out of such tactics are spies and terrorists, who seem to paradoxically need each other to survive.
ON 3 NEWS last night there was talking up that IS would notice us and may do something like a video OR ….
Sort of seemed like ‘Hey guys here we are here we are down here.”
It seems to me the best thing now is to shut up.
Has The Wetiko Finally Arrived In New Zealand Or Why John Key Lost It!
That photo trav! Wetiko in full power. Was that a real pic or has it been touched up. Even watshisname behind Key seems whipped up as well.
These are stills from the video made by a facebook mate! Nothing retouched there!
scary shit that photo – the mask slipping – ugly revealed, and dangerous
Yup!
`
What a horrible bloodthirsty rant by Key. And his reeling off the number of Labour parties around the world that are pro war was just disturbing. The USA is doubling down on its mission to fuck up the Middle East.
Here’s rationalwiki on ‘progressive’ parties in the anglo club:
travellerev
It’s a good read and cerainly a creepy image. However, there are a couple of typos. Firstly; “politicians where dubious at best”, where “where” should be; “were” (it’s always the ones that make it through the spell-checker that are hardest to catch!). Secondly; omitting the macron on Māori (which I wouldn’t mention except you managed the umlaut on naïve just fine). Personally; I’d add more commas and semi-colons too, but that’s just individual style.
Thanks for pointing out the typos. My first language is Dutch and yes, some of them slip through. Let me return the favour. Cerainly should be certainly! 😆
By the way the macron does not come easy in even my international keyboard whereas the umlaut does!
cut and paste from the Māori dictionary http://www.maoridictionary.co.nz/ – build up a file of common words – that is what i do – very simple which is good for me
The twisted contortions seen operating as the political class in the western sphere are souls who have been corrupted by negative harming energy
The faces and eyes tell all you need to know
This is interesting [WARNING linked article contains descriptions of torture; do not read if eating, or easily distressed]:
http://www.theguardian.com/law/2015/feb/27/nepalese-colonel-faces-torture-trial-in-uk
I think we are signatories to the same treaty, so any torturers who settle here in future will be liable to prosecution in a similar manner. What does this mean for our troops in Afghanistan who handed prisoners over to US soldiers for “enhanced interrogations”? How about those NZ soldiers may end up being in charge of ISIL prisoners who Iraq?
I remember that the entire Nepal royalty was assassinated/massacred sometime ago. Was this torture incident related to that?
Do the royals still rule or they finished and the communists in control now?
If you know…
This alleged torture was four years after the massacre:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nepal#Republic
Thanks for that. I gasped when I read this bit from your link:
“Factionalism inside the royal family led to a period of instability. In 1846 a plot was discovered revealing that the reigning queen had planned to overthrow Jung Bahadur Kunwar, a fast-rising military leader. This led to the Kot Massacre; armed clashes between military personnel and administrators loyal to the queen led to the execution of several hundred princes and chieftains around the country. Jung Bahadur Kunwar emerged victorious and founded the Rana Lineage and was later known as Jung Bahadur Rana”
Shows that the wholesale mass murders of royal families is not a recent phenomenon there!
I have not been to Nepal. I have been to the Himalayas and Darjeeling and met many Nepalese there. The common people of Napalese origin are very nice people.
Have you visited there?
`
Murray Deaker’s comments on “Team” New Zealand:
Team nz represents elitism and jobs for the boys typified by the arrogant dalton who deemed himself good enough to still be crew, we blew it in sanfranciso yet nobody got sacked.
Just like rugby world in 07, boys club members like dalton and graham live a charmed life.
Alinghi vs. Team New Zealand: (how things have changed since 2003 — consumerism & corporations have won the public sphere)
Main sponsor:
A: Swiss billionaire’s personal fortune,
NZ:`Family-of-five’ N.Z. companies
Estimated Cost:
A: $150 million,
NZ: $85 million
Boat name:
A: Postmodern signifier; Brand with no meaning
NZ: Country
Logos/branding:
A: Postmodern swirls
NZ: Silver Fern
Staffing:
A: Worldwide headhunting
NZ: Mostly N.Z. nationals
Relationship to nation-state:
A: None
NZ: Considerable
Operational foci:
A: Individual `excellence’
NZ: Team building
Motivation:
A: Money/Global Marketing
NZ: Country/Pride
Leadership Orientation:
A: Great men
NZ: Team
Syndicate Organisation:
A: Corporation
NZ: Whanau [Extended family]
Links to Indigenality:
A: None
NZ: Considerable
Historical Consciousness:
A: None
NZ: Considerable
Focus of rewards:
A: Private interests
NZ: Public good
Meaning of `home’:
A: Poorly defined
NZ: Well-defined
Socialism for the rich.
Thankfully Mr Putin has taken personal control of the investigation.
/
Polly Mosendz ✔ @pollyNYC
Follow
“I’m afraid #Putin will kill me,” Boris Nemtsov told an independent Belarusian television channel two weeks ago. http://www.newsweek.com/report-boris-nemtsov-critic-russian-president-vladimir-putin-killed-moscow-310330 …
https://twitter.com/pollyNYC/status/571438577139236864
I suppose your implication is that Putin had the former deputy Prime Minister Nemtsov killed. Shot multiple times while he was walking not far from the Kremlin.
Seriously, even if Putin on 80% popularity ratings could be bothered to order such a thing, I think as an ex KGB Colonel he would have made it a tad more subtle and deniable.
Coincidence is a wonderful word.
/
Lorcan Roche Kelly @LorcanRK
Boris Nemtsov, shot in Moscow tonight, speaking about Putin in yesterday’s @FT http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/4ecd1a04-bd1d-11e4-b523-00144feab7de.html?siteedition=intl#axzz3Symnp0l1 …
https://twitter.com/LorcanRK/status/571437251714019328/photo/1
No, I didn’t say that it was a coincidence.
This is potentially part of a deliberate programme to increase political instability and discontent in Russia.
Putin doesn’t gain a thing from that; other players do.
Tsars don’t need to make things particularly subtle or deniable.
Obviously the CIA did it. Putin and his fellow group of thieves clearly have no form doing this sort of thing in the past.
Apparently Nemtsov was going to release a dossier of info showing the extent to which the Russian army has been operating in Ukraine.
Perhaps Putiin was doing hiis best Henry 2 impression?
You mean the CIA wants to make putin look bad by covering up his crimes for him via murder?
Sounds legit 🙂
No, you’re both wrong. He was the final obstacle to a grand alliance between the HAARP Cabal and Buzz Aldrin.
Say that to Buzz’s face. He’d smack you right on the kisser.
Not since people have started asking questions: it’s quite likely that right hook killed JFK. Those pesky Youtube kids, eh.
Yep. The CIA is responsible for all of the problems in Russia. Without their meddling Russia would be a civilised, democratic paradise that didnt rank close to last in the world of unimportant things like freedom of the press, income inequality, harassment of dissidents, corruption, judicial corruption, murder of journalists etc. And their leadership would never have stolen several hundreds of billions of dollars without being forced to by the CIA.
The Russians are bad, the Russians are bad, the Russians are bad. Heavy Metal band line from a USA group called From the Bottom of the USA.
So criticism of John Key extends to all New Zealanders? This is exactly the sort of thing I’m talking about: Buzz’s mind control techniques are messing with your head.
nadis – I’d simply note that Russia doesn’t destabilise nations and start wars in faraway lands killing hundreds of thousands. And then head in for seconds and thirds because it fucked up those places so badly to begin with.
And yes, Russia has many of the hallmarks of a plutocracy, but so has the UK and USA.
Yeah, they don’t destabilise nations at all.
Just one question: how would you know, science denier?
Ahhhh the blinkered Scientism Acolyte calls me a heretic. How it hurts lol
Apparently if you rub a dead cat on your face it will heal the pain. According to an alternative healer (who carefully did not claim to bea medical practitioner, just a healer) on the interwebz
McFlock
Do you remember if he/she said that it also worked with toy cats (sort of dead)? Does it have to have real fur or not? If you can’t get a dead cat, or a toy cat in real fur, would a koala bear made out of kangaroo skin work?
Waiting in anticipation while my head and tooth aches. Please hurry and advise.
I think I saw a dead cat in the local reservoir, so rubbing the ultra-diluted tapwater on your head and rinsing your mouth with it should have the same healing properties as the cat itself.
Koalas are good for chlamydia, because most of ’em have it, the dirty buggers.
Tell us again about the effectiveness of homeopathy and how it is devastating modern science.
the modern world is decimating modern science quite well enough, don’t you think.
What part of “the modern world” is decimating “modern science”?
You’ll actually have to define what you mean
It only works with a Schrödinger cat.
And yes, Russia has many of the hallmarks of a plutocracy
Let me fix that for you:
And yes, Russia has many of the hallmarks of a fascist mafia kleptcracy…
I’m sorry, unless you are deluded and have a complete blindspot/hard-on for Russia, the political systems of Russia versus the USA and UK arent even on the same planet.
Oh I think they are moving closer together as we speak. The FVEY nations have learnt to bring all the techniques of the East German Stasi into the 21st century, for instance. US government torture programmes used techniques detailed in SS/Gestapo handbooks from WWII. And of course, it is natural to prefer the governmental systems of the USA – if you aren’t poor and black.
CR
There is a one man show on in Wellington written about Paul Robeson and how it was to be a black in free advanced USA. And how they in gummint felt free to oppress USA citizens. At one time he was forbidden to sing and his passport was withheld so he couldn’t leave the USA. He suffered a bit of depression around that time I think.
No joyride living there!
http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/20169090
Playing Favourites with Tayo Aluko ( 53′ 35″ )
10:08 Nigerian-born, UK-based writer and performer of Call Mr Robeson: a Life with Songs, based on the musical career and political activism of the US singer Paul Robeson.
You need a better example of US fascist tendencies than Paul Robeson. Maybe someone who was alive for at least part of the last 40 years.
Paul Robeson in New Zealand.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/spectrum/audio/20169062/spectrum-remembering-paul-robeson
Thanks fellas.
On another note, the US still has Black Panther political activists locked up from the 1970s, most likely on trumped up/falsified charges. Those men are American political prisoners and will never see a free day in their lives again.
The noble western ideals of democracy, freedom, fraternity and equality have, in practical terms, been altered as freedom for the wealthy and the powerful minority to do as they wish in their own special interests, while the poor, the under privileged and the ordinary people get to enjoy neither equality nor fraternity nor true democracy in effect.
I also can’t believe the number of Lefties who get sucked into the idea of waging war, droning ‘bad guys’, overthrowing governments and impoverishing nations all in the righteous name of freedom, democracy, equality and human rights.
It’s like a Kafka play in real life.
Anything is possible we will never know
Speculation is all we have and in the absense of knowing then one guess is as valid as another
In a complete absence of knowledge, one guess is as valid as another.
As knowledge grows, some guesses are more valid than others.
Not to mention that they reveal something of the agenda behind the speculation.
Unless you’re privy to higher levels of classified information all speculation remains equally valid
I speculate that you did it, then, you jason bourne chappy…
As valid as any other speculative response
Some of your best work McFlock
Apart from the fact that I have knowledge of your absurdist denial of all knowledge, so really there’s a 50/50 chance that you’d have looked down the long end of the gun before pulling the trigger, so you’re not competent enough to have done it, so the speculation of your guilt is not as valid as putin having ordered someone else to do it.
But then the weak anthropic principle comes in, that maybe you’re just one incredibly lucky imbecile…
Ex-cep-tion-al : Being an exception
Your speculation does not counter my original statement
citation pls.
As in, for your rather naive and convenient definition.
My speculation points out that your original statement is farcical, because we do have some knowledge.
Q. Why are you still stalking my comments ?
Without ‘truth’ of any given event all you are have is speculation hence all are valid
My use of the word equal was to emphasise that all speculation will be equal because they are not truth
There is only one truth but no human involved will have it or know it
Everything else is speculation everything else is wrong
Arguing degrees of wrong is foolish and indicates a limited ability to reason
SNAFU
Lol
So you replied to me with a passive-aggressive reference to a previous argument that you completely failed to understand, and any reply I make after that is stalking? Piss off.
As for the rest, your acataleptic doubt is amusing, but leaves you fucking useless.
I thought I had replied to a comment from Nadis
If i had replied to your comment it was unintentional but would signal a retraction of that particular stalking enquiry is necessary in this instance
Q. Had i replied to your comment ?
Retraction or not the insults amplify your inability to counter my contention and the empty comments speak for you
Q. Is saturday night drinking night ?
Keep at it McFlock you might even manage to become an exception to your own rule of failing to counter one of my comments 😉
Your first comment replied to nadis. whats your excuse for the other four?
Indeed, that seems to be the “exception”, although unexceptional in itself.
Your first comment replied to nadis. whats your excuse for the other four?
You admit to hijacking (stalking) yet another of my comments with the obligatory profanity based insults and then ask what my excuse is …
Q. Is there any possibility of picking your game up ?
0pen mike, doofus. FWIW, I ignore most of your idiocies unless you reply to me. But every so often one of your comments is so spectacularly pretentious and useless that I feel the need to point out the gaping hole to you.
And being told to pick up my game by someone who invents definitions to suit their delusional claims of victory is just funny.
I feel the need to point out the gaping hole to you
Q. Are you going to provide examples the same way I continue to for your benefit ?
And being told to pick up my game by someone who invents definitions to suit their delusional claims of victory is just funny.
Being that you are fixated on providing a repetitive case study in irony and mentioning definitions
Q. You don’t know the definition of the word ‘question’ eh ?
question |ˈkwesCHən|
noun
a sentence worded or expressed so as to elicit information
e.g ‘Is there any possibility of picking your game up’ ?
This one you know intimately
Ex-cep-tion-al: Being an exception
🙄
That explains a lot.
Putin gains zero from having an unelectable unpopular politician killed outside the Kremlin.
Is it your position that he does sane, rational things on a regular basis?
Citation needed.
Oh yes the Putin is the crazy, irrational, blood thirsty one out of the the current set of world leaders meme.
You scientism acolytes are surprisingly weak minded to fall for this kind of thing.
Tell you what, take a look at the 3 hour plus no questions barred annual pressor he did last year and ask yourself why you’ll never see Obama, Cameron, Abbott or Key fielding unscripted questions from the global media like that.
Yeah nah: you’re the one asserting that he’s different, better, special, not me.
I thought you were the one asserting Putin is very special, and hence deserving of special attention to be sorted out. Sorry I must have mistaken your intent.
Like many liberals, you’re a sponge for propaganda messaging from authority figures.
Sure I am, science denier. No skepticism or curiosity here whatsoever.
I accept your label of heretic proudly. You scientism acolyte you.
nothing to gain, except their silence.
That’s not a gain, and further, it foments political dissatisfaction with the Kremlin. As I said earlier, it’s other players who would benefit from that but it seems that you’re not listening.
It depends entirely on what the guy was about to say. Putin might well be much better off with enemies in fear and no disturbing revelations than he would be if the guy were left alive.
Your suggestion that “other players” would manage an elaborate plan to increase Russian instability by eliminating putin’s opponents, in secret, with massive geopolitical blowback if the slightest legitimate suspicion were raised, is incredibly unlikely for the simple reason that anyone dumb enough to try it would not be competent enough to achieve it.
… so, apart from silence, and the intimidation of other opponents, and an increased reputation as a ‘strong man’*, what has Putin ever gained from this?
*terms and conditions apply.
Citation please.
Again: you are the one making the assertion: that Putin has gained nothing. I’m just your friendly peer-reviewer.
OK well he gained more airtime in the western media. And I bet he loves that, being a sociopathic narcissist etc etc.
What has Putin gained from OAB’s comment? Or another this? If so what this is that?
Putin will blame “Dark western forces” or “chechen gangsters” or “Ukrainian fascists”. The majority of Russians will lap it up becasue that is the only narrative they will get (complete state control of TV, complete state censorship of the internet)
The small opposition that the message is directed at will understand completely. Criticising Putin in Russia as a journalist or politician is generally a death sentence, or prison at best.
Q. Are you sure that is what will happen or is that your guess?
Q. Have you been to Russia ?
Q. How many Russians do you know well ?
I have been to Russia though that was some time ago – 1997-2003 – on multiple visits for business, though they didnt give me a huge lot of insight into how average russians lived or thought. Though I do have some great anecdotes about how business was done and who was doing it.
Subsequently I have read a lot of books both by Russians and outsiders. You want a reading list? Defending Russia without having read at least some of the books I could recommend makes you look a bit stupid.
Q. How was I defending Russia ?
Q. Why did you not answer the first question ?
Q. Why are you making assumptions ?
Again you have got ahead yourself similar to the way you did the last time we engaged
Q. Are you a slow learner ?
A. Don’t care specifically. My you was plural not singular. If you are offended by my presumed assumption I apologise.
A. Don’t know what your question referred to. Of course I don’t know what the Russian govt will do, but I do know many of the thing they have done.
A. I’m not making assumptions without making it obvious they are assumptions.
A. Not usually unless it is dancing, or listening to my wife.
Yes I agree that’s worse than the US, where they generally only fire journalists for printing unpalatable stories about US government or Israeli government activities.
Mind you, the US does tend to spy on, intimidate, prosecute and imprison journalists sources and whistleblowers of conscience, sometimes for decades at a time.
Then there’s things like the extra-judicial exiling of people like Edward Snowden.
Ahhh well, that’s Empire for you.
“Then there’s things like the extra-judicial exiling of people like Edward Snowden.”
Funny way to describe being on the run. Snowden can go home any time he wants so he’s not actually exiled extra-judicially. Or judicially, for that matter. It’s entirely a self-exile.
The US government cancelled his passport when he arrived in Moscow to prevent him from fleeing to Ecuador (or anywhere else). That was effectively exiling (stranding) Snowden in Russia.
How? And regardless, he’d never get a fair trial if the secret grand jury has charged him with crimes under the Espionage Act.
Revoking his passport doesn’t stop him going home. He can return any time he wants so he’s not exiled.
As for his trial, he knowingly broke the laws of his country. I think he did it for the greater good, but he still chose to do so. On the up side, he doesn’t appear to have raped anyone, so good on him for showing some restraint 😉
Who is going to issue him a passport?
Yep. Just like freeing slaves or helping Jews escape across the border broke the laws of those lands. Or sitting in White only sections of the bus, restaurant or movie theatre.
Yeah, you’re a prick. And again, a prime sponge for smearing propaganda.
He doesn’t need one to go home. Neither do you, actually.
Re: breaking the law, he actually can mount a defence that the lawbreaking was for the greater good. Just not from Moscow.
Not a permissible defense for charges brought under the Espionage Act.
But hey, don’t let that get in the way of endlessly excusing and apologising for authority, while slamming any ingrate who dares question, undermine or challenge it. I mean, we all know authority is to be revered at all times and in all circumstances.
Bill, you might be well be a suck up to authority, but I really don’t revere it the way you claim to. So let’s focus on the facts, eh?
Snowden knew what he was doing was illegal and while it’s an uphill struggle to get a not guilty verdict (what with him being guilty an’ all) he is entitled to use the public good defence in both the case itself and the sentencing aspect, if convicted.
Whether it works for him is entirely another matter.
Bill is right of course, and TRP you are wrong. The problem TRP is that you have assumed that Snowden would have natural justice on return to the USA. That is not the case. Even Daniel Ellsberg has said that Snowden is right to not return to the USA, given how much conditions have deteriorated since he leaked the Pentagon Papers.
Snowden would not be permitted to use a public good defence, he also would not be able to use a defence that no material harm was done to the interests of the United States.
Nope, he can mount any defence he wants. Whether it succeeds is another matter.
PS, not knowing what natural justice is doesn’t help your argument.
What is it that you’re not getting about ‘the public good’ (or whatever) not being permissible grounds of defense for charges brought under the Espionage Act!?
The Espionage Act is kinda somewhat like trespass is in this country. There is, to all practical purposes, no fcking possible defense if the Act is used against you.
Well, you’re almost there, Bill. It is permissible as a defence, but whether it works is another matter. Kinda like you think the trespass Act that you mentioned works.
The best defence is a) don’t break the law, b) don’t broadcast what you’ve done if you do. Snowden’s defence is weak not because the public good defence isn’t available to him (it is), it’s just that he has already admitted knowingly breaking the law. If he’d been more selective in what he released, he would have more of a chance of using that defence. ie he could say “I only released specific things such as incidents of lawbreaking that the public had a right to know about”. But a general dumping of the info he took substantially weakens any defence he might have had.
If he’s found guilty, he can still plead the public good in mitigation during the sentencing phase. But again, non specific dumps don’t support that either.
CR is right. A public interest defence is prohibited for charges brought under the Espionage Act. However, Hilary Clinton agrees with you. She doesn’t seem to know US law either.
http://www.edwardsnowden.com/frequently-asked-questions/
As for the best defence being to not break the law, wow. You really are authoritarian. This is one of the reasons the Labour Party is becoming increasingly irrelevant in making the needed changes in the way things are run.
trp has now transitioned from being ignorant of the facts to being deliberately obtuse. He has no idea how US “justice” has been compromised.
This. No wonder he wants to send Kiwi troops over to Iraq with no plan for victory, nor any chance for victory, simply on Obama and Key’s say so.
A killing like this of a high profile opponent sneds a pretty clear message to other opponents.
Lets be honest. Putin doesnt and never has given a shit about appearances, except those ones that make him look like a Stalin-esque leader.
He’s never cared in the past when as mayor of St Petersburg he personally signed thousands of import export licenses in return for 30% kickbacks, didnt care when killing journalists in moscow, didnt care when dosing tea with polonium, doesn’t care when arbitrarily stripping assets from opponents.
He may not have anything to do with it, but I think it is unlikely the hand of the Russian state is either directly or indirectly involved. Russian organised crime doesnt do anything in Russia without a nod from the FSB, so the chances of an organised hit within Russia happening without state input is low. I guess we’ll see on the aftermath. If no-one or only a patsy is captured then you know it was a state hit.
OK let’s say it was a state sanctioned hit. Let’s even say that Putin personally signed off on the assassination to make a public point ahead of the upcoming opposition protest march. Let’s even say that the power of being perpetual president has gone to his head and he’s decided he might be the New Stalin of the 21st century.
Now what. Shall we go to war with Russia?
Or shall we just settle for organising a “colour revolution” in Moscow and settle for regime change?
Are you saying there are no Russians who want a progressive democracy?
Or that we should do nothing to help them?
Or is your whole position twisted by personal bias much?
Go on then, support a colour revolution, maybe a Moscow Spring. The IMF, World Bank and Goldman Sachs are usually close behind helping wave the flags for “freedom”.
Russia has already had their neoliberal “spring” (aided by their own version of Rogernomics) and now the oligarchs are in control. Goldman Sachs would have trouble against the Russian gangster capitalists.
Indeed. It’s why I wonder about the complaints that Russia is a mafia plutocracy. After all, it’s exactly the way that the IMF, GS, JPM etc set it up in the 90’s. Their problem with it I believe is that they expected it to be THEIR mafia to be in charge, not Putin’s.
And just like those (allegedly) crazy, conspiratorial and seemingly aimless cabbage whites, CV lands bang on target in the end. 🙂
I had to laugh.
The newly-selected Labour candidate to stand against George Galloway in Bradford West, London-based Amina Ali, has suddenly pulled out citing the disruption it would cause to her family life if she moved north to Bradford. The councillor in London’s Tower Hamlets said that fighting for a seat 200 miles away in Yorkshire would have too great an impact on her children’s schoolwork.
She was only selected 4 days ago and, according to reports, said it was “a dream come true” to be picked. But according to The Times, Ms Ali had “a look of shock and horror on her face” immediately after learning she’d won the selection contest.
Bradford West had been comfortably held by Labour since boundary changes in 1974 (Labour held the seat with a 6000-vote majority in 2010). But at the 2012 By-Election, George Galloway won the seat in spectacular style, achieving a majority of more than 10,000 with the largest UK By-Election swing in 30 years (he has since referred to the win as the Bradford Spring).
Long may he continue to shame both the Tories/Coalition and UK Labour’s venal, Neo-liberal elite.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/generalelection/george-galloways-labour-opponent-in-bradford-west-amina-ali-resigns-as-candidate-ahead-of-general-election-10069560.html
See, workers are basically terrorists who need to be broken to make the world safe for corporations.
Walker sought to address this gap Thursday evening at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference when he was asked a question on stage about how he would take on the threat of Islamic State jihadists. Walker claimed he was prepared to confront this threat because of his experience confronting thousands of protesters who gathered in Madison in 2011 to decry his push to undo collective bargaining for public employees in the state. “We need a leader with that kind of confidence. If I can take on 100,000 protesters, I can do the same across the world,” he declared.
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2015/02/scott_walker_compares_unions_to_isis_the_wisconsin_governor_thinks_fighting.html
The only good result from this insanity is that the republicans are making themselves unelectable, only Fox News koolaid drinkers will buy that shit.
Mwahahaha!! – they’re eating their own.
http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-02-27/the-man-who-led-the-jeb-bush-walkout-wore-a-tricorn-hat
Howard Zinn: a just cause doesn’t mean it will be a just war
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUBYI97cUgU
`
Linked: Matt Damon on civil disobedience.
The political elites of USA and Russia have more in common with one another than with their own people. Civil _obedience_ is in their best interests. Meanwhile poor people are jailed for petty infractions and wall street bankers remain at large.
USA and other financiers who play risk games and lose get bailed out but Kim Dotcom is to be roasted and stripped of money for his defence. I wonder whether Courts down here withh carry forward the alleged harsh controls on his reimbursement.
My latest Blog post on MMJ, the science of Pot VS Pain Part 2…
http://yournz.org/2015/02/28/pot-and-pain-part-2/
Alternate address.
https://mmj4chronicpain.wordpress.com/2015/02/28/pot-and-pain-part-2/
Reading the Greek Deal Correctly
Was the Brussels Deal really “a humiliating defeat for Greece” ?
http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/02/24/reading-greek-deal-correctly
Thanks for that. Galbraith is one of a limited number of economists worth listening to, and I am glad he has been helping the Syriza government.
Great article and interesting comment below it
Lies are to mass communication what bio-tech fraudulent substances are to agriculture. Both are being disseminated in such mad rushes as to taint the currencies of nutrition along with “food for thought.”
Exactly how dirty politics has polluted public discourse in NZ
There is an interesting article in the New York Times dealing with the fact that conservatives on the whole do not regard environmental issues as moral ones and therefore are less likely to support governments to make changes that are beneficial although possibly involving some cost.
“While the number of Republicans who say global warming is a serious problem has reached high levels, there remains a very large gap in moral engagement with the issue. We found that conservatives were less likely than liberals to describe pro-environmental efforts in moral terms, or to pass moral judgment on someone who behaved in an environmentally unfriendly way, for example by not recycling. Where liberals view environmental issues as matters of right and wrong, conservatives generally do not.”
“Our research points to a different factor in the moralization gap: the terms in which these issues are commonly discussed in the media. We enlisted a team of research assistants to code the moral content of 51 environmental public service announcements and 402 opinion articles appearing in major American newspapers. The arguments found in these messages most often discussed environmental issues like climate change in terms of the need to protect people and ecosystems from harm and destruction. Protection from harm is a moral concern that, past research finds, resonates significantly more with American liberals than conservatives. By contrast, moral concerns more unique to conservatives like patriotism, respect for authority, sanctity or purity rarely appeared in the environmental appeals we studied.”
“To assess this, we conducted a final study in which we constructed a pro-environmental message based in moral purity. This message emphasized the need to protect natural habitats from “desecration” so that our children can experience the “uncontaminated purity and value of nature.” We presented one group of self-identified conservatives with this message, another group with a more conventional message emphasizing the need to protect ecosystems from harm, and a third group with a neutral essay that didn’t mention the environment. The conservatives presented with the purity message reported significantly greater support for pro-environmental legislation than the other two groups — indeed, they were as supportive as a group of liberals we also surveyed. Conservatives who read the moral purity message even reported greater belief in global warming, though the message itself didn’t mention global warming, only environmental issues in general.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/01/opinion/sunday/is-the-environment-a-moral-cause.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=c-column-top-span-region®ion=c-column-top-span-region&WT.nav=c-column-top-span-region
I found this article very thought-provoking. It seems that the moral issues have to be spelt out if Conservative commitment to positive action is the goal. (Mind you, when I look at the way that National has abused the political donation system, why am I surprised? There seems to be a disengagement of the ethical /moral viewpoint on the justification that if it’s legal, then it is right.) Conservative support for the short term planning by this government, whereby resources are squandered and problems are foisted onto future generations, may need to be countered differently by highlighting the moral deficiencies of plundering on the future generations.
The way to forge back from the neoliberal NACT policy stronghold in NZ is to counter with ‘moral’ and ‘ethical’ messages from the left but in an emotional way. The emotion is missing often from the left. You do not change hearts and minds with ‘logic’ – you do it with passion. Russell Norman has passion such as his fantastic speech on sending troops to Iraq recently. In the previous election 2011? Greens had billboards with children on it. That was much more successful than the current ones from the Greens, which I actually don’t even remember.
The Labour MP’s need to be more visionary but not in a contrived way but from the heart. To my mind it feels like Labour are too scared to really speak out on real issues. This presents an unauthentic muddle like the 24 hr surveillance bill. You are either into surveillance or out on surveillance. It is not a time frame issue it is a human right moral issue. You believe it is ok for the CIA to torture or it is not ok for the CIA to torture. For an MP not being able to answer a moral question clearly or evading it just makes anyone look untrustworthy. Likewise with policy – what do you stand for?
saveNZ,
The missing million do not see it that way. They are important issues and starkly illustrate the moral lobotomization of our society. Dirty politics has polluted all parties, and corporate lies have corrupted the MSM. No wonder so many people have decided to ignore the whole farce.
TMM,
US Conservatives are a weird bunch, tied up in religious myths and apocalyptic fantasies, their moral compasses confused by terrible perversions from the pulpit. Most conservatives are lovely hospitable and kind people but they feel it’s their moral duty to feed their sons and daughters into the bloodthirsty military industrial machine. Jesus wept. Fred Clark of the “Slacktivist” blog dissects the religious mindset, it’s awful but fascinating reading.
I agree with you, Save NZ. Labour cannot simply copy Key’s technique of changing his tack every five minutes depending on the feedback from the focus group because progressives would be able to spot the lack of authenticity straight away. It seems that the moral importance of proposed policy has to be really spelt out in a way that gets through to the Conservative mind that seems to be able to accept anything that comes out of John Key’s mouth without subjecting it to any critical analysis for BS or comparison with previous utterings. There seems to be a faith-based belief in Key that bypasses the critical thinking parts of the brain for many people .
http://www.otago.ac.nz/healthsciences/news/publicevents/otago087374.html
For those in Dunedin, Prof Jane Kelsey is giving a public talk at Dunedin Hospital, lunchtime Monday, on the TPP and its profound implications for public health.
Interesting article about how donations and voting in the internet age mean
Internet-era politics means safe seats are a thing of the past
In 2004, the Howard Dean campaign made electoral history by harnessing the power of the internet to raise more than any other Democratic contender: more than $25m raised, largely in small-money donations averaging $80 – a marked contrast to the usual way of doing things, which involves raising titanic sums from rich people whom you then owe a lot of favours to, whether or not you take office.
Tools such as I’ll Vote Green If You Do mean isolated pockets of resistance can unite to become effective agents of political change
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/feb/27/internet-era-politics-means-safe-seats-are-a-thing-of-the-past
In case you haven’t caught up with John Oliver do his bit about Tobacco and PM cigarettes.
He gives it good coverage and lively as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UsHHOCH4q8
Go the Black Caps!
And the Black Caps win 🙂
Very stressful to watch!!! A win is a win though!
I would just like to point out that the red climate change advertisement that is always on the right of the page, is not showing the full story.
It is missing context.
In order for it to be relevant, it must include the ACTUAL temperature readings of the earth as far back as we have been able to measure it, then also include the CURRENT temperature of the earth.
The only acceptable method of measurement is the ‘actual temperature percentage difference over time’. It’s the only figure which displays the actual story.
The method used on the advertisement is childish AND extremely misleading. On top of that it uses a negative connotation to express its point (Hiroshima). It seems like a fear inducing advertisement.
Am I the only technical savvy person who writes on The Standard? Because ALL technical minded people should be able to pick up on it.
There’s a difference between heat and temperature mate.
If your not afraid of heating the Earth at the rate of 4 Hiroshima’s per second, then you should be. Remember – over 90% of that heat ends up in the oceans.
You might think your a technically savvy person, but you naivety suggests otherwise.
Imagine (as a technically savvy person) the effect on a pot of water sitting on a stove top that is on. What are the things that happen? That is just what we are doing to the Earth as we pour more and more GHG’s into the atmosphere.
Last year was the warmest on record (world wide). The past decade has been the warmest on record (world wide). This past month in Perth (where I am currently staying) has been (on average) 1 degree above the average for the past 30 years, and even warmer than that on the long term average. There are bush fires here on a daily basis. More importantly the minimum temperatures are on average at least 1 degree above average. That is one of the main signatures for an increasing Green House Effect (with no GHG the Earth would cool to – 18 degrees every night and become a snowball).
You might have noticed increasing winds around NZ over recent times. Have you observed that heating pot yet? Notice how the convection currents build up speed as more and more energy is transferred into the system. Wind speeds world wide have increased on average http://www.nature.com/news/2008/080903/full/news.2008.1079.html
and they will continue to increase as we continue to heat the Earth.
So the short answer is – this is a graphic way to continually bring to peoples attention the sad fact that the Western World is carrying out a very dangerous experiment which will affect all of humankind.
“So the short answer is – this is a graphic way to continually bring to peoples attention the sad fact that the Western World is carrying out a very dangerous experiment which will affect all of humankind.”
What about the eastern countries, China and India?
Do they see the problem?
As Macro pointed out – “Last year was the warmest on record (world wide). The past decade has been the warmest on record (world wide)”… and “More importantly the minimum temperatures are on average at least 1 degree above average. That is one of the main signatures for an increasing Green House Effect”
Yes the developing countries add to the total GHG
But ask yourself this question
who consumes the majority of India and China’s production?
Where is your wardrobe made? Where were the brake pads for your car produced? Where were the tyres manufactured? etc etc…
You know and I know that the Western World are the major consumers of the developing nations production. In other words we have EXPORTED our GHG production to these countries and now you are castigating them for it!
They would not have such escalating GHG totals if we didn’t buy so much stuff!
On the other hand China in particular is doing something about it! It’s GHG is actually declining in comparison to it’s GDP growth. Not substantially, but it is heading in the right direction – unlike NZ!
” now you are castigating them for it!”
No, I wasn’t! How and why did you presume such a thing?
I was asking a simple honest question for your statement, “sad fact that the Western World is carrying out a very dangerous experiment which will affect all of humankind”, without substantiating what that dangerous experiment was!
Jeez!
Now that you have clarified what you meant, tell me clearly how do we stop people buying the cheap and essential stuff from China and other countries? What is your sensible, doable, practical, workable solution, and in what time, not just for the tiny New Zealand but for all the world? These are legitimate questions. Do not presume something else.
The dangerous experiment is the continuing unmitigated emissions of GHG by the continual burning of fossil fuels so that we can have cheap stuff. By continually raising the concentration of GHG in the atmosphere Humans are trapping more and more energy that would have been radiated back into space. That extra energy is being recorded at the rate of around 4 Hiroshima bombs every second. That is the numbers being shown on the widget at the top right of the page, and is an approximate record of the total additional energy that has been added to the Earth since 1979. The experiment is to find out what happens! Well we have a damn good idea of what will happen, and frankly its not very pretty.
We can go on demanding cheap stuff – and for a few more years we can carry on – but the longer we keep on demanding cheap stuff the worse it will get. The consequences of our demands will make life for our descendants very miserable indeed. My grandchildren will certainly live in a far poorer and depleted world than I have had the fortune to experience. I don’t think they will thank me for it.
Storms will be more severe. Drought will be more severe, as will rainfall. Seems contradictory doesn’t it. But every 1 degree increase in atmospheric temperature increases the capacity of air to hold water vapour by 4%. Water is an even more potent GHG than CO2 – so that feeds back into increasing the solar energy trapped by the Green house effect. Winds are increasing and damage caused by extreme weather events will escalate. Many economists (Including Lord Stern) have considered this problem and concluded that the cheapest solution is to stop emitting GHG’s – not wait until we are forced to do something.
The first solution should be a direct tax on Carbon. British Columbia introduced such a tax some years back. It is the only Province in Canada to record a reduction in GHG emissions. Not only that, BC is still growing its Wealth. Regretfully this is through mining and exploitative industries such as exporting unsawn logs to China, but the fact is that by reinvesting that tax in improving Public transport (The Vancouver sky train from the airport to the city is amazing) and promoting electric cars etc (I travelled with a venture capitalist who was working with Tesla on one occasion – very informative). The carbon tax gives the province the wherewithal to invest in an alternative and more sustainable future.
Because the Western World has predominantly caused this sad state of affairs, and has had the lions share of the benefits, it has the moral responsibility to do more than others to deal with the outcomes. This is not something that NZ Australia and USA etc want to face up to. And NZ to our shame has been one of the worst players (along with Australia) in the recent past in owning up to this – indeed our “contribution” at the recent Lima COP talks were downright appalling. But that is another issue in this sorry affair.
Thanks Macro for your nice detailed reply.
You did not really respond to my last part of the comment, “Now that you have clarified what you meant, tell me clearly how do we stop people buying the cheap and essential stuff from China and other countries? What is your sensible, doable, practical, workable solution, and in what time, not just for the tiny New Zealand but for all the world? These are legitimate questions. Do not presume something else”
Your solution was carbon tax, electric cars and may be rails. I agree with those.
But is that it in reply to my query about cheap stuff from China etc and sensible, doable, practical, workable solution immediately now around the world?
But no worries if you can’t or don’t wish to answer that very difficult issue.
Sorry I have just been rewatching the cricket 🙂
Very enjoyable watching over here you understand. and got carried away.
As for the cheap stuff from China etc. I believe we have to rethink the free trade deals and globalisation. I’m not opposed to trade as such, I just believe trade should be fair trade.
Take for instance the export of logs to China. I see logging trucks day after day carrying thousands of logs to Tauranga for shipping to China. In Vancouver I saw the same thing – vast numbers being towed by tugs to the ships for loading – acres of them. But China only wants logs and refuses sawn timber. I say if they want the wood – then we saw it too! If you don’t take that – you don’t get.
NZ used to be the world leader in forestry and timber production. In WW2 the Mosquito (a wooden aircraft) was made possible to be produced by a battalion of the NZ Army – Foresters. The Brits didn’t know how to cut down and mill the timber fast enough! The NZers reduced the spruce forests of Cirencester in short order…
Until recently wine was not only produced in NZ but also the bottles were manufactured here. We now import our wine bottles from China!
How do we change this? Its reactionary I know – but we have to – as the First Labour Govt did place import quotas on goods. NZ is foolish to think that it can be so pure in this when elsewhere other nations place restrictions on their boarders.
Not only do we restrict the importation of cheap and often unreliable goods but we improve the employment prospects for many. WE used to clothe ourselves until we started to import cheap clothing from offshore. Thousands lost their work as factories closed. Hoping that people will buy locally produced doesn’t work. Cheap always wins out over quality.
But with more people in employment there is more buying power as there is more money to go around. Local products, though more expensive at first, become more affordable because people have more money and maybe are not having to buy so frequently.
That is only one suggestion – there are many others but I have a g’son to put to bed. So I’ll leave my suggestions there. I’m sure others can offer even better ideas.
+100 Macro…and now we are allowing the Chinese to cut us out of our own milk baby food production
An interesting article outlining the science with regards a warming world and increasing extreme weather events.
http://arstechnica.com/science/2015/02/extreme-weather-events-in-our-future-climate/
I’d say I’m reasonably technically savvy and I see nothing wrong with it. You don’t seem as knowledgeable as you think, though. As an example, what is the temperature of the Earth, and why is it relevant to climate change? Let’s see if you know what you’re talking about.
As for not showing the full story – it shows one measure among many that are possible. Personally, I think the amount of heat being added to the climate is a very apt measure, although what exactly this means is left unclear. It shows that we are adding a lot of heat, and that is scary.
I can’t jump in on the discussion above with regards to the murder of Nemtsov in Russia. The reply buttons were missing!
What gets me is that for some reason people are more than willing to contemplate murderous conspiracies when it concerns Putin but stay in total denial of the real and proven manipulation of Russian politics by the NATO/UN.
Here is a telephone conversation from Victoria Nullen (The United States’ top diplomat for European affairs) with the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine stating that, as the US had spend $ 5 billion on destabilizing Ukraine to get their puppet in place (she names the one she wants) the EU could go fuck themselves because the US wanted their man in power.
As I write this every country around Russia is being armed to the teeth and we are being primed with all kinds of Propaganda to hate Russia once again and the idea that we have to go to war with them. When will people beging to see that we are on the side of the bastards not the good guys.
Oh, and by the way Putin yesterday announced that his administration would get a 10% cut in their salary. I call that leadership by example!
Appears the actual telephone conversation is here.
The banality of tone of both Victoria Nuland and Geoffrey Pyatt, and the final “If God is willing” signoff from Nuland, is quite revealing.
Ethical voids.