sustainability

Corporates for TPP

Written By: karol - Date published: 9:00 am, March 22nd, 2014 - 47 comments

Big (US) Pharma has been the leading lobbyist that has shaped the TPP, followed by corporates in the following industries; Hollywood, automobile, textiles, dairy. This makes the TPP a major threat to the interests and well-being of Kiwis. Good reasons to take part in next Saturday’s Day Of Action (29 March 1pm) across NZ.

Russel Norman’s Campaign Conference Speech 2014: Going Solar

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 2:59 pm, February 16th, 2014 - 239 comments

The text of Russel Norman’s speech to the Green Party Conference given today.

Role of Government

Written By: Bill - Date published: 10:56 am, February 11th, 2014 - 46 comments

Governments are holding on to their traditional roles and functions, but the world has changed. We need something else.

Myths of Waitangi Day – & Hikoi

Written By: karol - Date published: 9:55 am, February 5th, 2014 - 289 comments

The ratings driven MSM beat up dramas and conflict in relation to Waitangi Day – they continue to circulate myths about the Day.  Morgan Godfery has blogged about those myths.  Meanwhile, the hikoi to protect our seas and land continues. [update: Rachel Smalley]

State of Nations

Written By: Bill - Date published: 6:11 pm, January 29th, 2014 - 25 comments

This post isn’t a ‘contrast and compare’ piece on the policy announcements of National, the Greens and Labour. Enough to say that National are pursuing privatisation while both Labour and Green are at least trying to do good things.

Shame about the reality of the bigger picture then.

‘Reclaiming Our Children’s Birthright’- Metiria’s speech

Written By: karol - Date published: 9:55 am, January 27th, 2014 - 53 comments

Metiria Turei delivered a very strong, inspiring, and well-targeted speech yesterday. She reclaimed fractured values of inclusive, collaborative communities. She framed inequality as the issue for the coming election; the Greens’ education hub policy central.  Labour, NZEI responded favourably.

Spot the difference! Stating the nation

Written By: karol - Date published: 10:19 am, January 23rd, 2014 - 97 comments

[Updated] Speeches: Key (today ZB Transcript). PM’s speech – untruths, misdirections & corporatisation of education – comment added. Cunliffe on Monday, on greater opportunities for all Kiwis. Metiria Turei’s speech, Sunday – will talk education, environment. Peters responds to Key. Greens response – education. Cunliffe’s Stand-up – audio.

UBI (2) Why should we push for a UBI? (Universal basic income).

Written By: KJT - Date published: 3:37 pm, January 17th, 2014 - 27 comments

Why a UBI?

Firstly. To overturn some paradigms:
That a great many people should lead poor and constricted lives, so a very few can be rich.
That ordinary people are disposable economic production units.

NRT: Dirty dairying and moral culpability

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 11:00 am, January 16th, 2014 - 30 comments

There seems to be a divide in kiwi farming at present. On one side those just after a quick buck based on dirtying the cheap resource of water held in common. On the other generational family farmers. The result is a classic tragedy of the commons problem that we will be paying to clean up for many generations.

UBI (1). Memes and Paradigms.

Written By: KJT - Date published: 9:34 pm, January 12th, 2014 - 227 comments

Those growing up after the 80’s will find it hard to imagine the paradigm shift, that was the rise of Neo-liberalism, in the 80’s, in New Zealand. The colossal untested experiment, it really was,  and the huge shift of wealth from the lower and middle classes to the richest of us.

Local Bodies: Shell and the Great South Basin

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 12:31 pm, January 8th, 2014 - 170 comments

The Southland Times devoted the whole of the front page to celebrate Shell’s decision to do some exploratory drilling in the Great South Basin. The best scenario will be that they discover a sizable gas field similar to the one in Taranaki. Then royalties we will get are only 5% of the value of what is sold, almost 40% less than the OECD average AND we will have to pay full commercial rates to have any of it ourselves. The worst case scenario…. Well that is really bad and has no effective cover

Thank you ….

Written By: karol - Date published: 8:57 am, December 25th, 2013 - 34 comments

To all those making a difference and working for a more inclusive, equal, fair and sustainable society. Special thanks to Lynn for all his work for The Standard.

The spirit of ’81: Key’s hypocrisy!

Written By: karol - Date published: 3:17 pm, December 19th, 2013 - 141 comments

John Key’s attacks on Hone Harawira for his trip to South Africa were hypocritical: an attempt to smear a significant political opponent, and divert from the governments failings & its gradual falling out of favour with many (potential) voters.

The Carbon or the Swag?

Written By: Bill - Date published: 2:32 pm, December 12th, 2013 - 42 comments

So many choices! What’s a body to do?

Nats’ demolition derby

Written By: karol - Date published: 5:20 pm, November 18th, 2013 - 107 comments

John Key’s government is going full tilt at dismantling everything of value in NZ, and selling as much as possible to the overseas investors.  It’s the government of Drill It, Mine it, Sell it.  Find out about the asset sales referendum & how to vote.