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notices and features - Date published:
5:30 pm, April 11th, 2024 - 62 comments
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The current rise of populism challenges the way we think about people’s relationship to the economy.We seem to be entering an era of populism, in which leadership in a democracy is based on preferences of the population which do not seem entirely rational nor serving their longer interests. ...
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James, you will be missed.
totally. More than most.
James, he will be missed, a man of integrity and well informed on the things he stood for. Wishing him well in his next chapter
I credit j.shaw with getting the green party to where it is now..
..having the credibility to be within biting distance of labour..and being a credible opposition voice..in their own right..and ready for power..
I have said previously that shaw has been playing a long game..in building that credibility/trust..and I stand by that..
He was the right person for that time/role..and he succeeded in that/his task…
Much respect to him…
The final Cass Report was released yesterday. Four years in the making, it's a damning indictment of the affirmation only model of health care for children with gender dysphoria in the UK's GIDS clinic.
A lot of commentary and complexities in what Hillary Cass has revealed. This one stands out and should make people pause and think about what has really been going on.
It's previously been reported that GIDS refused to share data with the initial work Cass did, then it turns out that they hadn't actually been collecting it. That's the data that would have showed if their treatment model, including puberty blockers was working. Once the Cass review got up and running, this happened,
https://twitter.com/simonjedge/status/1778000213149377015
https://twitter.com/simonjedge/status/1777983256224210993
From the Guardian piece,
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/apr/10/children-are-being-used-as-a-football-hilary-cass-on-her-review-of-gender-identity-services
that's a medical scandal in its own right.
And yet the NZ parliament has recently passed legislation that is likely to criminalize any parents or medical professionals who are unwilling to endorse medicalization of a child's gender dysphoria, because that would be "conversion therapy". Jacinda Ardern herself acknowledged that such prosecutions could happen under the new legislation.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2021/08/prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-doesn-t-rule-out-parents-facing-charges-under-conversion-therapy-ban.html
Every single Labour, Green and Maaori Party MP voted for this legislation, as did "libertarian" David Seymour, who apparently believed that a 13-yr old girl can give informed consent to life-changing and irreversible procedures.
According to this article below, Te Whatu Ora "commissioned the Professional Association of Transgender Health Aotearoa (PATHA) to update the national guidelines and referral pathways for gender-affirming healthcare." If that's true, it's cause for great concern. Why did Te Whatu Ora commission an activist body to guide clinical practice? The article itself is rather poor journalism, in that it fails to challenge PATHA's misleading claim that the Cass Review "ignores the consensus of major medical bodies around the world and lacks relevance in an Aotearoa context". Is PATHA really unaware that Sweden and France have also recently halted the uncritical application of "gender-affirming care" (such as Orwellian term)? And what exactly is meant by "an Aotearoan context"?
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/514044/ministry-of-health-taking-the-time-to-get-it-right-on-puberty-blockers
NZ has a much higher rate of prescribing PBs than the UK I think.
the scandal will reach here eventually. But as Visubversa says below, we will go through a lot of denial and blocking first.
Most of the National MPs also voted for the bill.
Yes, sadly I fear that Visubversa is right. I'm aware that most of the Nats also supported the bill – including all of their current front bench apart from Shane Reti. And unfortunately, two of the eight who had the courage to oppose the bill are no longer in parliament.
The one aspect of politicians that may work in favour, is their chameleon ability to change position as the political background changes.
Public awareness changes the political background.
What is required here is immense effort, and care must be taken to ensure those harmed by this medical treatment – have high-quality care and support delivered to them.
As substantive – and harder to dismiss – evidence comes to public awareness, insurance companies may play a big part in stopping harmful procedures as they will not insure doctors or surgeons, or pay for treatments via health insurance.
Does anyone know if NZ doctors carry a liability insurance, or is this completely covered by ACC?
If so, asking ACC what their exposure is may be worth investigating.
Molly I think this document sheds some light on your question:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://nzmii.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/NZMP-INF002-C2-Doctor-in-Training-Fact-Sheet-03.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjBk5H5l7uFAxUdjGMGHTorDT8QFnoECBIQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2FUI0mFrlFlzxRwD2iWay8
It sounds like ACC will shield doctors from most (but not all) of the damage here in NZ. Whereas in Australia, where they don't have ACC, one insurance company has recently dropped coverage for doctors who carry out "gender affirming care":
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-13/qld-medical-insurer-drops-cover-private-doctors-gender-dysphoria/102592298
Thank you, Dolomedes III.
Then I might get on with a letter to Minister for ACC, Hon Matt Doocey, and an OIA for Dr Tracey Batten as Chair and David Hunt as Deputy Chair to the Board of ACC to see what mechanism they can use to change the identified harmful practices we are still doing here in NZ.
(On the list for the weekend…)
Matt Doocey worked at the Tavistock and is proud of it.
Likely you already knew that but there it is.
Ah yes, one of the "liberal" Nats.
Worked at the Trust as an educator, we don't know if he worked in the GIDS clinic itself.
@Dolomedes Erica Stanford is just as bad.
https://twitter.com/wekatweets/status/1778281731847766182
(in the interests of accuracy).
No, I did not. Thank you for that information.
@weka
Thanks for the link
Matt Doocey's own words, in Hansard:
"I used to work for the Tavistock Clinic in London."
https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/document/51HansS_20150506_00001648/doocey-matt-social-security-clothing-allowances-for
I am not sure he is qualified to work in the GIDS clinic itself, his qualifications seem to be in political science mostly.
Molly – you and others may be interested that Doucey's work with Tavistock has been/is under discussion in the last 24 hours on "X" aka Twitter under a post by Stephen Franks (weka's tweet posted in her comment above is in this thread:)
https://twitter.com/franks_lawyer
Re questioning by some as to why Doucey is a National MP etc, Doucey is in fact part of the Carter family which includes David Carter, former Speaker of the House – his uncle. From Wikipedia:
Doucey's Wikipedia entry also records that his qualifications as follows (although note "citation needed")
To answer Frank's question about journos I suspect most of them have drink the Koo Aid too and don't see anything to question.
some will be wanting to keep their careers too.
I'm heartened that the new Minister of Health (Reti) voted against the inclusion of gender identity in the "Conversion Practices" legislation. So if PATHA's review is predictably ideological, maybe he will quash it – if he doesn't, he will get a letter from me.
Thank you Molly for those heartening words of wisdom.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2024/04/government-won-t-say-if-it-will-follow-britain-s-move-to-ban-routine-use-of-puberty-blockers.html
I see red flag after red flag in that article. People still saying that PB are "safe and reversible". PATHA "not responding". Parent reports saying that PB made their kids mental health worse.
Incoming medical scandal. It will be bigger here because we always overdo stupid overseas trends to prove we're part of the world.
The "review" of puberty blockers initiated by the outgoing government – is due out next week:
https://www.health.govt.nz/news-media/news-items/mental-health-and-wellbeing-inform-evidence-brief-puberty-blockers
Apparently, PATHA was contracted to conduct and author the review…
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/514044/ministry-of-health-taking-the-time-to-get-it-right-on-puberty-blockers
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
I look forward to a totally ideology-free and evidence-based review of the available evidence, and also hope that one day I will gain the ability to shoot laser beams out of my eyes and lightning bolts out of my arse.
One of these outcomes is considerably more likely than the other.
Christina Buttons has just posted an article about the circular "citation cartel" when it comes to referencing for "affirmation only" healthcare.
Worth the read, which clearly identifies what many have previously understood and tried to draw attention to.
https://www.buttonslives.news/p/new-systematic-review-exposes-deceptive
PATHA – Professional Association for Transgender Health Aotearoa
references WPATH SOC8 in their guidelines:
– Page 5 Primary Care Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy Initiation Guidelines (2023 – Aotearoa New Zealand)
https://patha.nz/Guidelines
A small number of "scientists" (e.g. Jack Turban) publish garbage-tier statistically dubious work in journals where they either directly know the reviewers or editorial team or know their ideological stance.
That work gets picked up by the PATHAs of the world, further inflating the influence of said "scientists".. ("my work has been cited by International Bodies and used to create Important Guidelines!!")
The "scientists" on the basis of Being Used to Create Important Guidelines then publish further garbage-tier science, which then inflates their importance further, which lends them further credibility that the PATHAs of the world then cite to show that their guidelines are based on credible "science"
The "No debate" means that no contrary opinion ever enters the citation merry-go-round.
It's not the kind of merry-go-round that kids play on. It's the kind of merry-go-round that plays with kids.
The evidence of harm has been around for decades, but ignored.
Genevieve Gluck posted this in 2021, linking to news stories from 2001:
https://genevievegluck.substack.com/p/puberty-blockers-and-the-medical
For a shorter 6 min video expressing an overview of the concerns visit Gluck's Twitter post:
https://x.com/WomenReadWomen/status/1644332569641762816
I agree, preaching to the converted but please keep on preaching.
What bugs me about all this is how obvious the problem is. So many politicos will be like "I'm so surprised! Nobody could have known! I trusted the science!" and that's because politicians consume science like they are at a salad bar. Yeah, I'll have the croutons, but not the coleslaw. Don't like the coleslaw. I'll pretend it does not exist.
Unfortunately Chloe Swarbrick is a prime example of this.
I enjoy the exchange of info here too, @That_guy, but also post knowing that there may be some who retain intellectual curiosity, and will start to look into the issue because others have posted some starting points to investigate.
Forever the optimist…
It all just demonstrates that this is an ideology – a form of quasi religious belief which leads its "true believers" to defy any requirements that they feel are against their accepted dogma.
They have moved from "no debate" to obstruction, obfuscation and the abuse of power.
Ducking for cover.
https://unherd.com/2024/04/the-cass-reports-cowardly-converts/
"Thousands of kids have been harmed by this ideology, along with many, many adults. Those of us who have been shunned, lost jobs, friends and reputations as a result of accusations of bigotry and transphobia are, of course, secondary victims. And as for those who have played it safe? Inevitably, they will now stay silent or pretend that the evidence of harm contained in the Cass Report is a shocking revelation. The truth, of course, is that the evidence has been there all along. To those new converts now pretending otherwise: we see you."
reverse ferret from Stonewall apparently. Also Mermaids doing some substantial spin.
Visubversa cites ducks, weka; ferrets and mermaids.
And it's not yet 9.
wait until you get your head around what is really going on. Then you too can choose which side you are on, or if you want to swap sides.
Swap sides?
Now?
I could end up on the wrong side!
🙂
that doesn’t seem to have bothered you so far 😛
I'm maintaining a watching brief.
while you are doing that, I would encourage you to read the first hand accounts of detransitioners. They are the ones most badly damaged as young people. Let me know if you would like some links.
I already read Unherd 🙂
try this first hand account of medical/surgical transition and detransition from Ritchie/TullipR on twitter, written in 2022 when was 35. He started transitioning at 26. Not sure when he started detransitioning, maybe 3 years ago or longer.
https://twitter.com/TullipR/status/1536422533230206976
Thanks (I think), weka.
That is some grim reading.
These are the real casualties in this culture war.
Like others, I trust the PTB wake up to the harmful ideological mindsets at play here.
@Robert Guyton – A strange response. What do you think you are contributing here – other than a exposure of some of your less savoury personality traits?
visubversa, posted this: "Thousands of kids have been harmed by this ideology, along with many, many adults.".
weka's response – for those who have kept up with the discussion – identifies two well-funded organisations that completely failed at child safeguarding.
If you care about the iatrogenic harm that has been identified, and is still being facilitated in NZ via the same guidelines, then you could instead look into this further instead of playing schoolboy games while the grownups talk.
Molly, myob.
Bob, fyoa.
"Bob"
Bobdobalina, Mr Bob Dobalina?
This issue should concern all the adults in NZ, Robert.
You're either one of them, or you are not.
Response from InsideOut (the org that goes into schools etc to preach about being in the wrong bodyetc)
"We categorically reject any calls to restrict access to gender affirming care in Aotearoa, following the release of the Cass Review in the U.K. earlier this week.
The Cass Review is a biased, unethical, methodologically flawed and politically motivated review that disregards a strong evidence base in support of affirming models of trans healthcare. It ignores the consensus of major medical bodies around the world and lacks relevance in an Aotearoa context."
(words in bold done by myself)
https://www.facebook.com/insideoutkoaro/posts/pfbid0VSjpfJxxiUNs3ACmH4N9gtG8vsejEbvQVkqcU2LGWMNnwyJMNSvxo9zURHvp7vSZl
And more denialof NZ’s PATHA on the evidence in the Cass resport:
"In a written statement, PATHA president Jennifer Shields [NZ] said the Cass Review "ignores the consensus of major medical bodies around the world and lacks relevance in an Aotearoa context".
"The final Cass Review did not include trans or non-binary experts or clinicians experienced in providing gender affirming care in its decision-making, conclusions, or findings. Instead, a number of people involved in the review and the advisory group previously advocated for bans on gender affirming care in the United States, and have promoted non-affirming 'gender exploratory therapy', which is considered a conversion practice."
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/514044/ministry-of-health-taking-the-time-to-get-it-right-on-puberty-blockers
From the Cass report
"Dr Cass is clear that standards in this field have been woefully subpar, with children given treatments that lacked any evidence base. This might be excused temporarily, given that this is a fast-developing field, but what is inexcusable is that there has been no attempt to build an evidence base, and indeed Dr Cass’s own attempts to build one were “thwarted” by the adult and child NHS gender services. The most important overarching point in her report is that the standard of care for gender-distressed children has fallen far short of what this vulnerable population needs and deserves. "
https://sex-matters.org/posts/updates/the-cass-review-is-a-damning-indictment-of-what-the-nhs-has-been-doing-to-children/
InsideOUT are partly funded by Te Whatu Ora and Ministry of Youth Development
https://insideout.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/InsideOUT-Annual-Report-2021-22.pdf
Such is the extent of activist capture of NZ institutions.
Hush Robert, the adults are talking
Nothing dismissive and arrogant about that, gsays!
Good times!
Test
Either you ain't weka or weka's changed their icon
that was me not logged in. Trying to test the cursor bug in the desktop version on the phone.
Infiltrator! I see you!
sneaky weka 😁