Daily review 13/12/2023
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5:30 pm, December 13th, 2023 - 47 comments
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- Economic security and geostrategic competition: fostering resilience and innovation
Australia and other democracies have once again turned to China to solve their economic problems, while the reliability of the United States as an alliance partner is, erroneously, being called into question. We risk forgetting ...3 hours ago - Wednesday 26 March
Machines will take over more jobs at Immigration New Zealand under a multi-million-dollar upgrade that will mean decisions to approve visas will be automated – decisions to reject applications will continue to be taken by staff. Health New Zealand’s commitment to boosting specialist palliative care for dying children is under ...5 hours ago - She Works Hard For The Money
She works hard for the moneySo hard for it, honeyShe works hard for the moneySo you better treat her rightSongwriters: Michael Omartian / Donna A. SummerMorena, I’m pleased to bring you a guest newsletter today by long-time unionist and community activist Lyndy McIntyre. Lyndy has been active in the Living ...5 hours ago - The dangerous collapse of US strategic sealift capacity
The US Transportation Command’s Military Sealift Command (MSC), the subordinate organisation responsible for strategic sealift, is unprepared for the high intensity fighting of a war over Taiwan. In the event of such a war, combat ...6 hours ago
- Stadium Unfeasibility
Tomorrow Auckland’s Councillors will decide on the next steps in the city’s ongoing stadium debate, and it appears one option is technically feasible but isn’t financially feasible while the other one might be financially feasible but not be technically feasible. As a quick reminder, the mMayor started this process as ...6 hours ago - Bernard’s Picks ‘n’ Mixes on Wednesday, March 26
In short in our political economy around housing, climate and poverty on March 26:Three Kāinga Ora plots zoned for 17 homes and 900m from Ellerslie rail station are being offered to land-bankers and luxury home builders by agent Rawdon Christie.Chris Bishop’s new RMA bills don’t include treaty principles, even though ...7 hours ago - James (Jim) Grenon & Sinead Boucher’s Worlds Affect Us All
Stuff’s Sinead Boucher and NZME Takeover Leader James (Jim) GrenoonStuff Promotes Brooke Van VeldenYesterday, I came across an incredulous article by Stuff’s Kelly Dennett.It was a piece basically promoting David Seymour’s confidante and political ally, ACT’s #2, Brooke Van Velden. I admit I read the whole piece, incredulous at its ...8 hours ago - Defence budget doesn’t match the threat Australia faces
When Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers stood at the dispatch box this evening to announce the 2025–26 Budget, he confirmed our worst fears about the government’s commitment to resourcing the Defence budget commensurate with the dangers ...14 hours ago
- It’s time for the ADF to train in Asia-Pacific languages
The proposed negotiation of an Australia–Papua New Guinea defence treaty will falter unless the Australian Defence Force embraces cultural intelligence and starts being more strategic with teaching languages—starting with Tok Pisin, the most widely spoken language in ...21 hours ago
- Here is the news at 4.30
Bishop ignores pawnPoor old Tama Potaka says he didn't know the new RMA legislation would be tossing out the Treaty clause.However, RMA Minister Bishop says it's all good and no worries because the new RMA will still recognise Māori rights; it's just that the government prefers specific role descriptions over ...21 hours ago - China’s shadow fleet threatens Indo-Pacific communications
China is using increasingly sophisticated grey-zone tactics against subsea cables in the waters around Taiwan, using a shadow-fleet playbook that could be expanded across the Indo-Pacific. On 25 February, Taiwan’s coast guard detained the Hong Tai ...22 hours ago
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A new employment survey shows that labour market pessimism has deepened as workers worry about holding to their job, the difficulty in finding jobs, and slowing wage growth. Nurses working in primary care will get an 8 percent pay increase this year, but it still leaves them lagging behind their ...1 day ago
- Big Gun
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This is a re-post from Carbon Brief by Wang Zhongying, chief national expert, China Energy Transformation Programme of the Energy Research Institute, and Kaare Sandholt, chief international expert, China Energy Transformation Programme of the Energy Research Institute China will need to install around 10,000 gigawatts (GW) of wind and solar capacity ...1 day ago - Bernard’s Picks ‘n’ Mixes for Tuesday, March 26
Here’s my selection1 of scoops, breaking news, news, analyses, deep-dives, features, interviews, Op-Eds, editorials and cartoons from around Aotearoa’s political economy on housing, climate and poverty from RNZ, 1News, The Post-$2, The Press−$, Newsroom/$3, NZ Herald/$, Stuff, BusinessDesk/$, Politik-$, NBR-$, Reuters, FT/$, WSJ/$, Bloomberg/$, New York Times/$, Washington Post/$, Wired/$, ...1 day ago - Most people want a people-friendly city
With many of Auckland’s political and bureaucratic leaders bowing down to vocal minorities and consistently failing to reallocate space to people in our city, recent news overseas has prompted me to point out something important. It is extremely popular to make car-dominated cities nicer, by freeing up space for people. ...1 day ago
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- tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-2287094456929079731
Chris Trotter is now on Substack visit him at christrotter418256.substack.com ...2 days ago - Australia should work with South Korea to secure undersea cables
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- Bolt from the blue: what we know (and don’t know) about the US’s powerful F-47 fighter
When the F-47 enters service, at a date to be disclosed, it will be a new factor in US air warfare. A decision to proceed with development, deferred since July, was unexpectedly announced on 21 ...2 days ago
- Yesterday Once More
All my best memoriesCome back clearly to meSome can even make me cry.Just like beforeIt's yesterday once more.Songwriters: Richard Lynn Carpenter / John BettisYesterday, Winston Peters gave a State of the Nation speech in which he declared War on the Woke, described peaceful protesters as fascists, said he’d take our ...2 days ago - Can we now find out who the real Vladimir Putin is?
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Once upon a time, the United States saw the contest between democracy and authoritarianism as a singularly defining issue. It was this outlook, forged in the crucible of World War II, that created such strong ...2 days ago
- 30% of doctors leave NZ after graduation
A pre-Covid protest about medical staffing shortages outside the Beehive. Since then the situation has only worsened, with 30% of doctors trained here now migrating within a decade. File Photo: Lynn GrievesonMōrena. Long stories shortest: The news this morning is dominated by the crises cascading through our health system after ...2 days ago - Monday 24 March
Bargaining between the PSA and Oranga Tamariki over the collective agreement is intensifying – with more strike action likely, while the Employment Relations Authority has ordered facilitation. More than 850 laboratory staff are walking off their jobs in a week of rolling strike action. Union coverage CTU: Confidence in ...2 days ago
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Ooh you're a cool catComing on strong with all the chit chatOoh you're alrightHanging out and stealing all the limelightOoh messing with the beat of my heart yeah!Songwriters: Freddie Mercury / John Deacon.It would be a tad ironic; I can see it now. “Yeah, I didn’t unsubscribe when he said ...5 days ago - Friday 21 March
The PSA are calling the Prime Minister a hypocrite for committing to increase defence spending while hundreds of more civilian New Zealand Defence Force jobs are set to be cut as part of a major restructure. The number of companies being investigated for people trafficking in New Zealand has skyrocketed ...5 days ago
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Open access notables The severe 2020 coral bleaching event in the tropical Atlantic linked to marine heatwaves, Rodrigues et al., Communications Earth & Environment: Marine heatwaves can amplify the vulnerabilities of regional marine ecosystems and jeopardise local economies and food resources. Here, we show that marine heatwaves in the tropical ...6 days ago
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Figures released by Statistics New Zealand today showed that the economy grew by 0.7% ending the very deep recession seen over the past year, said NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Economist Craig Renney. “Even though GDP grew in the three months to December, our economy is still 1.1% smaller than it ...6 days ago
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What is going on with the price of butter?, RNZ, 19 march 2025: If you have bought butter recently you might have noticed something - it is a lot more expensive. Stats NZ said last week that the price of butter was up 60 percent in February compared to ...6 days ago
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- Commandments & Cures
You’d beDrunk by noon, no one would knowJust like the pandemicWithout the sourdoughIf I were there, I’d find a wayTo get treated for hysteriaEvery dayLyrics Riki Lindhome.A varied selection today in Nick’s Kōrero:Thou shalt have no other gods - with Christopher Luxon.Doctors should be seen and not heard - with ...6 days ago - Australia needs greater defence self-reliance, and extra funding
Two recent foreign challenges suggest that Australia needs urgently to increase its level of defence self-reliance and to ensure that the increased funding that this would require is available. First, the circumnavigation of our continent ...6 days ago
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According to RNZ’s embedded reporter, the importance of Winston Peters’ talks in Washington this week “cannot be overstated.” Right. “Exceptionally important.” said the maestro himself. This epic importance doesn’t seem to have culminated in anything more than us expressing our “concern” to the Americans about a series of issues that ...7 days ago
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Confidence in the job market has continued to drop to its lowest level in five years as more New Zealanders feel uncertain about finding work, keeping their jobs, and getting decent pay, according to the latest Westpac-McDermott Miller Employment Confidence Index. ...6 hours ago - Greens question Govt commitment to environmental protection with RMA reform
The Greens are calling on the Government to follow through on their vague promises of environmental protection in their Resource Management Act (RMA) reform. ...2 days ago - Release: Govt must tackle meth use crisis
New data shows methamphetamine use is spiralling out of control while the Government sits on its hands. ...2 days ago
- “Make New Zealand First Again”
“Make New Zealand First Again” Ladies and gentlemen, First of all, thank you for being here today. We know your lives are busy and you are working harder and longer than you ever have, and there are many calls on your time, so thank you for the chance to speak ...3 days ago - Release: Govt’s continued lack of action on Gaza condemned
Hundreds more Palestinians have died in recent days as Israel’s assault on Gaza continues and humanitarian aid, including food and medicine, is blocked. ...5 days ago
- Release: National at sea over Defence jobs
National is looking to cut hundreds of jobs at New Zealand’s Defence Force, while at the same time it talks up plans to increase focus and spending in Defence. ...6 days ago
- Release: National standards returning by stealth
It’s been revealed that the Government is secretly trying to bring back a ‘one-size fits all’ standardised test – a decision that has shocked school principals. ...6 days ago
- Release: Kiwis still struggling as economy stumbles along
Kiwis aren’t feeling any better off despite figures showing a very slight growth in GDP in the December quarter. ...6 days ago
- Greens call for compassionate release of Dean Wickliffe
The Green Party is calling for the compassionate release of Dean Wickliffe, a 77-year-old kaumātua on hunger strike at the Spring Hill Corrections Facility, after visiting him at the prison. ...1 week ago
- Another failed ETS auction, another indictment on the Govt’s climate credibility
The ETS auction’s failure today is yet another clear sign that the Government is failing us all on climate action. ...1 week ago
- Release: Luxon quick to give away principled position on nukes
Christopher Luxon seems to have thrown New Zealand’s principled anti-nuclear advocacy under a bus. ...1 week ago
- NZ must act on Israel’s slaughter of children
The Green Party is calling on Government MPs to support Chlöe Swarbrick’s Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence and illegal actions in Palestine, following another day of appalling violence against civilians in Gaza. ...1 week ago
- Release: Still no certainty for disability communities
One year on from the Government’s abrupt and callous changes to disability funding, the community still has no idea what the future holds. ...1 week ago
- Green Party backs volunteer firefighters in their call for ACC recognition
The Green Party stands in support of volunteer firefighters petitioning the Government to step up and change legislation to provide volunteers the same ACC coverage and benefits as their paid counterparts. ...1 week ago
- Stand Up for Palestine: A Call to Action Against Israels Treacherous Attack
At 2.30am local time, Israel launched a treacherous attack on Gaza killing more than 300 defenceless civilians while they slept. Many of them were children. This followed a more than 2 week-long blockade by Israel on the entry of all goods and aid into Gaza. Israel deliberately targeted densely populated ...1 week ago
- MP Views: Living Strong, The Economy, Servicing Our Nation, The Golden Egg, and 4 Year Terms
Living Strong, Aging Well There is much discussion around the health of our older New Zealanders and how we can age well. In reality, the delivery of health services accounts for only a relatively small percentage of health outcomes as we age. Significantly, dry warm housing, nutrition, exercise, social connection, ...1 week ago
- Shane Jones has no shame
Shane Jones’ display on Q&A showed how out of touch he and this Government are with our communities and how in sync they are with companies with little concern for people and planet. ...1 week ago
- Release: National botches health funding numbers
Health Minister Simeon Brown’s claim that the Government has put $16.68 billion into the health system over three years is wrong. ...2 weeks ago
- Government tramples on the rights of disabled migrant children
The Green Party is condemning the Government’s move to tighten access to visas for disabled children. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Auckland needs second harbour crossing
Labour supports Minister Chris Bishop’s call for input on the second Waitematā Harbour crossing. ...2 weeks ago
- Speech: Barbara Edmonds’ speech to NZ Investment Summit 2025
I am grateful to have the opportunity to speak to you today about how we make overseas investment work for all New Zealanders. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour does not support PPPs for prisons
Labour does not support the private ownership of core infrastructure like schools, hospitals and prisons, which will only see worse outcomes for Kiwis. ...2 weeks ago
- Dunedin Futures report should be a wake-up call
The newly released report on the South Dunedin Future Programme must be a wake-up call for our Government. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Members’ Bill makes wage theft a crime
Workers will now be able to go to the Police and report their employer if they are not being paid wages they’re owed. ...2 weeks ago
- Missed opportunity to stop the stealing of Māori land
The Green Party is disappointed the Government voted down Hūhana Lyndon’s member’s Bill, which would have prevented further alienation of Māori land through the Public Works Act. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour supports sanctions against Israel’s illegal occupation
The Labour Party will support Chloe Swarbrick’s member’s bill which would allow sanctions against Israel for its illegal occupation of the Palestinian Territories. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Govt procurement plan cuts wages and trashes the environment
The Government’s new procurement rules are a blatant attack on workers and the environment, showing once again that National’s priorities are completely out of touch with everyday Kiwis. ...2 weeks ago
- Procurement proposals pose risk to people and planet
The Green Party is concerned by the impact the Government’s proposed changes to procurement processes could have on people and planet. ...2 weeks ago
- Just six Government MPs needed to pass Unlawful Occupation of Palestine Sanctions Bill
With Labour and Te Pāti Māori’s official support, Opposition parties are officially aligned to progress Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick’s Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in Palestine. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour’s approach to Māori economy benefits all
Under Labour, the Māori economy went from strength to strength according to the latest report released by MBIE. ...2 weeks ago
- 20 Years of Success Down the Drain: Govt Gut Whānau Ora
Te Pāti Māori extends our deepest aroha to the 500 plus Whānau Ora workers who have been advised today that the govt will be dismantling their contracts. For twenty years , Whānau Ora has been helping families, delivering life-changing support through a kaupapa Māori approach. It has built trust where ...3 weeks ago
- Green Party launches petition to allow Pacific whānau visa-free access
The Green Party is launching a petition calling on the Government to extend visa-free travel to visitors from Pacific Island nations. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Labour welcomes reinstatement of Heath NZ board
Labour welcomes Simeon Brown’s move to reinstate a board at Health New Zealand, bringing the destructive and secretive tenure of commissioner Lester Levy to an end. ...3 weeks ago
- NZ’s Public Health system dealt yet another blow
This morning’s announcement by the Health Minister regarding a major overhaul of the public health sector levels yet another blow to the country’s essential services. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Chris Hipkins’ State of the Nation address
Ngā mihi ki a koutou katoa It is a great pleasure to be here with you this morning. ...3 weeks ago
- NZ First Introduces Bill to Remove Woke ‘DEI’ Regulations from Public Service
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https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/301025748/nz-politics-live-reserve-bank-to-no-longer-focus-on-employment-after-law-change
What does willis mean by unsustainable high unemployment? Is it tomany or to few unemployed?
And the mind-numbing stupity of canceling the ferry replacement, fucking short term myopic fucking retard finance minister, tax cuts won't bridge tha gap on a 2 island nation you fucking idiot.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/government-declines-to-fund-cook-strait-mega-ferry-cost-blowout/S6IKNKO6KJCI3HOWDRPTQB6WOU/
JAG has it worked out …..“This decision will have negative impacts on New Zealanders and freight ability to travel between islands. Might be a death knell for rail freight on the main trunk.”
Willis is just a pawn……”A resilient ferry service should not be an open chequebook paid for by the taxpayer,” she said.
You can see where this is going……..further derailing of Kiwi Rail……..three guesses who will benefit…….
To be fair, there had been a bit of scuttlebutt about that the chosen ferries were a complete fuck up in that the size and design was very poorly suited to Wellington harbour in particular its strong winds hence the massive blowout in the infrastucture cost. Essentially a case of making the harbour fit the ferry rather than choosing a ferry suited to the harbour. They need to get cracking on replacement ferries but they need to have the ability to berth in a tight space in strong winds.
But 'they' have no intention of getting cracking on replacement ferries…..'they' do have wet dreams on scuttling Kiwi Rail though…..
This from the Labour govt 2022…..“This Government has invested heavily in KiwiRail over several budgets to ensure that it is better placed to deliver on the Government’s objectives. As a state-owned enterprise, KiwiRail will be best placed to participate in several competitive markets, including freight both on-land and across Cook Strait,” Minister for State-Owned Enterprises, David Clark said.
Hmmmm was there ever a large project that didn't come with a sizable chunk of grumbling from the ranks?
Nope, eitherway we need new ferries and an ocean going tug capable of proper assistance in the event of a breakdown.
They got very lucky with that last breakdown.
The current fleet is fucked and the clowns have guaranteed that we're going to have years of ship's masters having to do more with less, delaying and cancelling sailings as the risk of mid-strait break downs rises, if not an actual disaster at sea.
Also, do these clowns have any idea about the daily volumes of goods that cross the strait.
Supply bottlenecks and empty shelves ahoy!
Any ongoing issues with the ferries will be sold as 'all Labours fault'……but what Luxon and Willis can sell you is…………. ”We want a resilient, safe and reliable Cook Strait service and we are committed to ensuring that is available to New Zealanders.”…………………..”We have a responsibility to ensure the public gets good value for money.”
Good value for money……..the writing is on the wall…….
Just watched the maiden speech Mariameno Kapa-Kīngi. (will add link when it comes up)
Awesome, just awesome.
At the end you got to see the unity of the opposition.
The three parties Te Pāti Māori, Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand, New Zealand Labour Party have a good basis for a constructive working relationship for all of us. The future does have some good options, rather than the kaka that has been served up.
😎
Bloody Awesome speech, Waiata, Tautoko, and Haka.
https://ondemand.parliament.nz/parliament-tv-on-demand/?itemId=237065
Bloody amazing response from our government today on the cost blowout on Labours unfunded open cheque book ferry project. The days of open cheque books are over. Who needs hybrid electric ferries before anyone else. The future for NZ under this government is awesome 🤩
You've been warned about trolling in the past. For clarity, we expect people to bring coherent, evidenced based political analysis and opinion, not FB-esque reckons.
By that idiot inconsistent? He’s hounded people left and right off this sight – look at Red Logic as an example. Why do you permit his consistent destruction of this sight rather than permit alternative views?
[see ya – weka]
It's site, you fucking cretin.
No it’s sight. Like one eyed. Can’t see the wood for the trees. Blinded to reality by ideology, incapable of independent thought you fucking cretin.
[Who wants to ban him? Guy is obviously an idiot – MS]
"Who wants to ban him? Guy is obviously an idiot – MS"
I don't think Jack should be banned, but I do think he should engage.
All of us have offline lives so there's no problem with people being absent from debates, but when they are continuing to post here on the same thread but ignoring all on-topic responses then they are not here for debate at all.
"Who wants to ban him? Guy is obviously an idiot – MS"
Yep….and there are many more like this Jack Off chap….that's why we now have this idiotic excuse for a govt……
he basically doesn't give a shit about the site, which never ends well. Better to nip it in the bud.
Fair enough, he won't be missed.
2018 San Francisco.
Hundreds built or being built worldwide.
Even Auckland
https://at.govt.nz/about-us/news-events/media-centre/2023-media-releases/auckland-s-low-emission-ferry-programme-shifts-up-a-gear-fourth-vessel-confirmed
Yeah, not quite cook straight are they. Do some research before doing blah blah. For example, ask yourself why no hybrid electric ferries on the English Channel before 2030 … may have something to do with allowing time for the technology to be developed 🤦♂️
Research? I did not have to to prove that this was wrong.
Now where is this ferry operating? Well it’s Dover-Calais.
https://www.offshore-energy.biz/worlds-largest-double-ended-hybrid-ferry-named-in-uk/
Ignorance is not bliss, Jack, and wilful ignorance is dumb.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_ferry
A link in your original post may have helped.
Jack… you know Jack!!
Please, DNFTT
Ok.
Of course you – and National – can argue for that decision. Then the voters can decide if they agree with National. But that should happen before people vote. They didn't campaign on it, did they?
You seem unable to grasp the fact that the growing dissatisfaction is not about predictable opposition from predictable opponents (like on here). It is from swing voters and Nat voters who now feel let down.
Do you think Marlborough – or provincial NZ in general – is a stronghold of woke lefties?
Mayor Comments On Ferries Decision – Marlborough District Council | Scoop News
Cretin.
The 330 passenger MV Ampere has been operating since 20011. The 2,000 passenger/500 vehicle MS Color Hybrid, one of six hybrid ferries operated by Scandlines, has been at sea since 2019.
https://www.calmac.co.uk/article/3928/Third-hybrid-ferry-launches-on-the-Clyde
https://www.greencarcongress.com/2018/06/20180610-stena.html
Kaikōura (Picton) voted Stuart Smith with an 11,000 majority. I guess no-one told them their ferry infrastructure funding would go into Auckland landlords’ pockets.
That's a shame.
Nope. They are probably just decent common sense people that realised unfunded Robbo fairy dust projects, like any good ponzie scheme, can’t last forever.
If they really did think that, outside your fevered imagination, can you provide any examples of those voters opposing the Picton development that is now scrapped?
Anything you like … National Party candidates, local editorials, councillors, etc?
Come back to us not with "I reckon", but "they reckon".
Here's what they reckon. What have you got?
Once in a generation: 'Shovel ready' Picton terminal finally set for movement | RNZ News
“The occasion was marked by a special event on Saturday, attended by the mayor John Leggett and councillors, MP Stuart Smith and other key stakeholders to celebrate the start of the enabling works.”
Seems like they would know what they want, and Jack on a keyboard knows squat.
Marlborough used to be Leftish but the boundary was shifted down to just north of Rangiora and now known as the Kaikoura Electorate, even dopey Stuart Smith wanders in with an 11,000 majority, just like FPP.
It looks likely we will be losing 50,000 a year to Oz. As the tighten migration, Kiwis will find more opportunities.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/the-front-page-the-kiwi-exodus-why-national-led-government-will-struggle-to-stem-flow-to-australia/EGHPLQ6XIFDQNLBUPYOFWYZI4A/
I was listening to Kerre Woodman/McIver this morning. Her callers were racist, pessimistic and miserable before the election and they are racist, pessimistic and miserable after the election.
No pleasing some people.
"I was listening to Kerre Woodman/McIver this morning………."
Are you into bondage as well tītī…..akin to sleeping on a bed of nails……..one way to get your ears pierced I suppose…….
Isn't that her and the outlets target audience ? Annoy the sales dept if that changed.
Lotsa buyer's regret.
@APHClarkson
What will prevent the UK from rejoining the EU in the near future is not wider public opinion but rather the inability of a narrow UK political and media class to get over humiliation at the implosion of their delusions of grandeur
https://twitter.com/APHClarkson/status/1734176067538108886
It'll not be much longer before the majority of those in UK would be those who voted Remain in any case.
Fresh from voting in favour of a UNGA Resolution to demand a cease-fire.
https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/statements/2023/12/12/joint-statement-prime-ministers-australia-canada-and-new-zealand
153 nations (of 193) voted for the an immediate humanitarian cease-fire. 23 abstentions and 10 opposed.
https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-middle-east-67687628
Inflation is forecast to be 4.5% by the end of the year.
An earlier forecast was 4% by this time, so it's coming down slower than hoped.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/504663/official-cash-rate-cut-remains-unlikely-despite-drop-in-inflation-economist
Russian Bolsheviks occupied Ukraine in 1921. Ten years later Russians weaponised famine to punish Ukrainians for their nationalist aspirations and their rejection of the new serfdom. The Holodomor killed more than three million Ukrainians.
Since since the 2014 annexations and 2022 invasion more than 700,000 Ukrainian children have been kidnapped by Russia and millions of Ukrainian adults have been subjected to internal displacement and forced population transfers.
This is who they are.
10 minutes of hate: Russian propagandists talk about Ukraine
We're in useless eaters territory. Fucking nazi.
Wednesday 5 July 2023,
[…]
When it came to COVID, we completely blew out what the value of a life was, completely, I’ve never seen such a high value on life.” That’s a quote from ACT health spokesperson Brooke van Velden speaking during a political panel discussion at the recent HealthTech Week.
https://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/article/opinion/more-life-worth
Thank you for this, Joe. I will incorporate this into my activism. This will impact my communities.
Fuck ACT. Fuck David Seymour. Fuck Brooke Van Velden.
Here's the evergreen poem by Martin Niemoller on how this usually goes:
If he was more aware, then he would have included this (my addition):
Here's a few more historical facts regarding killings of disabled people in Nazi Germany.
I hope people heed what may come with travelling down this road…
This is ultimately why I oppose ACT, National, NZF, USA Republicans, UK Tories, Australian Liberals, etc whenever they bash people on the benefit and sick & disabled people who need support and if they & their political rhetoric are not immediately reigned in.
These aforementioned parties should be strenuously and expertly opposed.
Our left-wing politics should take on a local, national and international character to counter the right wing politics which has already taken on all these aspects.
Locally, nationally and internationally, we must display solidarity on class & identity issues.
Class liberates identity and vice versa.
At that point, we can go onto a different path.
With that, I must go again.