Daily Review 22/11/2017
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5:30 pm, November 22nd, 2017 - 78 comments
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- Treasury warns deeper recession worsening Budget deficit
The gift that keeps giving: David Seymour has now opened a split in the coalition over the future of National’s promise to build a new medical school. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / TheKakaKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and ...4 hours ago - Weekly Roundup 22-November-2024
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Record Numbers: The Hīkoi mō te Tiriti, which began at the tip of the North, and the tail of the South, on 11 November, culminated outside Parliament on Tuesday, 19 November 2024, in one of the largest demonstrations in New Zealand’s political history.ACCORDING TO TE ARA, the Ministry of Culture ...6 hours ago - The Rush To Blame “The Activists”
Activists are such easy scapegoats. The right and center have been conditioned for decades to roll their eyes at all protests. The left are easily aggravated over students leading movements they see as belonging to grownups, who have more important concerns like the economy and whether the trains come on ...6 hours ago - Cutting Through An Inundation of Dipshit Racists
Hi,Watching New Zealand from afar offers a strange perspective. It can be a good thing — distance from Aotearoa helped keep me sane while I reported on abuse at New Zealand’s biggest megachurch over the course of a year. It helps fuel my silly podcast. But it can also be ...7 hours ago - This is bad news
The speech yesterday by Treasury’s Chief Economic Advisor warning that the books are in worse shape than forecasted looks like it’s part of a softening-up process for either more cuts or a longer wait to get back into surplus. The speech was a highly unusual public preview of Treasury’s Half-Yearly ...8 hours ago - Skeptical Science New Research for Week #47 2024
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Chatting in the supermarket this morning, I found I needed to lunge for the chicken drumsticks.Coping mechanisms: who hasn’t felt a greater need for them lately?When it all gets too much, I turn to demonstrating handy butchery hacks.It wasn’t that she’d said anything wrong, our friend, not at all. We ...20 hours ago - The year is 2024 and it’s 1984
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The Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti arrived at Parliament on Tuesday – the size is being debated but estimates range from 42,000 to 100,000. The Prime Minister is defending not attending due to some of the organisers being affiliated with Te Pāti Māori. The national gang patch ban came into force ...1 day ago - ‘These budget cuts are counter-productive and make no sense’
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Nicola Willis’ budget cuts are under fire from economists for having no clear rationale and worsening the recession. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, November 21: The news at ...1 day ago
- The end of policing by consent
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- The Treaty Principles Bill: A Who’s Who
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- 27% of kids going hungry, up from 21% in a year
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- Young Maori take over
Neither Wellington nor Parliament has ever seen anything like it before. The Police said there were more than 40,000 but however many there were, yesterday’s Hikoi to Parliament was a monumental event. It was almost three times the Foreshore and Seabed martch of 2004 and many,many times bigger than ...2 days ago
- Gordon Campbell On The Hikoi Aftermath
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Like everyone else (everyone who wasn't there, anyway), I've spent the morning watching the hikoi march on Parliament. The pictures are astounding: parliament grounds and the surrounding streets are full, and there are still people backed up along Lambton Quay. The police are estimating 35,000 people, and that's a floor ...3 days ago
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As the Hikoi against it swells into the tens of thousands, KCs call on National to kill off ACT’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. Photo: Getty ImagesKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, November 14: The ...1 week ago
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The Ministry of Health has today released an evidence brief regarding the use of puberty blockers in gender-affirming healthcare, amid moves by the government to limit access. ...21 hours ago
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Louise Upston has revealed her diminished vision for vulnerable youth against a backdrop of snubbed advice, scrapped priorities, shifted goal posts and thousands more children projected to fall into poverty. ...24 hours ago
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National Government’s backward-looking climate policy has seen New Zealand fall seven places on the Climate Change Performance Index to 41 out of 63 countries measured. ...24 hours ago
- Release: Simple reason for drop in emergency housing
When the Government says it has reduced the number of people in emergency housing, what it means is it is stopping people from accessing it in the first place. ...1 day ago
- Govt’s child wellbeing strategy ‘shallow and shameful’
The Government is turning its back on children by not only weakening child poverty reduction targets, but also removing child mental wellbeing as a priority focus in their Child and Youth Wellbeing Strategy. ...1 day ago
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Labour warmly welcomes the Restoring Samoan Citizenship Bill as it passes its third reading, before becoming law. ...1 day ago
- Government plan to reinstate live animal exports a “national disgrace”
The Government has taken a giant step backwards by reinstating live animal exports. ...2 days ago
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- Economists sound alarm on Government’s slash-and-burn approach
A group of prominent economists has released an open letter to the Government, raising grave concerns about the far-reaching consequences of its fiscal policy. ...2 days ago
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National’s repeal of Labour’s smokefree legislation has taken New Zealand further away from achieving a Smokefree 2025 and a smokefree generation. ...2 days ago
- Release: Call for Palestine recognition by NZ, Australian and Canadian MPs
Parliamentarians from Australia, Canada and New Zealand have written an open letter to their respective Prime Ministers calling on them to recognise Palestine. ...2 days ago
- Justice Select Committee opens floor for Treaty Principles submissions
Today, the Justice Select Committee has decided to officially open submissions for the controversial Treaty Principles Bill. ...3 days ago
- Power of the people on full display as hīkoi approaches Parliament
Today, Hīkoi mō te Tiriti arrived in Wellington, with thousands gathering to march in unity against the divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...3 days ago
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- Government’s move to monetise access to nature a slippery slope
The Green Party is voicing serious concerns over the Government’s proposal to charge for access to public conservation land, released today. ...1 week ago
- Green Party condemns the passage of Treaty Principles Bill
The Green Party condemns the passing of the Treaty Principles Bill at first reading, and is clear that the fight is not over. ...1 week ago
- Stand Up for Te Tiriti
Te Tiriti o Waitangi is our country’s founding document. It forms the basis of the relationship between Māori and the Crown – and the Aotearoa New Zealand we live in today. ...1 week ago
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As the hīkoi to Parliament continues, Labour has sent an open letter to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in a last-ditch attempt to get him to kill the Treaty Principles Bill. ...1 week ago
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The fast-track legislation passing its second reading in Parliament is another step towards environmental ruin. ...1 week ago
- Greens join King’s Counsel in calling for Treaty Principles Bill to be abandoned
The Prime Minister must answer the call from a group of senior lawyers of the King’s Counsel to abandon the divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...1 week ago
- Chris Hipkins’ apology statement to state and faith-based care survivors
...1 week ago
- Release: Labour formally apologises to state and faith-based care survivors
Labour joins with the Government in unreservedly apologising for the abuse, neglect and trauma including torture in state and faith-based care and for ignoring the voices of survivors for too long. ...1 week ago
- Green Party stands in support of survivors of abuse in care
Today, the Green Party stands alongside the survivors of abuse in state care and faith-based care as the Government issues an historic apology. ...1 week ago
- Green Party calls for conscience vote on Treaty Principles Bill
The Green Party has written to the Speaker of the House requesting he enable a personal vote on the Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt move to exclude journalist risks chilling effect
The Green Party is alarmed by the Government’s move to exclude a journalist from covering this week’s apology for the survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care. ...2 weeks ago
- Without action, an apology will be empty air
For tomorrow’s apology to survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care to hold any water, the Government must not pursue the same policies that drove the abuse in the first place. ...2 weeks ago
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Concerns about the tobacco industry’s ability to interfere in government policy making remain, despite the inability of the Office of the Auditor-General to investigate the Government’s decision to halve the excise tax on heated tobacco products. ...2 weeks ago
- Urgent wake-up call on climate
The Climate Change Commission’s latest advice indicates Aotearoa needs to be stepping up on climate action. ...2 weeks ago
- Green MP’s Meme-ber’s Bill set to save the world
Break out the punchlines and dust off your meme folder: Green Party MP Kahurangi Carter’s Copyright (Parody and Satire) Amendment Bill was pulled from the Ballot yesterday. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Poroporoaki: Ta Robert (Bom) Gillies
Kua hinga te manawa kairākau o Te Rua Tekau Ma Waru Tiwhatiwha te po! Kakarauru i te po! Ka rapuhia kei hea koe kua riro! Haere e te Ika a Whiro ki o tini hoa kua ngaro atu ki te Pō ...2 weeks ago
- Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principles Bill
The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principle...
The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
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The news at the moment seems to be filled with reports of the lunacy in North Korea. Yet I see nothing about the madness in Thailand as the new king (check out his record for sexual harrasment) and dictator ship steer the country back to the stone age. People are disappearing , dying and being detained for attitude adjustment but not a whisper. Is it because there is profit to be made here.
https://thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpress.com
Or Google murder island
Your link mentions Yingluck Shinawatra (ex Thai PM) and the fact she’s “completely disappeared from public view.”
Well, since it seems she skipped the country and has been reported as being in Dubai and also London (seeking asylum)…then yeah – it stands to reason she’s not in public view.
Throw in the continuing ban on “political activity” and I guess a good number of people will be “not in the public view”.
Yes that’s the latest story, the link was just an example scroll a bit further , the young Karen activist executed, the young man in Koen Ken imprisoned for being one of 1000 clicked like on a BBC story on face Facebook , the prison in the palace.
Not seeing any of that stuff. But the page offering a partial list of “pending and acquitted” cases and “convictions” are illuminating.
Clicking on names leads to pages about the accused/convicted and related media coverage.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2017/06/02/commentary/world-commentary/dhaveevatthana-prison-hell-earth-thailand/#.WhUv_o2laf0
Try this one but I guess the point I was trying to make is all the news on Nth Korea when other stories ; Cambodia too, is perhaps softening us up for some military action against the rogue state
Thanks.
http://www.thenewatlas.org/2017/11/west-already-targeting-thailands-new.html?m=1
From a more informed position, speaking directly to the article you linked to
Your sources and information regarding NK, Th and CAM are woefully incomplete
Not a good position to form an opinion from..
Well,I can’t say I’ve never heard that before.But over 20 years experience and a bit of reading I’m happy to defer and continue to enjoy living among some of the most beautiful people I’ve met. I
Russian propaganda agency Sputnik News is trying to undermine the pro-democracy movement in Thailand with the encouragement of “Tony Cartalucci”. Cartalucci is not a real person, it’s a fake name used by elderly Bangkok-based American troll Michael Pirsch and others to praise the junta and launch vicious attacks on anyone he disagrees with. Sadly, many royalist Thais believe this nonsense.
Sorry I just cut and pasted this from a comment I found searching the writers name from Facebook.
I understand there is to sides to all conflict and opinions differ but for me the ability to think freely is what makes Kiwis what we are and being denied this I believe holds the people of Thailand back
You’re right that it is very difficult to know which sources to think through…
Unfortunately those free thinking kiwis you refer to are mostly a myth, Bruce.
Nz is a heavily regulated propaganda machine from end to end.
What do you actually know about Thai people, Bruce?
Do you live in Thailand, study the history or perhaps have Thai family there?
So first you assert (with no reason given) that an extensive piece that’s been linked to is not a good position to form an opinion from
Then you assert that it is very difficult to know which sources to think through…
You ever heard of critical reasoning?
I’m guessing not, since the wordpress piece you yourself linked to as being more informed follows the tired old pattern of right wing tosh – ie, take some reasonably well accepted facts or opinions and then shoe-horn in some unsubstantiated, or at best very tenuous stuff about Soros*- and all in defence of some authoritarianism.
* A Rothschild and/or vast secret conspiracy are employed to similar effect too
Critical reasoning..
Yes Bill, of course..
It comes after comprehension, though, which I’ll help you out with…
The japan times link bruce posted…ok yes I read it and it is not accurate and missing simple important ‘facts’, just like the Al J link you posted to..
The link i posted , is closer to the mark, I know this because of the details contained, and the background and experiences I have in the area
Does that make it ‘accurate’ or ‘precise’, yes and no…but its more of both than the other links…
So, whose sources to ‘believe’…as per my comment to Bruce…it’s difficult, but not impossible..
There are some clear points of difference between the links, readily identifiable with knowledge and experience with Thailand
There is also foreign funding seeking to undermine nations, and Thailand geo-politicaly is in the middle of it..
While severing ties with ‘The West, it is simultaneously strengthing ties with is neighbors, including China.
Yes I have seen this in Thailand, first hand with my own eyes, Bill
You let yourself down making references to ‘conspiracy’
Of course the media are are being manipulated by international funding…
I was commenting in relation to the original link provided by Bruce – thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpress.com – not the Japanese Times link.
And yes, media is manipulated and/or runs agendas.
Either way, Bill, as you acknowledge…
They’re all somewhat suspect to varying degrees..
Without first hand, and or prolonged experiences inside the country (or any other country for that matter), ability to decern information within articles, is diminished..severely in most circumstances…
Glad to see you could get some “help” with that comprehension problem of yours 😈
And for anyone who’s forgotten all the “red shirt/yellow shirt” divide…
http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/1/24/explainer-in-thailandwhyyellowandredclash.html
A whisper.
And yes, follow the money.
Shameful eh.
Oh. I thought your second link might go to something related to frozen potato chips (under “Agreement Highlights”) 😉
Wikipedia. (No doubt some wise old fuckwit will be along in a moment to inform us that Wikipedia is another ‘useful tool’ of The West.)
But then so are tourism and trade 😉
Tourists eat frozen chips, aye?
😆
Not sure I’ve ever eaten a chip in Thailand. When in Bangkok I always made a beeline for the noodle carts though. Does that count?
Well today’s the day , I struggle a bit on the diet side , not eating chicken or pork, but the avocados are plentiful and this evening I will be demonstrating making guacamole and having chips and dip. Monday I was in Burma and found a new dish that involves slow BBQing long eggplants; well that’s what my wife calls them a version of the round ones that are used in som tum. When cooked they burst open so you can peel back the skin add some oil ,chillies and coriander and eat off the skin, simply delicious.
Yes it’s an old culture with many wonderful aspects but times change and people must adapt and so I think traditions too and while the people I see have no interest in politics or really care who’s in charge they just get on and live life but I’m a silly old falung who thinks they deserve better and don”t think it’s fair that their lives should be getting harder because of who they vote for. The road has now detiriated to a dirt track and the town supply water is no more as spending on infrastucture has stopped, but with no voice the locals just get on .
I get a pretty good view of the life involved with most of the goings on, not the cock fighting or prostitution. And with no one to talk too, no English, I read a lot of both sides, although that’s harder with the blocking of sites.
I don’t live here but work hard in Nz to make the money for extended stays and being in the golden triangle it’s easy to trip too Burma and Laos to get new stamps.
Fresh coriander? Definitely trying that. Best eggplant dish I know is “The priest fainted”, but that’s another story 🙂
My brief time in Thailand is a memory of great food, awesome rock towers, good tailors and Wats. From wider reading, there seems to be an “acceptance” that this, one of the oldest continuous cultures in the world, is punctuated by regular military takeover of the government.
Sometimes I think we falung are a bit stoicism-challenged. Or maybe just intolerant of torture.
“A whisper”..
No, that’s Amnesty International, which is ‘a useful tool’ of The West
Thai institutions, history, culture and present time circumstance, will not be something you’re familiar enough with to ‘join those dots’..
🙄
Oh please teach me, wise old fuckwit.
Go and live in Thailand for an extended period of time, study the ancient culture and institutions, understand what ‘being Thai’ is about..
Or keep posting links to AI,it shows just how little you care to understand..
You don’t ‘know’ Thailand or its peoples..
That’s pretty much what you said to Bruce, who lives there.
Your ego deludes you that you are much wiser and more profound than everyone else, but all you ever bring to the table is a cock-measuring competition.
However, since I never claimed to ‘know’ Thailand, or its people, your cock appears to be made of straw.
Deepak Chopra random wisdom generator says: “Perception is only possible in nonlocal marvel”.
“All you ever bring to the table is a cock measuring competition…”
Your interpretation/observation is terribly distorted…and incorrect…
So as a statement from a handle with a long history of negative and abusive , angry commentary, it is fitting that a core reason for the rage and hostility has come out…
Now the reason has been tabled, and admitted, by you…
Accept it, and move towards a more positive contribution
Or don’t ….
In summation:
OAB: links to evidence of human rights abuses in Thailand, as reported by Thai people. Adds references to Thailand as a tourist and trade destination, as a hint that these abuses are being largely ignored and possible even exploited locally.
One Two: “You don’t know, care, or understand Thailand or its peoples.” Offers precisely zero in explanation other than the entirely uncontroversial observation that media sources are biased (well duh!)
You bring precise;y zero to this discussion and you want to lecture me about manners. Your new name is Cockstraw.
It seems that colonial-era mindset White Skins still enjoy lecturing coloured people on how to run their countries. The righteous morally superior west, spreading democracy since the Belgian Congo 🙄
Do Pornpen Khongkachonkiet, Somchai Homla-or and Anchana Heemmina look “white” to you, dickhead?
I really don’t get the epithets you keep throwing around OAB. It is possible to discuss someone’s opinion without restorting to schoolyard name calling. Ie fuckwit, dickhead et al
The “opinions” in question are ad hominem attacks. I often respond to those “in kind”. Yes, it’s probably not the best response from an ethical perspective.
On the other hand, good manners are a useful tool of the West. Come and see the violence inherent in the system.
A lousy justification for your juvenile behaviour.
English comprehension isn’t your strong suit, eh.
I didn’t “justify” a damn thing. I didn’t even make any excuses. Read it again and see if you can figure it out.
Read this again s l o w l y and let it sink in.’The “opinions” in question are ad hominem attacks. I often respond to those “in kind”. Yes, it’s probably not the best response from an ethical perspective.’
That is a fact. I do often respond in kind. Not an excuse. Not a justification.
That’s me agreeing with James Thrace that my behaviour is sub-optimal. Not an excuse. Not a justification.
…and that’s me lampooning One Two and CV’s virtue signals. Not an excuse. Not a justification.
Need any more assistance?
I’d agree that AI is a tainted organisation these days and it’s stand alone reports can’t be taken at face value. But given the plethora of information from Thai sources and others that accords with aspects of the report in this case, and that, crucially, don’t rely on the report at all (ie – no reinforcing echo at work), I’d probably give this report some more credibility than some other AI reports I’ve come across.
Yes, they are compromised. No, they are not entirely worthless.
All individual sources are compromised. Trite I know, but it’s worth repeating.
Apparently Vernon Small has left Fairfax to take up the job of Press Secretary in David Parker’s office. Hopefully he can lend some grunt to efforts around messaging right across the government.
Today’s efforts were pretty bloody crap.
Increasing student allowances is a good thing. Helping students to get through their studies, right across the tertiary sector, without racking up crippling debts is a good thing.
And it turns out that increasing student allowances by $50 a week is going to be cheaper than Labour budgeted for in the election campaign.
So why not lead with that? Why not put out a press release practically trumpeting how delighted you are that you can meet a campaign promise at less cost than initially assumed?
Instead of releasing the new policy with no numbers, leaving the PM to defend that and then 2 hours later undercutting her by hurriedly putting out the costings?
Ditto the school starting age. No one in the education sector supported National’s, frankly odd, decision to move to cohort entry. So why not take some time to build an argument around that before simply announcing another policy change that has left Hipkins open to National’s new favourite “nanny state” attacks?
Not surprised to hear it. Vernon Small is one of our best journos who knows how to put professionalism into journalism. David Parker is regarded as having the best intellectual credentials on offer in our parliament. They should work very well together.
Random fact – Vernon Small is also one of NZ’s strongest ever chess players, and represented NZ back in the day.
In that case they will be a formidable team indeed.
Craig
Are you residing in Christchurch by any chance?
Yes.
Anne, David Parker is intellectually arrogant and doesn’t know how to listen, seemingly because no one else knows better than him. He’s also a great believer in the unaffordability of NZ Super and the need to lift the retirement age to 68 or 70. Hopeless.
Central Europe… where never again is turning into ,…perhaps not…?
News server iDNES.cz reported last week that Jaroslav Staník, the secretary for the Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) movement chaired by Tomio Okamura, has been reported to the state prosecutor on suspicion of criminal activity. Activist Jan Cemper filed the complaint after Staník made remarks about minorities that included calls for their murder.
According to the testimonies of several members of the Czech lower house, Staník is said to have declared that “Jews, homosexuals and gypsies should be gassed.” He is said to have made the remarks approximately two weeks ago in the club room of the Chamber of Deputies.
http://www.romea.cz/en/news/czech/crime-report-filed-after-czech-politician-calls-for-murder-of-minorities
Hello Wellington
Upsurge in big earthquakes predicted for 2018 as Earth rotation slows
Scientists say number of severe quakes is likely to rise strongly next year because of a periodic slowing of the Earth’s rotation
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/18/2018-set-to-be-year-of-big-earthquakes
Must be all that ” Man-Made ” CO2 😉
* The government appoints a body to provide it with the advice it wants, in order to pursue the policies it wants.
Avaaz has something interesting today as well.
But scientists have discovered something astounding — if we free 50% of our planet from human exploitation, our ecosystem will stabilise and regenerate. Life on earth will recover!
They say we could make a huge difference in 24 months. It would be great.
Read here:
Alice Jay – Avaaz
New Zealand ah, where there is not a list of groping men in the media.
But we seem more than happy to give a guy who bashed his girlfriend – a promotion, more wages, and a new tv show.
Must be nice to be have so much white male privilege.
Does anyone deserve another chance in your world?
Yes Zorb6 TS keeps opening our columns to you though you seem a negative effect mostly.
Can you translate that please?
“Does anyone deserve another chance in your world?”
Not when they haven’t taken responsibility for doing serious harm to another person or making amends.
What actions constitute ‘taking responsibility’ or ‘making amends’?
Not minimising his actions for starters..
do refugees deserve another chance in your world Zorb?
When they show true remorse.
“Can you translate that please? ” ..
Once they’ve shown that they deserve it.
Veitch hasn’t. If anything, he’s done exactly the opposite and proven that he doesn’t, yet, deserve our forgiveness.
Kylie Klein Nixon doesn’t pull any punches. The headline reads…
Then this!
For the RWNJ Veitch defenders, this is sarcasm. Lol.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/99119067/tony-veitch-announces-his-return-to-tv-after-bashing-his-girlfriend-got-him-fired
Brilliant!
I feel conflicted – I’m never going to watch the show because yuk but people who have made amends deserve a second chance. I have no idea if he has made amends or not. However, the “hard hitting” in his facebook post either means he’s totally tone death or a complete arse.
While he might have not thrown any women down the stairs since, his attitude to them is still loutish and controversial and he’s unapologetic about that.
The latter.
And he hasn’t made amends.
And he continues to minimise.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/79805441/kristen-dunnepowells-police-statement-detailed-a-number-of-violent-assaults-by-tony-veitch
Until Veitch shows true remorse, no sympathy.
Indeed he has portrayed himself as the victim.
https://thestandard.org.nz/tony-veitch-im-the-real-victim-here/
He only got his job back because he’s part of the old boys’ club.
From the article.
‘New Zealand’s choice of incredibly dodgy sports broadcasters is simply a reflection of our dearly held national belief that sports is, obviously, you know, way more important than any of that other stuff.
And as for the attention of more than 214,249 fans who follow good old Veitchy on Facebook, well, that’s just good honest Kiwis reflecting a good honest “harden up” attitude to victims of all genders. It’s not about sexism, silly.
Besides, the harder you are, the less being thrown down a flight of stairs hurts. Obviously. Ignoring past hurts actually helps you, you big babies.
At a time when the rest of the world is making a big fuss over clearing house and taking names, we’re showing our true colours, sticking to our guns, and moving a known offender who tried to hide his crime back into the penthouse where we clearly think he belongs.
Nice one, Kiwi. ‘
Didn’t take long, goneburger….
https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/99164450/sky-assessing-pilot-of-new-show-featuring-tony-veitch
More comment on China’s involvement in Zimbabwe affairs. This from former British foreign secretary, William Hague. He says…
Indeed, how can a country which has serious shortcomings in the promotion of transparency of governance and the fighting of corruption in governance, serious shortcomings in even the concept of democracy, and a very poor human rights record be expected to be concerned about those values when ‘investing’ in other country’s affairs?
Indeed, how is it possible to say China’s 40 year involvement in Zimbabwe affairs has been anything but a corrupt failure?
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/africa/99130973/zimbabwe-could-become-a-mini-china-after-the-slowmotion-collapse-of-robert-mugabe
The British critiquing China for failing in Zimbabwe.
Wednesday comedy gold.
You can laugh at Britain for the Rhodesian regime in Zimbabwe if you like, just as some others recently held up King Leopold’s Congo and the Kaiser’s Namibia as a defence of China’s foray into modern Africa, but pre-contemporary Europe’s behaviour there is of a brutal era consigned to history.
Why overlook lack of democracy and tolerance of corruption now because ‘Europe did it too’? That’s like saying no developing country should have to consider emissions reduction targets because Europe and American never had to when they were getting rich.
The effort is to make a fairer world not to slide back into opaque authoritarianism.
And hilarity ensues.
Robert Mugabe studied at University of London. He must have picked up more than a few ruling tips from the British, as well as the English sense of irony!
Yep the west grew fat and rich off fossil fuels, now it wants the rest of the world to not follow suit but stay on a tight diet instead.
What effort? Whose effort? Did you notice US, UK and NATO turn Libya, the wealthiest most secular nation in North Africa into a slave trading terror camp hell hole just a couple years ago?
China and Russia laugh at western posturing over democracy, freedom and transparency in Africa, they know you don’t mean it because your track record – recent and historical – shows that you don’t.
So you need that smart cuckoo clock for Christmas, do you?
George Monbiot
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/25/christmas-selling-things-nobody-wants
“This is not a formula for poverty relief. It is a formula for the destruction of everything and everyone.”
The link for this Monbiot article being (and it looks like a good one):
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/nov/22/black-friday-consumption-killing-planet-growth
Wasn’t that chap by the name EXF who got a 1 mth ban trying to explain this to everyone and was accursed of being a racist and Sino- phobic. By the Mods here when Mr Wei attack attack him as being a racist etc.
Now Adani in QLD are seeking Chinese funding for their coal mine and wouldn’t the Chinese try bring their own Labour over like they to do during the mining boom in Oz. Our are to piss weak to stop them if they tried it and we need to remember what happened with the reo- bar inquiry last yr from our piss weak pollies.
I’m starting to think EXF was on to something here and appeared to have bigger understanding than as smug Kiwis here in NZ with his knowledge of geo-political power of China’s soft power in the region. I was I gut the guts or balls to do what his done and stand to bullies like that male did in Wellington yesterday at the train station.
Kiwis need to stop being so naive over the shifting balance of power in the Pacific. we have to open our eyes and employ strategies which pursue our national interest and economic sovereignty.
The Chinese are hungry for resources, produce and farm land. They’ll give us all the keyboard produced electronic digits we want to get their hands on our real resources.
We’ve been lucky to have their capital, often deployed where locals wouldn’t invest, including integrated retail-and-dairy factories in Gore, Pokeno, South Canterbury and elsewhere, as well as Silver Fern Farms. I don’t like a lot of foreign capital, and would prefer locals to take their place, but this country is in many ways stronger for Chinese-originating investments.