The two faced hag collins just blamed Ardern for parliament sitting yesterday, reckoned its because Ardern didnt use her power to suspend parliament till level 3!!
Careful now, wags. Puckish Rogue gets let out of his cage next month and he'll want revenge on all those that have been sacrilegious to his chosen one.
Anker I agree with you. Collins seemed to display some underlying anger issues this morning. She is becoming disturbingly edgy. Despite the nonsensical, aggressive responses from Collins, Indira Stewart did a great job.
What an hilarious interview on TVNZ Breakfast (sorry don't know how to link) Indira wasn't taking any of Karen Collins's BS and the true angry, self serving and deranged Leader of the National Party came shining through. You just know each time she smiles another woodland animal dies.
Now if only Hedges could extricate himself from the 80's.
Empire is driven by one underlying consideration – the necessity to control sunshine and resources. The US was never short of these things, and it's military projection was much less about the control of territory, but the control of the political agenda during the Cold War. Well that purpose is long over and they never replaced it with anything. An insular and inward looking US public have elected one President after another who promised the least in terms of engagement with the wider world. Biden's precipitate and bungled exit from Afghanistan being merely the most recent nadir in this process.
Hedges article is of course deeply selective in his targets – he omits the immense expansion of trade and human welfare that is also the direct result of this same post-WW2 period US led period of relative security and stability. His inability to tear himself away from gloating over the costs that were paid for this has a direct parallel with those fools who would 'defund the police' because every now and then they shoot someone in egregious circumstances.
Just to be very clear on this – my argument has never been that the US were any good at being 'world policeman', but even their incompetent efforts at the task have on the whole delivered far more benefit than cost. On this basis my next proposition is – if the principle of global security is so beneficial even on such a flawed basis – what would it take to do the job properly?
You know that 'defunding the police' was about removing from them jobs for which they were demonstrably unsuited, eg mental healthcare by firearm, and paying better people to do those things?
Please, don’t accuse another Author and Moderator of this site of being a paid tool of anybody or anything. I’ve handed out long bans for this kind of shit and I don’t make exceptions. It doesn’t make for a strong debating point unless the identity of the commenter is publicallyknown and they are publicallyknown to be on a pay-list and even then it is almost always (!) just taking pot-shots at the person and not addressing the gist of their comment.
While it is possible to ban an author from commenting, it's rare and not over something like this. It also creates problems for them putting up posts and being able to comment on their own posts.
My view is that authors get to say what they like (within reason), but I agree that it would be good if KJT could dial back the ad hom stuff. Probably RL too (haven't been following closely, but there's obvious aggro between the two of them).
It sets a bad example that others who are not Authors are likely to follow, as does happen here and as such, it spoils the vibe and kills constructive debate.
It was a plea and a general warning to all, not a Moderation note. If necessary, we can take this to the back-end, yes? I might just get something off my chest there, anyway.
And very quickly poor communities at the pointy end of this demand to 'defund the police' realised that the very real reduction in security it entailed came at a cost to them.
By all means train and manage the police better to weed out those incapable of doing the job properly. and provide for far better mental health care. But it fairly quickly became obvious these good intentions were being used by radicals as a fig-leaf to dismantle policing altogether.
And while you and I can both imagine an ideal world of perfect people in which security is not required, absent that utopia ordinary people, usually the most vulnerable, are those who depend on the police most of all.
And by extension the same argument applies to nations.
Several unpleasant direct interactions with police in my youth in both NZ and AUS, gave me a very dim view of them to say the least. That doesn't change the fact that society needs and always will need them.
Calls for defunding are 'baby with the bathwater'. Select your police men/women better. Train and support them better. Hell, even pay them better.
IMHO – Defunding arguments are technically similar to those used by the right to justify the offloading of state assets. The argument went that these publicly owned companies were run badly (often true). This morphed into public ownership causes mismanagement (not true), therefore they must be sold.
Agree also with the nation level angle. A void will always be filled by one of the global swinging dicks.
Have you managed to miss the point AGAIN? There are jobs the police should not be doing, and no amount of 'weeding out' will change that. It's almost as if you counter an argument by pretending it's something else. I'm sure that's not the case though.
That's why it's so much easier for Hedges' to take yet another hit at the United States, rather than do hard work.
Compared to any other major power the United States has an exceedingly open society and a heavily analysed military making it comparatively easy to examine the United States forever … which they obviously do … while criminal states in much more controlled societies just keep expanding underneath much scrutiny.
Check out Al Jazeera's critical stories of itself or its neighbours. Not.
The World Press Freedom Index shows which states tolerate any public dissent at all let alone serious book-length scrutiny.
Of those who are least free, China, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Vietnam have massive militaries and will hunt any reporter down to death no problem.
Writing actual investigative journalism on nasty non-US states probably doesn't garner anywhere near as many lucrative clicks from convergence moonbats with a very blinkered worldview that just want the same old recycled polemic that strokes their confirmation bias.
A fair point for the selfish, but not much use for a rapidly darkening world in which the last proponents of an open society have zero supporters on either the left or the right.
@RedLogix "my argument has never been that the US were any good at being 'world policeman', but even their incompetent efforts at the task have on the whole delivered far more benefit than cost"…..
I wonder how many times throughout the last 250 years a line just like that has been used to justify all the abuses of power, misery, death and suffering imposed by the unbridled greed, corruption and ego in the name of white western imperialism?….
But then if history has taught us nothing else about man, it has taught us that powerful men and nations will find the most creative, often outrageous cover and along with their willing enablers, use them to justify any and all acts of hubris, atrocity, villainy conducted in the name of their project…..which is why the saying (and title of a classic Killdozer LP)…’Intellectuals Are the Shoeshine Boys of the Ruling Elite ‘is as much a fact today as it has been throughout history, as they have always been one of the powers greatest enablers.
You demand the world should be full of perfect people like noble rescuers such as yourself, act outraged when it isn't, and turn me into the evil persecutor. Thus setting up a distracting drama and totally failing to address the actual comment.
@RedLogix No, what is childish is your unwavering, dear I say it, fundementalist adherence to defending a pernicious regime that has inflicted pain and misery around the world to millions of humans…but because it isn’t in your backyard you tell us it is all but benign (the world's police force!)…a regime I will remind you, that has along with the UK been the primary reason why the gift of free energy has been completely thrown away, and they fucked the planet for future generations while they were at it, in 150 short years…don’t you get it Red Logix? The ideology you defend has blown it, completely and utterly….for all of us, and more importantly all our future generations ..so no, it is you who needs to grow up, grow some balls and take a look in the mirror.
Even just one of US Imperialism’s very long list of unwarranted, illegal and unwanted (apart from the applicable ruling classes and toadies) interventions in other nations, is enough reason to put them in the naughty corner forever.
Lets take Chile in 1973…the ‘Chicago Boys’ dream, and in retrospect a demo version of neo liberalism to the extreme. A CIA assisted violent overthrow of an elected social democratic Govt. Horrific. No excuse. All boats were not floated.
Pinochet divided the long narrow country into 15 “economic zones”, and tortured and murdered thousands of decent people. I worked with the NZ Chilean exile community in 70s and had first hand accounts.
Is Kissinger too old to be waterboarded? nah…such crims should be pursued till the end.
Why is it that it's only ever the 'crimes' of US that concern you?
In 1973 the Cold War was still in full swing. You can only be incredibly grateful it remained 'cold' and never escalated to a direct confrontation with the Soviets. Yet on the peripheries it was as intense and brutal as any war.
The main answer I can think of to my rhetorical question above is that closet marxists such as yourself still haven't gotten over the fact that the US won.
The USA has not “won” a war since 1945! And it was a justifiable anti fascist war–now neo fascists walk the streets of America and stormed the Capitol on January 6. How the mighty have fallen.
US Imperialism and the US arms industry get involved in asymmetrical contests and end up getting their arse kicked again and again.
Interesting you mention Grenada, I just looked it up yesterday for some reason and it all came back–New Jewel movement factions, Cuban construction workers fighting US marines on beaches–what a debacle.
Except that as we now see, the US hasn't "won" and as with the horrendous waste of time, effort, human life, environmental and social destruction in Afghanistan, all US interventions can now be truly seen as waste and a brake on human and environmental growth and potential. How can any sane person when confronted by the climate disaster that is now in front us talk up the type of US blindness of rape and pillage that produced this mess? Driven only by the profit on the bottom line or gdp? Well, now, if there is still time we may get a chance to see how much faster and equitably human potential can be delivered when the god given right to hoard multiple billions of capital for personal use is removed and returned to the productive base. This is the model that China offers. We can try it with NZ characteristics. The wonder is that their is still a world after being subjected to US imperial greed. Thankyou Joe Biden for admitting defeat and giving us some extra time to find a new direction.
I have noticed a significant effort among trumpetistas to lay blame for the Afghan fiasco on Biden – as if the fellow left to wind up a failed invasion can bear more responsibility than the clown who started a war with no exit strategy – W for worthless Bush. It was always going to end like this.
I guess they figure that, absent Biden, der schlumpenfurher is a shoe-in.
I don't know who the best candidate for US president might be, but Trump is almost certainly the worst one.
Thanks Ad.. you have to admire Hedges, immovable on his principles and fearless in his critiques of the powerful…which is why he is no longer New York Times Middle East Bureau Chief I guess.
I had always been under the impression one of the major reasons he was no longer Middle East Bureau chief for the Times was that he failed to apply the simplest journalistic skepticism and fact checking when he passed on the Iraq WMD lies from the likes of Chalabi. Thereby helping the Shrub administration manufacture consent for the 2003 Iraq war under false pretences.
"Collaborator" is your word, not mine, and it's probably a bit harsh.
But Hedges was one of the few people actually in a position to have made a difference, had he applied even a modicum of skepticism and critical thinking and fact-checking. But he didn't. Not even a smidgen of those basic journalistic skills.
You'd think in the interim he might have recognised his failings and made an effort to sharpen his independent and critical thinking skills. But nah, it seems he's found it much easier to grift a living by continually recycling the same slightly reworked tired rants at the same tired uncritical audience that craves familiar repetition above all.
"The overall conclusion reached is that the United States most likely has been responsible since WWII for the deaths of between 20 and 30 million people in wars and conflicts scattered over the world".
A pretty Good attempt at beating the Nazi’s record.
Before we even get into the current deaths due to US saunctions, blockades and bombings, happening right now,
You are so predictable. You keep repeating the same idiotically selective claims over and over.
The irrefutable data shows that in the period since the end of WW2 due to an immense expansion of trade – only made possible because the US created and paid for the security and commercial infrastructure that enabled it – human populations have increased, life expectancy has lengthened and the quality of life for billions has expanded dramatically. Before WW2 most of the human race lived in absolute poverty – now its around 15% or less. Erasing that benefit to literally billions of the poorest people in the world as "bullshit" betrays your professed claim to care for them as very hollow indeed.
If the US decides that it really doesn't care about the expansion of totalitarian regimes outside of the Western Hemisphere – and this is the direction it's heading in – then expect this experiment to get a run this decade.
Unlike the compilers of those lists, the US had more pragmatic choices to make. As I said above – the intent of the Cold War was to control the politics and contain the Soviets.
If they ever had a longer term goal it was the not unreasonable hope that by engagement they could hope to influence these nations away from totalitarianism and toward more open, liberal societies. Sometimes it worked, and sometimes it didn't. And even today of the 200 odd nations on earth, the number you'd actually want to live in if you had a choice barely exceeds 50 or so.
If they ever had a longer term goal it was the not unreasonable hope that by engagement they could hope to influence these nations away from totalitarianism and toward more open, liberal societies. Sometimes it worked, and sometimes it didn't
I'm not going to ask you if a 'pragmatic' 'engagement' like Albright made, one that caused the death of 500,000 children, was a price they had to pay to 'influence a nation away from totalitarianism and toward a more open, liberal society'. I think the answer might scare me. Be real. Everything the USA does, and has done is purely in the interest of money and power. To suggest the underlying reasons are out of the concern for the happiness of other humans beings, altruism … well, each to his own.
Lesley Stahl asking Madeleine Albright about the sanctions against Iraq in May 1996.
“We have heard that a half million children have died,” stated Stahl. “I mean, that’s more children than died in Hiroshima. And, you know, is the price worth it?”
“I think this is a very hard choice,” replied Albright, “but the price – we think the price is worth it.”
"hope that by engagement they (The USA) could hope to influence these nations away from totalitarianism and toward more open, liberal societies."
So even though no actual facts support in any way your white man triumphalist fantasy story, in-fact the actual facts tells us your story is the opposite, and is nothing but pure fantasy…(some would say propaganda, but for propaganda to work it has to have a element of truth in it, which is why everyone knows the notion of the USA spreading democracy is bullshit)…but yet here you are, back yet again, straight faced telling us yet again to believe up is down, black is white.
Unfortunately we seldom get to choose our overlords as they tend to impose themselves upon us. With the British Empire gone and the US hegemony fading one wonders who the next oppressor nation will be that steps into the vacuum ….
I suggest you listen to the old Tom Lehrer song about the rocket scientist Wernher von Braun.
In particular take note of the last line of the last verse.
"You too may be a big hero,
Once you've learned to count backwards to zero.
"In German oder English I know how to count down,
Und I'm learning Chinese!" says Wernher von Braun."
A multi polar world may be where we head to next , where there is no singular all powerful oppressor.Have we become so habituated to the neighbourhood bully we can no longer imagine a world without him?
Personally, I'm more worried by western oligarchs like Bezos, Branson, and Musk (Boggis ,Bunce and Bean) add Thiel,who with their immense wealth and power can drive, unchecked, technology and human aided evolution in ways that continue their power but are not in the best interests of humanity and the life humanity depends on
Must be the threads with significant input from a contributor who I'm not allowed to reply to for fear of doom. No point in reading such threads. If there happens to be any accurate medical information or insightful geopolitical commentary, I'll have to pick it up from elsewhere.
I'm interested in Judith's insistence on vaccination targets. She wants a specific number – yesterday (I think) she was saying to Corin Dann that 70-75% will "give us options". She didn't say what those options might be, nor did she have any targets for what those options might produce, e.g. less than x excess deaths and less than y excess hospitalisations annually. She was not pressed on where she got the 70-75% number from. Was it from the Doherty Institute, a faithful echo of Scomo's 'plan', or simply an imitation of what the UK has actually done? Or based on something else?
This insistence on a hard number, yet total vagueness on what it might lead to, looks methodologically inconsistent. So it seems that what she's really after is an arbitrary target (preferably one that's not very high) because it will provide a justification for doing what National have always wanted to do – open up.
The insistence on hard numbers is so further down the line she might have the possibility of being deep and meaningful in the House.
"To the Prime Minister: Why did she say on the 14th of June there would 3,128,716 people vaccinated by November 21st and yet there are only 3,128,402 vaccinated? Did she deliberately mislead the House?"
….throwing in the towel...might be more of a case of accepting the inevitable.
UK and Europe looking at only testing people with symptoms. The vaccines offer 50% efficacy for Delta, although they do seem to prevent 90% hospitalisations. Vaccinated people still carry similar viral load as unvaccinated. Vaccinated will be offered booster shots. Herd immunity and elimination no longer feasible. Calls for greater emphasis on immune support and therapeutics.
And vaccinating children?
Dr Ruchi Sinha, consultant paediatrician, Imperial College Choosing not to vaccinate children would be unlikely to cause problems in the health service What matters is the burden of patient hospitalisation and actually there hasn't been as much with this delta variant They tend to be the children who have got their comorbidities, obesity, or severe neurological problems and those children are already considered for vaccination. Covid on its own in paediatrics is not the problem
So children under 12 are expendable Rosemary? You have to be kidding.
I think NZ should aim to vaccinate 95% of the population including children. Then we might contemplate gradually opening borders with strict conditions.
Are you going to do the mahi or take the ban? You are not in Pre-Moderation because I have no time to monitor it, so please don’t do anything stupid – Incognito]
Bearded Git…"So children under 12 are expendable Rosemary? "
My response to that was, appropriately, "Who said "children under 12 are expendable"?
…and answering my own question… "Nowhere (in the article clip linked to)does anyone say that."
Perhaps Bearded Git could answer my question?
[In no way did this address your Moderation. You are now in Pre-Moderation, so that I can deal with all your problematic existing and future comments. You’re taking way too much Moderation time by ignoring Moderation notes and keep adding more to it – Incognito]
He can, but you need to respond to Incog's moderation in the other thread or you will be banned. It's not a hard one to sort out, I've commented in the other convo that I think it's a matter of semantics and nuance in language.
A young friend visited shortly before Lockdown, and horrified that I had obviously not attended to basic laptop housekeeping, "cleared my cookies". I am sure he did me a good turn, but one consequence of this "cookie clearing" is that I no longer see the "Replies" button to the right of the page. (There are other inconveniences, but they;re not pertinent here.)
Gone it is, and has resisted all attempts to restore it.
This means that I have no idea if someone has replied to a comment of mine or not…unless I actively go looking.
I did spot the Mod note yesterday in passing and thought I had explained myself…but clearly not. I really don't have the time or inclination to go back and have another go. I don't think anything I write now would make any difference.
I don't 'make shit up'. I don't spread 'misinformation'. I do obviously have a different way of looking at things from the norm…and I refuse to blindly accept without question all that either the government or mainstream media decide is the 'truth'. I read very widely from news sources from all over the world.
With regards to Covid …TS has become largely an echo chamber and Bearded Git's "'So children under 12 are are expendable Rosemary?" is typical of the sort of response I seem to elicit. Responses that are clearly unwarranted and simply wrong…but that largely go unchallenged. I have come to expect these kind of responses now, and see The Standard as being an almost hostile place for any type of discussion about the issue that has dominated the past eighteen months of all of our lives. I guess the 'keep to your bubble' message has been taken a little too far.
Thanks for letting me know about the Replies tab, that's pretty important.
I also don't believe you make shit up or spread misinformation and I disagree with Incognito's characterisation of your comments. I've had other stuff going on lately so haven't been following the debate on TS, but I understand what you are saying here. There's a lot of tension around the pandemic stuff because it's so close to home (as opposed say to arguing about the US election).
I"m tending to let comments slide except where they're going to cause immediate problems or tip over into flaming. I did say something to BG, but the comment wasn't bad enough to get out the bold pen. I can see how this is a problem when there's a lot of active moderation happening elsewhere. Not sure what can be done about that atm.
If you get a ban, I will look forward to seeing you back in due course, I think your presence here is good for the community and your comments are often thought provoking. Maybe consider writing a post for TS? That would change the echo chamber a bit. Not sure if you have been writing elsewhere lately?
(If you reply here but are banned I will see your reply in the back end)
I reckons it is of huge importance that you continue to encourage and facilitate 'robust discussion' on sex self ID and the misrepresentation of 'gender conversion therapy'. There's an awful lot of rabbit hole stuff going on at the moment that demands we all suspend fact and reality and pass around the teacups at the party. Left unchallenged the long term effects are going to be considerable. Let not future generations ask why the fuck we didn't speak up.
Please keep up this work. I'll be lurking and checking.
I have a proposal for you, Rosemary, and I sincerely hope you’ll take it.
You are a valued contributor on this site and I acknowledge and respect that.
I intend to ban you for a while for your series of comments on Covid vaccination and wasting Moderator time. I also intend to reply to at least some of them, for the record only, no further response from you is desirable. However, if you agree to stay off this topic of Covid vaccination, for two months, you are free to continue commenting here, as far as I am concerned. That will reset the current Moderation of your comments.
After clearing cookies, my experience has been that the Replies tab is automatically restored after the next time I make a comment. I guess logging in would have the same effect. @lprent can clarify.
Please stop your virtue signalling, playing the victim, and blaming others such as Bearded Git for your predicament, which is entirely of your own making. You are setting up a ‘nice’ drama triangle here [HT to RedLogix].
Discussion of Covid with you is an exercise in futility because of this and your strong negative bias.
If you really intend to not bother with the Moderation notes then I will go through your recent comments, for the record and clarification, and just ban you. It is up to you.
Claiming that "By definition it [the Pfizer vaccine] is not a vaccine." is clearly spreading misinformation. If the "Pfizer so-called vaccine" is "not a vaccine", then how to explain that "they do seem to prevent 90% hospitalisations" @7.1 [12:36 pm today] – that's some placebo effect!
If Rosemary genuinely believes the Pfizer vaccine is not a vaccine, then claiming such might not be disinformation, but it's certainly misinformation.
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, we are all desperate for information. Where did the virus come from? Is there a cure? How can we keep staying safe? Will life get back to normal?
In the case of COVID-19, information can be a literal life-saver—when it’s true. Wrong information doesn’t help anyone and can even make things worse. And like a virus, wrong information can spread, causing what’s been called an infodemic.
And now more than ever, we are seeing the spread of two forms of wrong information: misinformation and disinformation. These two words, so often used interchangeably, are merely one letter apart. But behind that one letter hides the critical distinction between these confusable words: intent.
I think Rosemary misinterpreted the comment by Bearded Git. She’s a master at twisting other people’s words to feed her own bias and narrative.
If they throw the towel in only vaccinated people will enjoy some level of protection against the worst effects of Covid-19, as it stands. The vaccine has been approved in NZ for people of 12+, which means that children under 12 would be more likely to catch the virus, as indeed seems to be happening overseas in relatively highly vaccinated populations.
Bearded Git also said that he thinks that “NZ should aim to vaccinate 95% of the population including children.” [my emphasis]
IMO, Rosemary got the wrong end of the stick again and was barking up the wrong tree again. In fact, she did bring up “vaccinating children” in this thread @ 7.1 and stated her position on this again.
I think Rosemary misinterpreted the comment by Bearded Git. She’s a master at twisting other people’s words to feed her own bias and narrative.
That doesn't explain anything though, other than your view.
Rosemary brought up the under 12 thing, didn't say much, dropped a quote and linked a video. I can't see how BG got from that that she thinks kids are expendable. Rosemary can't see it either. Where did she say or even imply that?
She's allowed to express a differing opinion, even if people don't like it. That's robust debate.
Covid-19 is not just a flu and there is still much we do not know about it and its future variants. We have six babies aged under one who have Covid-19 in Aotearoa-New Zealand. Maybe that focusses the mind?
Lastly,
She's allowed to express a differing opinion, even if people don't like it. That's robust debate.
Sure, she is, but she was under Moderation and simply ignored it, consistently. She’s trying to weasel her way out of it, IMO, and I’m not having a bar of it. Let’s see what she says next, shall we?
Children under 12 are not being vaccinated, so they go without the protection when we “throw in the towel”.
Rosemary seems to think this is fine. Bearded Git seems to think this is not fine and phrased this as “expendable”, like it or not.
Sometimes, incopnito, you slide from simple interference- running to outright fucking lying aggression.
Nowhere did I imply that kids under 12 years old were expendable.
I quoted a doctor. A paediatrician no less, and a consultant to the Imperial College. Who after looking at all the available information, and no doubt conferring with his peers arrived at the following…which I will provide again…because I try to be helpful like that.
Dr Ruchi Sinha, consultant paediatrician, Imperial College Choosing not to vaccinate children would be unlikely to cause problems in the health service What matters is the burden of patient hospitalisation and actually there hasn't been as much with this delta variant They tend to be the children who have got their comorbidities, obesity, or severe neurological problems and those children are already considered for vaccination. Covid on its own in paediatrics is not the problem.
I suggest you take it up with the doctor. After all…what would he know about it…the UK being so far behind NZ?
I get that moderating on a site like this has challenges, and I am also beginning to realise that these days it there is a very fine line between what weka calls 'robust debate' and what you and others here (and MSM and the government) call 'misinformation' or 'disinformation'. What was considered a valid opinion or even 'truth' two years ago can now find itself slapped with a label and a ban hammer.
Last year, when it was obvious that there was increasing control over what could and what could not be said about Covid…and I think perhaps it was about the hypothesis that Sars-CoV-2 was a product of a laboratory experiment…I remarked that free speech and the truth might be the most significant victims of this shit show in the long term. I fear I was right.
I'll bother you no more incognito. I'll enjoy casting an eye over TS from well outside the tent.
I clearly stated that Bearded Git used the word “expendable”, not you!?
There was no “fucking lying aggression” in that at all; it is all in your mind and all yours, as usual.
If you’re not fine with not vaccinating children under 12 then you have a really funny way of expressing that.
Don’t hide behind a doctor, and why would I have to take it up with the doctor, as they didn’t comment even here, but you did. Own your own words, say what you mean and mean what you say.
It is now clear that vitamin D has important roles in addition to its classic effects on calcium and bone homeostasis. As the vitamin D receptor is expressed on immune cells (B cells, T cells and antigen presenting cells) and these immunologic cells are all are capable of synthesizing the active vitamin D metabolite, vitamin D has the capability of acting in an autocrine manner in a local immunologic milieu. Vitamin D can modulate the innate and adaptive immune responses. Deficiency in vitamin D is associated with increased autoimmunity as well as an increased susceptibility to infection.
From what I can see..the Consensus Statement from the MOH page I linked to has failed to recognise the link between lower vitamin D levels and immune response. With specific reference to Maori and Pasifica peoples the Ministry's stance is/was that because the bone density in these populations is fine, and they are at no greater risk of fractures, then low Vitamin D or the ability to manufacture Vit D from sunlight (due to darker skin) is not an issue.
Perhaps its time to look at which populations in NZ are at most risk from Covid…and maybe offer them some extra support.
[You’re going around here accusing others of making up shit and not listening and reading and here you are spinning your own BS narrative again.
In the factcheck.org link, it didn’t say at all what you asserted it said. In fact, it was almost the exact opposite!!! WTF!!! SSDD!!!
It could be a genuine misinterpretation on your behalf, but your claim is not true. All this would be less of a problem if weren’t for your confirmation bias and the seriousness of the topic.
I’m growing really tired of battling your false misguided narratives on all things Covid-19 and it has to end, one way or another – Incognito]
I don't know enough to say it gives better immunity as such (beyond lowering malnourishment rates in general), but I'd be interested to see transmission rates in more crowded homes vs UMC 2 rooms (not just bedrooms) per person homes.
yeah, the crowded housing seems a no brainer given what we know about overcrowding and other diseases, and delta's spread in households.
Even for people that want to ignore the role of nutrition and poverty in infectious diseases, there's still the issue of poverty and food poverty in how one might do things like socially distance, afford masks, afford to take time off work, afford to go to a doctor, afford to drive rather than take public transport and so on.
I used that particular article to demonstrate how mainstream media has addressed the issue of Vitamin D in relation to Covid.
A clue to the slant is the author choosing to use the "crackpot" quote from Frieden, knowing damn well that most folks read little other than the header and the opening paragraph. The author is setting the tone. They are a "factchecker" when all is said and done.
Yes, the author refers to studies that suggest Vitamin D might have uses beyond bone health and acknowledges there Vitamin D supports the immune system and might… tamp down overactive immune responses by tilting those responses toward less inflammatory ones, including by reducing the production of certain pro-inflammatory cytokines, or signaling proteins. (which would be of use with Covid) …then proceeds to cast doubt on any claim that Vitamin D supplementation just might be of use.
Lack of Evidence for Vitamin D and COVID-19
Because the coronavirus is so new, little rigorous research has been done specifically on vitamin D and COVID-19.
Now why on earth did the "factchecking" author feel it necessary to make such a statement?
Coronaviruses are not new. Coronaviruses require a response from our immune systems and Vitamin D has been found to be immune supportive.
Especially in immune modulation. (Which the author has already told us) Which, with this particular coronavirus, could be of considerable help.
And returning to New Zealand and our vulnerable Maori and Pasifika populations (with regard to vitamin D levels)…readers may be interested in this…
"Burden of Disease Associated with low Vitamin D status in New Zealand"
Scragg, Grey, Stewart et al" which specifically references Pasifika peoples.
They say that the 'sun safe' policies should not necessarily apply to Pasifka peoples due to their low rates of skin cancer and low levels of Vitamin D and high disease burden that could be related in part to said low Vitamin D levels. There are graphs and projections and the usual, and they close with a recommendation for clinical trials and perhaps revising sun exposure advice, vitamin D supplementation or fortification of foods to assist with reduction of all cause mortality.
A pity that this paper was apparently ignored by our own Ministry of Health, who seem to still be fixated on Vitamin D's sole use in the human body being for bone health.
Me? I'd immediately advise and fund Vitamin D supplements for all at risk groups in NZ…or at least carry out widespread Vitamin D levels testing. Immediately.
Vaccinating Auckland first, which is where Pacifica are concentrated, covers all those bases. Thankfully the government agrees and is prioritising vaccine accordingly.
From Rosemary's 'debunked' as being "crackpot" link [8 June 2021]:
“There are many crackpot claims about miracle cures floating around,” he [Former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr Tom Frieden] wrote, “but the science supports the possibility – although not the proof – that Vitamin D may strengthen the immune system, particularly of people whose Vitamin D levels are low.”
… Thus, while it’s a good idea to get enough vitamin D — pandemic or not — it’s too early to say that a lack of vitamin D makes COVID-19 worse, or that supplementing with vitamin D provides any protection against the disease.
Covid-19: Here's why Jacinda Ardern's British critics are wrong[1 Sept] Once the population is fully vaccinated by late 2021, and we know more about the implications of various policy options, New Zealand will be well placed to make an informed choice about continuing with an elimination strategy or switching to a looser suppression approach if that appears optimal. Until then, we hope the country can continue to keep its options open.
To be clear, once some NZers turn their backs on the Covid-19 elimination strategy that has undoubtedly saved many Kiwi lives, there's no going back. Since ‘Freedum Day’ in the UK there have been thousands of Covid-19 deaths.
NZ will get around to "living with covid-19" (straight out of the Plan B playbook) eventually – still, no hurry eh. I hope our govt will wait at least until the tragic global Covid death toll on Worldometers exceeds NZ's population, which with any luck won't be until November.
As I said above Jimmy, they have caved in. This from today's SMH:
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says the state’s public health team changed its COVID-19 advice to the government in the past two days, making it clear “that we are not going to drive these numbers down, they are going to increase”.
“Now it’s up to us to make sure that they don’t increase too fast, and that they don’t increase too much relative to the number of people who are getting vaccinated every single day, every single week,” he said during Wednesday’s COVID-19 update.
Great cartoon. Judith Collins seemingly has a tantrum or tendency to bully whenever she is challenged, whether it be from her own caucus or Breakfast tv. Fair enough to put her case, but she should be able to handle questioning with more composure. Not a person to respect at all.
When you think how our PM has handled Hosking over the last few years when he has harangued her, what a difference. I never listen to him, but pick up comments from people, so am interested if he gives Collins an easy time in comparison when he interviews her.
When Jacinda got the hard questions from Hosking that she couldn't answer, she decided not to go on the show any more. I guess that is one way to handle it. At least Hipkins and Robertson still turn up although they do get a grilling.
He threw a hissy-fit nearly every time she came on his dog of a programme. Her composure, and her constant cheerfulness, obviously rattled him; he never had the wit or the knowledge to challenge her.
Even Paul Henry seemed gracious and adroit compared to Hosking.
Yes.. Remember earlier on when Hosking tried to tell Jacinda that our frontier controls needed more 'subtleties and nuances' like the Australian controls? As I remember, she smiled and replied, "Mike, if you have become a person of subtleties and nuances – Bless!" Hilarious.
And I have yet to hear Hoskings defend his argument, given what has since transpired in NSW and Victoria. If we do beat Delta Covid in this round, surely Hosking has to offer an apology? (But does he have a memory capable of recording anything unfavourable to his current obsession? No evidence of that to date.)
"Berejiklian is Australia's most successful premier. Her state is the best economic performer, she is popular, and she has led far and away Australia's most successful COVID response."
With Algeria finally running out of the last of its supplies, the scourge of leaded petrol for road transport has finally been eliminated from the world, in a significant victory for public health.
But this barbaric substance is still widely and legally used in New Zealand, as far as I can tell. In piston engine airplanes. It doesn't need to be, lead-free avgas is completely technically feasible.
Does anyone else have concerns about the person inside the Ministry of Health, who is leaking daily case numbers to the NZ Herald? Is it just a National party supporter or is it corruption? Is the NZ Herald paying an insider for information? The right wing influence of Australian owned news media can be seen around the world. Anybody?
Since the State Sector Act and Reserve Bank Act etc. the public service top echelon seems loaded to the gunwales with fifth columnists by design–well paid neo libs happy to receive bloated salaries courtesy of the tax payer–while frustrating any minuscule move away from monetarist managerialism.
No? Well even the Deputy Prime Minister is frustrated enough to have set up an Implementation Unit. The informants seem all over Govt. Depts, Immigration being a classic leak source among many others.
Is it actually a "leak", or simple liaison with the ministry?
Yes Minister used the line that "leaking" was an irregular verb: "I give confidential press briefings, you leak, they have been charged under S2A of the Official Secrets Act", but it's public information that isn't necessarily embargoed until a formal relase time.
Anyone here following the Canadian election? Trudeau who had a minority govt but could pass any legislation he wanted with help of labours sister party the NDP , the center left BQ or on rare occasions the Canadian conservative party. No party wanted to go to election and all parties especially the NDP had bent over backwards to pass legislation (and made some huge left wing amendments to liberal legislation) Trudeau who came second in the popular vote in the 2019 election but had a plurality of seats was polling well but only about 5% higher than the tory's called a snap election noone wanted in the middle of the fourth wave of a pandemic and with no platform other than attacking the other parties as boogie men is now consistent 2-6 % behind in the polls and it his party may not even be able to form a minority govt now.
The public are quite furious that he forced an election. His opponents all released platforms he hasn't, and the tory's have interesting policies like putting workers on the boards of companies and banning companies that receive govt money from laying off staff or giving executives bonuses. Trudeau is trying to make this pro choice moderate out to be a knuckle dragging fascist and it's not working, the guy doesn't seem to have a mean bone in his body
The NDP labours sister party are the most liked and trusted. Their green party is in a state if shambles that makes national look functional.
What's most interesting is they are all seriously debating and coming up with housing policies that make nz parties look like right wing free market zealots in comparison. Though interestingly they all seem to be wanting to ban foreign ownership which is fascinating because nzlp got hell for wanting to do that…
This election is keeping me occupied 🤣 I find it fascinating how often nz politics mirrors nz politics for the last two decades of they elect a Tory we elect a Tory in our next election 2006 can 2008 nz) if they elect a young progressive we elect a young progressive in our next election 2015, 2017)
The interesting thing is regardless of whether Trudeau wins a minority, majority or loses this seems to be his last election campaign he's distrusted by the left the right and the center , he's less popular than his party which he brought from the dead and they won't want him to run again if he wins a majority, if he wins a minority he'll have put the covid outbreak at risk and wasted billions on an election noone wanted for nothing and will likely be rolled and if the conservatives win well he'll be gone.
He may go down as the Theresa May of Canadian politics all because of his cynical arrogance to throw an election two years earlier, funnily enough I and many others thought he was once the template all center left leaders should run on but his charisma hasn't led to policy reforms or the transformation people wanted and expected and hoped for…
And while much has been made about the similarities between Ardern and Trudeau (and we borrowed quite a bit of their ideas especially messaging and social media for 2017) I believe apart from being young excellent media managers that's about where it ends. Trudeau is a trust fund baby who lacks substance and is a cringe machine with comments like "people-kind" "she-lection" "she-cession" who bombards the public with so social virtues he doesn't believe in and while his organization has run a good covid response his governing has been marred in quite serious corruption allegations and he isn't let's say a brain box the way his father or Ardern are he recently said "I don't think about monetary policy" , imagine the hell an nz candidate would get for that, Ardern is an afept administrator and while I have issues with policies and the pace of transformation she is not style over substance, she has both , Trudeau junior is all style and no substance.
He did however save his party's fortunes when it looked like the NDP had finally replaced the liberals as the main party of the opposition he was able to increase his party's seats from 34 to 184 in two years but governing is a hard job. He also has broken a million promises , he promised 2015 would be the last campaign under first passed the post and then won a landslide, ironically much like the UK if they had proportion the center left would always be in power.
Here's hoping for an NDP win or at the very least a strong NDP that can bargain or gain concessions from the liberals I hope proportional rep is one of them.
There's no point looking for anything redemptive for the left in the Canadian election.
The Conservatives will get the greatest share, the centre left will decline, and the wee minorities like the Greens will continue to consign themselves to the 1-2% dustbin of history.
The Liberals would need to team up with the New Democratic Party to have a shot at power. Not likely so far.
This fool needs to be thrown out of the Party, schnell.
It hardly matters, now that the Labour Party has been burned to the ground by its Blairite rump, but surely this fellow should be automatically excluded for being stupid enough to speak up for untermenschen six years ago. It's verboten for any British Labour Party member to speak up for them now…
Uk labour is dead in the water unless it can form some kind of progressive electorate seat alliance with the lib Dems and greens to not split the center to center left vote.
The agreement could be any labour govt institutes proportional rep but weirdly the labour party who would have governed in every election since the 70s with PR is dead against it they'd rather be a large opposition than a coalition govt.
Also the party that most wants PR the liberals are dead set against deals, coalitions and negations so I don't understand what they think they'll do in a PR system if they don't like compromise or coalitions or working with other parties
After 2 massive electoral losses, Keir Starmer can figure out what his predecessors didn't.
More foolish Middle Eastern donkeys like George Galloway will continue to seek to split the vote and turn Labour to rubble. Galloway came very close to killing Labour off in the Batley and Spen by-election just a month ago. Corbyn just made it worse in 2019 and worse until he let Boris Johnson in, such was his ineptitude.
Corbyn and Galloway have just ruined much of Labour's traditional vote in the north. Corbyn should just retire. Galloway is just a perpetual loser.
Personally i find much to admire about Corbyn AND Galloway .I enjoy Corbyns quiet dogged pursuit of his principles and Galloways steely resolve to right wrongs and injustices .To tell the truth im in the habit of going to bed and watching MOATS but i seldom last the whole three hours !
Evn Tony MOATS is the mother of all talk shows avail apparently on multiple platforms i watch it on you tube.Its up to episode 115 i think atm is broadcast every sun night from london so we get it the following day
One of the most important things Corbyn did while leader of the UK Labour, was to unwittingly expose without question which individuals and institutions who were/are actually Left Progressives and those who are (left leaning?) Liberal Centrists…two quite different things…I find the results of that unveiling very helpful indeed.
And btw, who is another last high profile politician you can name who has been regularly on the front line in food banks, marching in solidarity for Palestinian Human rights raise his voice over the treatment of Julian Assange?
What Corbyn exposed was simply nothing more than himself. You either show you have the capacity to achieve and hold power, or you just don't. Hell even Milliband got closer to power than Corbyn.
Considering the forces of power amassed against him making damn sure he didnt come to power how could corbyn have brought about a different outcome ?Round the clock media attacks were only a part of the strategy .He was deliberately brought down imo by concerted effort on many fronts .Perhaps some of us can remember the antics of a certain pr company called Cosby and Texter and what they managed to achieve both in nz and aus fairly recently ?Add in an intelligence service or two maybe and his chances became slim indeed .
" Hell even Milliband got closer to power than Corbyn."…no he didn't, and he only got as far as he did because he was no threat to the status quo and power..
Critics must accept Jeremy Corbyn has created largest political party in Europe – and work with him
Corbyn is an unfortunate historical blip of – as you point out – incoherent ideological noise – and has bequeathed to Keir Starmer a party in pretty average shape. They are still in the polls about where they were when Corbyn finished the election.
Jeremy Corbyn rattled the ruling class cage–no mistake there. Senior British Military figures openly threatened a coup if he was ever installed in 10 Downing St! His social democratic model and international solidarity outlook was way too much for the generals and British capital and finance capital.
Jeremy’s two key mistakes imo were…
1. not playing hardball with the underminers–he should have vigorously deselected right wing candidates, and made most of head office reapply for their jobs.
2. waffling on Brexit–all that was needed was to say…we will respect the vote of the people whichever way it goes AND implement “For the many not the few” policy of re-nationalisations etc.
What Corbyn exposed quite clearly in the UK (and to some extent, here) is that half the people we hear who identify as 'Left' of 'Progressive' etc, shit their pants when a actual live Left wing politician comes along and looks like they might actually get into a position to make the radical changes they thought they believed in…turns out most of them are not now and never will be on the side of radical progressive change, and when push comes to shove will actively work against it, as we have seen…Lenin got that one right!
A career portfolio manager's climate change predictions.
“Climate change is the next major mega-trend, and we believe it represents the biggest investment opportunity since the internet,” says portfolio manager at Munro Partners James Tsinidis.
“We’re just at the beginning of the next big S-curve, a massive and sustainable decades-long growth trend.”
Corbyns quiet dogged pursuit of his principles and Galloways steely resolve to right wrongs and injustices
Agreed. Principled individuals in politics are rare. Craig Murray is another person whose current predicament hasn't caught the attention of many here.
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 27 were:1. The Minister for Ford Rangers strikes againTransport Minister Simeon Brown was again the busiest of the Cabinet ministers this week, announcing an ...
You got a fast carAnd I want a ticket to anywhereMaybe we make a dealMaybe together we can get somewhereAny place is betterYesterday’s newsletter, Trust In Me, on the report of abuse in state care, and by religious organisations, between 1950 and 2019, coupled with the hypocrisy of Christopher Luxon ...
New Zealand is again having to reconcile conflicting pressures from its military and its trade interests. Should we join Pillar Two of AUKUS and risk compromising our markets in China? For a century after New Zealand was founded in 1840, its external security arrangements and external economics arrangements were aligned. ...
The ‘50 Shades of Green’ farmers’ protest in 2019 was heavy on climate change denial, but five years on, scepticism and criticism about the idea that pine forests can save us is growing across the board. File photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate ...
This morning the sky was bright.The birds, in their usual joyous bliss. Nature doesn’t seem to feel the heat of what might angst humans.Their calls are clear and beautiful.Just some random thoughts:MāoriPaul Goldsmith has announced his government will roll back the judiciary’s rulings on Māori Customary Marine Title, which recognises ...
In 2003, the Court of Appeal delivered its decision in Ngati Apa v Attorney-General, ruling that Māori customary title over the foreshore and seabed had not been universally extinguished, and that the Māori Land Court could determine claims and confirm title if the facts supported it. This kicked off the ...
Earlier this week at Parliament, Labour leader Chris Hipkins was applauded for saying that the response to the final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care had to be “bigger than politics.” True, but the fine words, apologies and “we hear you” messages will soon ring ...
TL;DR: In news breaking this morning:The Ministry of Education is cutting $2 billion from its school building programme so the National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government has enough money to deliver tax cuts; The Government has quietly lowered its child poverty reduction targets to make them easier to achieve;Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ’s ...
Kia ora. These are some stories that caught our eye this week – as always, feel free to share yours in the comments. Our header image this week (via Eke Panuku) shows the planned upgrade for the Karanga Plaza Tidal Swimming Steps. The week in Greater Auckland On ...
1. What's not to love about the way the Harris campaign is turning things around?a. Nothingb. Love all of itc. God what a reliefd. Not that it will be by any means easye. All of the above 2. Documents released by the Ministry of Health show Associate Health Minister Casey ...
Trust in me in all you doHave the faith I have in youLove will see us through, if only you trust in meWhy don't you, you trust me?In a week that saw the release of the 3,000 page Abuse in Care report Christopher Luxon was being asked about Boot Camps. ...
TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking about the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Carereport released this week, and with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on a UN push to not recognise carbon offset markets and ...
TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 26, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Transport: Simeon Brown announced$802.9 million in funding for 18 new trains on the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines, which ...
The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Carereport in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquirypublished its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone iconon the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive:Transport Minister Simeon Brownannounced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloittereport for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’sOliver LewisScoop:Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announcedthe Board of Te Whatu Ora-Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Orderimage, ...
Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
Waiting In The Wings:For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSAannounced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
Te Rangi e tu nei (The sky above us) Te Papa e takoto nei (The land beneath us) Tatou katoa te hunga ora (To us all the living) Tena koutou katoa (Greetings) ...
A late change to charter school legislation will cheat educators out of fair pay and negotiating power proving charter schools are just a vehicle to make profit out of our education system. ...
In 2004 te iwi Māori rallied against the Crown’s attempt to confiscate our coastlines and moana with the Foreshore and Seabed Act. This led to the largest hīkoi of a generation and the birth of Te Pāti Māori. 20 years later, history is repeating itself. Today the government has announced ...
It has been five and a half years since the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care was established to investigate the abuse of children, young people, and vulnerable adults within state and faith-based institutions. Yesterday, the final report - Whanaketia through pain and trauma, from darkness to light ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to take action off the back of the International Court of Justice ruling on Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine. ...
On Friday the International Court of Justice reaffirmed what Palestinian’s have been telling us for decades: that the occupation and colonisation of Palestinian lands by Israel is illegal and must end immediately. They also called for reparations for Palestinian’s who have lived under Israeli occupation since it began in 1967. ...
Labour calls on the Government to act after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian Territories is illegal. ...
The 53.7 percent rise in benefit sanctions over the last year is more proof of this Government’s disdain for our communities most in need of support. ...
Aotearoa could be a country where every child grows up feeling safe, loved and with a sense of belonging in their whānau and community. But for some of our children, this is far from reality. Instead, they are trapped in a maze of intergenerational harm that they can’t escape on ...
Te Pāti Māori are calling for David Seymour to resign as Associate Health Minister in response to his call for Pharmac to ignore the Treaty of Waitangi. “This announcement is just another example of the government’s anti-Tiriti, anti-Māori agenda.” Said Co-leader and spokesperson for health, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. “Seymour thinks it ...
The soaring price of renting is driving the rise of inflation in this country - with latest figures from Stats NZ showing rents are up 4.8 per cent on average while annual inflation is at 3.3 per cent. ...
National’s Emissions Reduction Plan will take New Zealand further from the economy we need to ensure the next generation has a stable climate and secure livelihoods. ...
Following consultation with named parties and thorough consideration of privacy interests, the Green Party is in a position to release the Executive Summary of the final report from the independent investigation into Darleen Tana. ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon should be asking serious questions of his Minister for Resources Shane Jones now it’s been revealed he misled the public about a dinner with mining companies that he didn’t declare and said wasn’t pre-arranged. ...
Te Pāti Māori have submitted to the Justice Select Committee against the Sentencing (Reinstating Three Strikes) Amendment Bill. The bill will further entrench racism in our justice system and fails to focus on rehabilitation. “Reinstating Three Strikes will empower a systematically racist system and exacerbate the overrepresentation of Māori in ...
The Transport and Infrastructure Committee is set to make a determination on the Residential Tenancies Amendment (RTA) Bill in the coming weeks. “This legislation will give landlords the power to kick our whānau out onto the street for no reason” said Housing spokesperson, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “Their solution to the housing ...
“National’s campaign was about tackling crime and the best they can do is a two-year long Ministerial Advisory Group,” Labour justice spokesperson Duncan Webb said. ...
“There are more examples of charter schools failing their students than there are success stories. The coalition Government is driving to dismantle our public school system and instead promote a privatised, competitive structure that puts profits before kids,” Jan Tinetti said. ...
“This government is choosing to deliberately mislead and withhold information, keeping our people in the dark about this government’s agenda and the future of our mokopuna,” said co-leader and spokesperson for Health, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. The call comes after the demand from the Chief Ombudsman that Associate Minister of Health, Casey ...
“Today’s climate announcement by Simon Watts makes clear the National Government is simply paying lip service to meeting its climate change targets,” Megan Woods said. ...
National is choosing to make life harder for workers by taking away the rights our communities have fought hard for. Here's how they’re taking workers backwards. ...
Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue. We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views. “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
Tēnā tātou katoa, Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts. “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced. “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet. “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks. “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care. At the heart of this report are the ...
For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis. “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced. “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024. “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane. “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says. “This will be our third visit to ...
Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today. “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum. While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation. “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan. “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
The Government today launched the Military Style Academy Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North, an important part of the Government’s plan to crackdown on youth crime and getting youth offenders back on track, Minister for Children, Karen Chhour said today. “On the ...
The Government has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has begun work to replace nine priority bridges across the country to ensure our state highway network remains resilient, reliable, and efficient for road users, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Increasing productivity and economic growth is a key priority for the ...
Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has been in contact throughout the evening with senior officials who have coordinated a whole of government response to the global IT outage and can provide an update. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has designated the National Emergency Management Agency as the ...
New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says. “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests. Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone. Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
Last summer when Matairangi burned, Ginny and Tom stood at the window of their lounge, watching kākā shoot skyward from the burning trees. From the distance, they looked to Ginny like pages torn from books and thrown into a bonfire. It was Tom, voice tight, who told her it was ...
Opinion: The Canadian short story writer Alice Munro – winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2013 – died in May at the age of 92. Her work was about “the damage people inflict on one another in the name of love”, Deborah Treisman wrote in the New Yorker. ...
This month marks two years since the most powerful telescope ever built sent its first pictures back to earth. From its lofty vantage point, beyond the moon in orbit around the sun, the James Webb Space Telescope was tuned to observe the first stars and galaxies being born soon after ...
Comment: After Climate Change Minister Simon Watts’ preview several weeks ago, I had some optimism about the Government’s emissions reduction plan. Now I’ve read the discussion document, that hope has been dashed. How can the Government propose a plan that wants to take New Zealand taxpayers’ hard-earned money, and spend ...
Christopher Luxon: hurdles The little man from National jumps hurdles in his sleep. He’s quite good at it in his dreams and even though the reality doesn’t quite match up you have to give him credit for getting up every morning and crashing into the very first hurdle of the ...
Comment: It was a good two hours into the conversation when Tyrone Marks raised the most basic of questions when I first spoke to him in 2017. “They didn’t explain the things they did to me. They never told me why. And they still haven’t. There’s no explanation for it. ...
Madeleine Chapman rounds out Death Week on The Spinoff with a final recommendation. You can read all of our Death Week coverage here. Nothing forces you to reflect on your life and relationships quite like proximity to death. For those whose nearest and dearest have died, there are reasonably obvious ...
Whitney Greene takes us through her life in television, including the TV character she’d like to plan a funeral for and her cow lung catastrophe on The Traitors NZ. “If the phone rings, I have to answer it,” Whitney Greene from The Traitors NZ warns as we begin our My ...
Maddie Ballard reviews the debut essay collection of Pōneke writer Flora Feltham.In ‘The Raw Material’, the longest essay in Flora Feltham’s dazzling debut collection, the author heads out for a run after hours of weaving and sees the world turn to textile. “Pounding along the Parade, I saw the ...
Andy Christiansen, one half of the experimental rock-pop duo TRiPS, shares the tunes inspiring the band’s perfect weekend and new release. “Good speakers, good food, good music, no distractions”: that’s all you need to enjoy the psychedelic stylings of TRiPS, a new band formed by Fly My Pretties’ Barnaby Weir ...
Celebrating our quadrennial opportunity to become experts in a bunch of sports we never normally watch.The games of the XXXIII Olympiad are upon us. Paris will host this year’s showcase of sporting and athletic prowess, which means some late-night and early-morning viewing for us in Aotearoa.But what sports ...
The photograph is striking and beautiful, but also disturbing – a reminder that my love for John was often entangled in shame.The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.In the spring of 1980, in Dunedin, shortly before his death, someone took a photograph ...
Get to know Babushka, our latest Dog of the Month. This feature was offered as a reward during our What’s Eating Aotearoa PledgeMe campaign. Thank you to Babu’s humans, Jo and Isabel, for their support. Dog name: Babushka (Babu for short) Age: 2Breed: Border Collie X poodleIf rescued, ...
Pacific Media Watch A Lebanese photojournalist who was severely wounded during an Israeli air strike in south Lebanon carried the Olympic torch in Paris this week in honour of her peers who have been wounded and killed in the field — especially in Gaza and Lebanon. Christina Assi of Agence ...
The first report in a five-part web series focused on the 15th Triennial Conference of Pacific Women taking place in the Marshall Islands this week.SPECIAL REPORT:By Netani Rika in Majuro Women continue to fight for justice 70 years after the first nuclear tests by the United States caused ...
Christopher Luxon has joined with Australia and Canada's leaders in voicing support for US President Joe Biden's ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The 2022 election brought the “teal wave” into parliament. The next election will test whether teals, who occupy what were Liberal seats, and other independents can maintain their momentum. Joining us on the Podcast ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Musgrave, Senior lecturer in Pharmacology, University of Adelaide Pixavri/Shutterstock A major Federal Court class action has been dismissed this week after Justice Michael Lee ruled there was not enough evidence to prove the weedkiller Roundup causes cancer. Plaintiff Kelvin ...
In The Week in Politics: politicians have to decide what to do about child abuse, Health NZ is booked in for major surgery and Darleen Tana returns. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Corbould, Associate Professor, Contemporary Histories Research Group, Deakin University Mainstream media are surprisingly muted at the prospect of the world’s most powerful nation being led for the first time by a woman – specifically a woman of colour, Vice President Kamala ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rebecca Bennett, PhD Student, Associate Research Fellow, Deakin University Last week, a drone delivery company called Wing (owned by Google’s parent company, Alphabet) started operating in Melbourne. Some 250,000 residents in parts of the city’s eastern suburbs can now order food from ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonathan Foo, Lecturer, Physiotherapy, Monash University pikselstock/Shutterstock In the next 40 years in Australia, it’s predicted the number of Australians aged 65 and over will more than double, while the number of people aged 85 and over will more than triple. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katrina Grant, Research Associate, Power Institute for Arts and Visual Culture, University of Sydney Jonas Åkerström’s 1790 work, Session of the Accademia dell’Arcadia on August 17 1788.Nationalmuseum/Cecilia Heisser Ever wondered whether you’d have a better chance at winning an Olympic gold ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexandra Jones, Program Lead, Food Governance, George Institute for Global Health wavebreakmedia/Shutterstock On Thursday, Australian and New Zealand food ministers at state, federal and national levels met to thrash out what’s next for health star ratings on packaged foods. Now, after ...
The Abuse in Care report found many Pacific survivors lost their connections to their culture and language, resulting in trauma that has been carried from generation to generation. ...
In the regulatory review, ECC intends to suggest that ERO focus on curriculum delivery reviews rather than the Ministry, because it’s not efficient or effective to have two agencies with radically different approaches climbing over each other. ...
Te Rūnanga Nui o Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori invites the current government to work in partnership with them to develop a pathway forward, including the development of a parallel pathway and meaningful policy and strategy for Kura Kaupapa Māori ...
If you haven’t started watching yet, Tara Ward begs you to reconsider. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. In the world of New Zealand reality television, we have many gems in our crown. There’s the delicious second season of the Celebrity Treasure ...
A new poem by Fiona Kidman. The clothes of the dead I did not keep my mother’s furry red beret for long nor the stringy scarves that adorned the necks of my aunts, although I have kept tag ends of gold, the rings and trinkets they wore, the brooches no ...
The government’s announcement that it will re-open the foreshore and seabed controversy by changing the rules on recognising centuries-old Māori customary title for a third time goes against the rule of law and New Zealand values,” Mr Tipa says. ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Lioness by Emily Perkins (Bloomsbury, $25) Roarrrr! Perkins’ brilliant, award-winning, Marian-Keyes anointed, darkly funny, long ...
The 2004 Act vested ownership of the foreshore and seabed in the Crown, extinguishing any Māori claims to ownership and causing widespread outrage and protests among Māori communities. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Antje Deckert, Associate Professor (Criminology), Auckland University of Technology Getty Images Despite the connection between institutional harm and gang membership made clear in this week’s mammoth royal commission abuse-in care report, the government seems unlikely to soften its “get tough on ...
From Lewis Clareburt in the swimming to the start of the rowing – the first seven days of Paris 2024 promise to be big for New Zealand. There are few events that bring the country together quite like an Olympic Games. Nothing quite matches the excitement of getting up in ...
Groundbreaking local science just showed up in the most surprising of places: the season finale of The Kardashians. In the season five finale of The Kardashians last night, several members of the family gathered together in one of their signature empty, cream-coloured rooms to hear test results that had been ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Saikal, Emeritus professor of Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies, Australian National University The Middle East is on the brink of a possibly devastating regional war, with hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah reaching an extremely dangerous level. Washington has engaged in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laura Elizabeth Eades, Rheumatologist, Monash University Lupus is an inflammatory autoimmune illness, where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks itself. Lupus can affect virtually any part of the body, although it most commonly affects the skin, joints and kidneys. The symptoms ...
A law firm that specialises in working with survivors of abuse in State care is disappointed that the Government fails to recognise that its boot camps can be directly compared to previous boot camps from the 1990s and 2000s. ...
Dying is a natural part of life, like updating your Wof or seeing your hairdresser, but without the word-of-mouth recs that help guarantee a good service. What if we changed that? Dying Reviews received by The Spinoff have had the names of organisations redacted while Hospice NZ collects further data. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonti Horner, Professor (Astrophysics), University of Southern Queensland Mike Lewinski/Flickr, CC BY On any clear night, if you gaze skywards long enough, chances are you’ll see a meteor streaking through the sky. Some nights, however, are better than others. At ...
Despite having no bars or other designated spaces for lesbians, Auckland boasts a small but mighty lesbian museum. So how did it get here? The past 18 months has brought increasing hostility towards the queer community across Aotearoa. Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull’s anti-trans rally in Tamaki Makaurau last March led to a ...
Poneke Antifascist Coalition has invited Wellingtonians to stand in solidarity with the Kanak people at 12pm today outside the French Embassy in Wellington. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Layton, Visiting Fellow, Strategic Studies, Griffith University Drones are the signature technology of the Ukraine war. A few miniature aircraft designs were used in the war’s early days, but an incredible array of drones have now evolved. There are different types, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Slee, Associate Professor, Clinical Academic Neurologist, Flinders University Francisco Gonzelez/Unsplash Migraine is many things, but one thing it’s not is “just a headache”. “Migraine” comes from the Greek word “hemicrania”, referring to the common experience of migraine being predominantly ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lee White, Senior Lecturer and Horizon Fellow, School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Sydney Australia was slow to introduce minimum building standards for energy efficiency. The Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) only came into force in 2003. Older homes ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Steven Sherwood, Professor of Atmospheric Sciences, Climate Change Research Centre, UNSW Sydney The past century of human-induced warming has increased rainfall variability over 75% of the Earth’s land area – particularly over Australia, Europe and eastern North America, new research shows. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tony Heynen, Program Coordinator, Sustainable Energy, The University of Queensland A temporary stadium in the Champ-de-Mars, ParisEkaterina Pokrovsky/Shutterstock As Paris prepares to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the sustainability of the event is coming under scrutiny. The organisers have promoted ...
A night of karaoke and community in a pub that feels like a memory. You’d barely even notice it, unless you knew to look. Tucked away behind a liquor store on busy Constable Street is the capital’s last great pub. Newtown Sports Bar is an emblem of the pub culture ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Wright, Professor in Marine Geology, University of Canterbury Louise Corcoran/Getty Images The decline in the number of doctoral candidates at New Zealand universities is a worrying sign for the country’s effort to build a knowledge-based economy. Aotearoa New Zealand’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laurie Berg, Associate Professor, University of Technology Sydney defotoberg/Shutterstock Migrant worker exploitation is entrenched in workplaces across Australia. Tragically, a deep fear of immigration consequences means most unlawful employer conduct goes unreported. On Wednesday, however, the government officially launched a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vaughan Cruickshank, Senior Lecturer in Health and Physical Education, University of Tasmania Paris is about to host its third summer Olympics. While we don’t yet know what the legacy of this year’s games will be, let’s take the opportunity to reflect on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hugh Breakey, Deputy Director, Institute for Ethics, Governance & Law, Griffith University In the wake of the assassination attempt on former US President Donald Trump, there were calls from bothsides of US politics, as well as internationally, to reduce the brutal, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Keith Rathbone, Senior Lecturer, Modern European History and Sports History, Macquarie University Two high-profile assaults on Australians in Paris have raised concerns about security ahead of the Olympic Games. On Saturday evening, a young woman was allegedly sexually assaulted by a ...
Dying is inevitable and, so it seems, is it costing a lot, writes Stewart Sowman-Lund in today’s extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here.The cost of dying ...
The government took Joyce Harris's first baby and sent her off to a girls' home. Half a century on - and out of oceans of hurt - it asked her to be a mother figure. ...
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The two faced hag collins just blamed Ardern for parliament sitting yesterday, reckoned its because Ardern didnt use her power to suspend parliament till level 3!!
Unfuckingbelievable,
On the am show.
Collins is doing just fine for the Labour/Greens/MP. With her still there the next election will be a doddle.
… two faced hag …
Careful now, wags. Puckish Rogue gets let out of his cage next month and he'll want revenge on all those that have been sacrilegious to his chosen one.
Poor PR. Things have changed so much since he was cast out. He must be feeling so let down by JC.
Missed PR.
not too long now.
I miss P R too!
I am absolutley no fan of Judith C, but I watched a tiny bit of the interview and I seriously wonder if she might need some help…….I geniunely do.
Anker I agree with you. Collins seemed to display some underlying anger issues this morning. She is becoming disturbingly edgy. Despite the nonsensical, aggressive responses from Collins, Indira Stewart did a great job.
Need help??
collins is happy being a nasty piece of work, never forget dirty politics, and paying back double.
And what did Ryan Bridge have to say about that?
Still on the fence about Bridge, he called out richardson for being angry winger ho has it made the other day .
I'm going to be generous and say hes giving collins enough rope.
And in Wellington today it is level 3. What a difference a day makes. I will tune in again today to question time in parliament.
What an hilarious interview on TVNZ Breakfast (sorry don't know how to link) Indira wasn't taking any of Karen Collins's BS and the true angry, self serving and deranged Leader of the National Party came shining through. You just know each time she smiles another woodland animal dies.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/covid-19-delta-outbreak-judith-collins-blasts-ridiculous-tvnz-breakfast-interview-with-indira-stewart/O3DJ22PVZCMOOPLJLDZGU4VKTM/
Wow, it's so long since I've seen Breakfast, that interviewer is great! Kim Hill level of unflappability.
Chris Hedges has a good old fashioned rage against the United States in its withdrawal from Afghanistan:
https://www.salon.com/2021/08/31/the-graveyard-of-empires-strikes-back-but-the-rage-of-a-dying-power-can-be-dreadful/
I particularly liked the quotes from the Carter era.
Now if only Hedges could extricate himself from the 80's.
Empire is driven by one underlying consideration – the necessity to control sunshine and resources. The US was never short of these things, and it's military projection was much less about the control of territory, but the control of the political agenda during the Cold War. Well that purpose is long over and they never replaced it with anything. An insular and inward looking US public have elected one President after another who promised the least in terms of engagement with the wider world. Biden's precipitate and bungled exit from Afghanistan being merely the most recent nadir in this process.
Hedges article is of course deeply selective in his targets – he omits the immense expansion of trade and human welfare that is also the direct result of this same post-WW2 period US led period of relative security and stability. His inability to tear himself away from gloating over the costs that were paid for this has a direct parallel with those fools who would 'defund the police' because every now and then they shoot someone in egregious circumstances.
Just to be very clear on this – my argument has never been that the US were any good at being 'world policeman', but even their incompetent efforts at the task have on the whole delivered far more benefit than cost. On this basis my next proposition is – if the principle of global security is so beneficial even on such a flawed basis – what would it take to do the job properly?
You know that 'defunding the police' was about removing from them jobs for which they were demonstrably unsuited, eg mental healthcare by firearm, and paying better people to do those things?
Redlogix so reliably repeats the US "exceptionalist," line these days.
You wonder if his paycheck comes from the CIA?
Please, don’t accuse another Author and Moderator of this site of being a paid tool of anybody or anything. I’ve handed out long bans for this kind of shit and I don’t make exceptions. It doesn’t make for a strong debating point unless the identity of the commenter is publically known and they are publically known to be on a pay-list and even then it is almost always (!) just taking pot-shots at the person and not addressing the gist of their comment.
While it is possible to ban an author from commenting, it's rare and not over something like this. It also creates problems for them putting up posts and being able to comment on their own posts.
My view is that authors get to say what they like (within reason), but I agree that it would be good if KJT could dial back the ad hom stuff. Probably RL too (haven't been following closely, but there's obvious aggro between the two of them).
It sets a bad example that others who are not Authors are likely to follow, as does happen here and as such, it spoils the vibe and kills constructive debate.
It was a plea and a general warning to all, not a Moderation note. If necessary, we can take this to the back-end, yes? I might just get something off my chest there, anyway.
yes, I think back end is a good idea 👍
I chose to ignore this comment because I could not see anything constructive coming from responding to it.
It's one of those silly things we all say when commenting in the heat of the moment.
And very quickly poor communities at the pointy end of this demand to 'defund the police' realised that the very real reduction in security it entailed came at a cost to them.
By all means train and manage the police better to weed out those incapable of doing the job properly. and provide for far better mental health care. But it fairly quickly became obvious these good intentions were being used by radicals as a fig-leaf to dismantle policing altogether.
And while you and I can both imagine an ideal world of perfect people in which security is not required, absent that utopia ordinary people, usually the most vulnerable, are those who depend on the police most of all.
And by extension the same argument applies to nations.
Well said.
Several unpleasant direct interactions with police in my youth in both NZ and AUS, gave me a very dim view of them to say the least. That doesn't change the fact that society needs and always will need them.
Calls for defunding are 'baby with the bathwater'. Select your police men/women better. Train and support them better. Hell, even pay them better.
IMHO – Defunding arguments are technically similar to those used by the right to justify the offloading of state assets. The argument went that these publicly owned companies were run badly (often true). This morphed into public ownership causes mismanagement (not true), therefore they must be sold.
Agree also with the nation level angle. A void will always be filled by one of the global swinging dicks.
Have you managed to miss the point AGAIN? There are jobs the police should not be doing, and no amount of 'weeding out' will change that. It's almost as if you counter an argument by pretending it's something else. I'm sure that's not the case though.
He knows, he's been told, willful ignorance.
Just imagine if Hedges' turned his eyes to Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi royal family survives only because of their fealty to the USA and western interests, so why would he bother?
Because it's time to stop analysing easy targets.
The Saudi royal family is not an "easy target", going by what happened to Jamal Khashoggi.
Obviously.
That's why it's so much easier for Hedges' to take yet another hit at the United States, rather than do hard work.
Compared to any other major power the United States has an exceedingly open society and a heavily analysed military making it comparatively easy to examine the United States forever … which they obviously do … while criminal states in much more controlled societies just keep expanding underneath much scrutiny.
Check out Al Jazeera's critical stories of itself or its neighbours. Not.
The World Press Freedom Index shows which states tolerate any public dissent at all let alone serious book-length scrutiny.
https://rsf.org/en/ranking
Of those who are least free, China, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Vietnam have massive militaries and will hunt any reporter down to death no problem.
Writing actual investigative journalism on nasty non-US states probably doesn't garner anywhere near as many lucrative clicks from convergence moonbats with a very blinkered worldview that just want the same old recycled polemic that strokes their confirmation bias.
More work, less reward, why bother?
A fair point for the selfish, but not much use for a rapidly darkening world in which the last proponents of an open society have zero supporters on either the left or the right.
@RedLogix
"my argument has never been that the US were any good at being 'world policeman', but even their incompetent efforts at the task have on the whole delivered far more benefit than cost"…..
I wonder how many times throughout the last 250 years a line just like that has been used to justify all the abuses of power, misery, death and suffering imposed by the unbridled greed, corruption and ego in the name of white western imperialism?….
But then if history has taught us nothing else about man, it has taught us that powerful men and nations will find the most creative, often outrageous cover and along with their willing enablers, use them to justify any and all acts of hubris, atrocity, villainy conducted in the name of their project…..which is why the saying (and title of a classic Killdozer LP)…’Intellectuals Are the Shoeshine Boys of the Ruling Elite ‘is as much a fact today as it has been throughout history, as they have always been one of the powers greatest enablers.
You demand the world should be full of perfect people like noble rescuers such as yourself, act outraged when it isn't, and turn me into the evil persecutor. Thus setting up a distracting drama and totally failing to address the actual comment.
It's a childish game,
@RedLogix
No, what is childish is your unwavering, dear I say it, fundementalist adherence to defending a pernicious regime that has inflicted pain and misery around the world to millions of humans…but because it isn’t in your backyard you tell us it is all but benign (the world's police force!)…a regime I will remind you, that has along with the UK been the primary reason why the gift of free energy has been completely thrown away, and they fucked the planet for future generations while they were at it, in 150 short years…don’t you get it Red Logix? The ideology you defend has blown it, completely and utterly….for all of us, and more importantly all our future generations ..so no, it is you who needs to grow up, grow some balls and take a look in the mirror.
Double down on the drama eh?
if this turns into a flame war, it's you who will end up banned. Maybe consider not taking the bait.
Even just one of US Imperialism’s very long list of unwarranted, illegal and unwanted (apart from the applicable ruling classes and toadies) interventions in other nations, is enough reason to put them in the naughty corner forever.
Lets take Chile in 1973…the ‘Chicago Boys’ dream, and in retrospect a demo version of neo liberalism to the extreme. A CIA assisted violent overthrow of an elected social democratic Govt. Horrific. No excuse. All boats were not floated.
Pinochet divided the long narrow country into 15 “economic zones”, and tortured and murdered thousands of decent people. I worked with the NZ Chilean exile community in 70s and had first hand accounts.
Is Kissinger too old to be waterboarded? nah…such crims should be pursued till the end.
Why is it that it's only ever the 'crimes' of US that concern you?
In 1973 the Cold War was still in full swing. You can only be incredibly grateful it remained 'cold' and never escalated to a direct confrontation with the Soviets. Yet on the peripheries it was as intense and brutal as any war.
The main answer I can think of to my rhetorical question above is that closet marxists such as yourself still haven't gotten over the fact that the US won.
The USA has not “won” a war since 1945! And it was a justifiable anti fascist war–now neo fascists walk the streets of America and stormed the Capitol on January 6. How the mighty have fallen.
US Imperialism and the US arms industry get involved in asymmetrical contests and end up getting their arse kicked again and again.
Wrong, Tiger. I have it on pretty reliable (American) authority, that they 'won' the war against Grenada in 1983.
Interesting you mention Grenada, I just looked it up yesterday for some reason and it all came back–New Jewel movement factions, Cuban construction workers fighting US marines on beaches–what a debacle.
Except that as we now see, the US hasn't "won" and as with the horrendous waste of time, effort, human life, environmental and social destruction in Afghanistan, all US interventions can now be truly seen as waste and a brake on human and environmental growth and potential. How can any sane person when confronted by the climate disaster that is now in front us talk up the type of US blindness of rape and pillage that produced this mess? Driven only by the profit on the bottom line or gdp? Well, now, if there is still time we may get a chance to see how much faster and equitably human potential can be delivered when the god given right to hoard multiple billions of capital for personal use is removed and returned to the productive base. This is the model that China offers. We can try it with NZ characteristics. The wonder is that their is still a world after being subjected to US imperial greed. Thankyou Joe Biden for admitting defeat and giving us some extra time to find a new direction.
I have noticed a significant effort among trumpetistas to lay blame for the Afghan fiasco on Biden – as if the fellow left to wind up a failed invasion can bear more responsibility than the clown who started a war with no exit strategy – W for worthless Bush. It was always going to end like this.
I guess they figure that, absent Biden, der schlumpenfurher is a shoe-in.
I don't know who the best candidate for US president might be, but Trump is almost certainly the worst one.
Thanks Ad.. you have to admire Hedges, immovable on his principles and fearless in his critiques of the powerful…which is why he is no longer New York Times Middle East Bureau Chief I guess.
Huh, is that why?
I had always been under the impression one of the major reasons he was no longer Middle East Bureau chief for the Times was that he failed to apply the simplest journalistic skepticism and fact checking when he passed on the Iraq WMD lies from the likes of Chalabi. Thereby helping the Shrub administration manufacture consent for the 2003 Iraq war under false pretences.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Hedges
Not to mention his long term intimate relationship with plagiarism.
https://newrepublic.com/article/118114/chris-hedges-pulitzer-winner-lefty-hero-plagiarist
Learn something every day.
So Hedges was a collaborator with the Bush regime, was he? That's almost as funny as your Russiagate posts over the last four years.
"Collaborator" is your word, not mine, and it's probably a bit harsh.
But Hedges was one of the few people actually in a position to have made a difference, had he applied even a modicum of skepticism and critical thinking and fact-checking. But he didn't. Not even a smidgen of those basic journalistic skills.
You'd think in the interim he might have recognised his failings and made an effort to sharpen his independent and critical thinking skills. But nah, it seems he's found it much easier to grift a living by continually recycling the same slightly reworked tired rants at the same tired uncritical audience that craves familiar repetition above all.
Deaths In Other Nations Since WW II Due To Us Interventions By James A. Lucas (countercurrents.org)
"The overall conclusion reached is that the United States most likely has been responsible since WWII for the deaths of between 20 and 30 million people in wars and conflicts scattered over the world".
A pretty Good attempt at beating the Nazi’s record.
Before we even get into the current deaths due to US saunctions, blockades and bombings, happening right now,
“Benefits were more than costs”.
Bullshit.
You are so predictable. You keep repeating the same idiotically selective claims over and over.
The irrefutable data shows that in the period since the end of WW2 due to an immense expansion of trade – only made possible because the US created and paid for the security and commercial infrastructure that enabled it – human populations have increased, life expectancy has lengthened and the quality of life for billions has expanded dramatically. Before WW2 most of the human race lived in absolute poverty – now its around 15% or less. Erasing that benefit to literally billions of the poorest people in the world as "bullshit" betrays your professed claim to care for them as very hollow indeed.
Easy to predict the long winded tirade of US exceptionalist BS from you.
At least you made it a bit shorter this time
At some point someone will run the alternative history of Europe and the developed world post WW2 as if the US hadn't stepped in.
If the US decides that it really doesn't care about the expansion of totalitarian regimes outside of the Western Hemisphere – and this is the direction it's heading in – then expect this experiment to get a run this decade.
"If the US decides that it really doesn't care about the expansion of totalitarian regimes outside of the Western Hemisphere "
Really, that is a bit childish….
List of authoritarian regimes supported by the United States
https://en.everybodywiki.com/List_of_authoritarian_regimes_supported_by_the_United_States
America’s 25 Most Awkward Allies
https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/02/americas-most-awkward-allies-103889/
etc etc…got to go to work now…but you know as well as everyone here, that that list is long and sordid.
Unlike the compilers of those lists, the US had more pragmatic choices to make. As I said above – the intent of the Cold War was to control the politics and contain the Soviets.
If they ever had a longer term goal it was the not unreasonable hope that by engagement they could hope to influence these nations away from totalitarianism and toward more open, liberal societies. Sometimes it worked, and sometimes it didn't. And even today of the 200 odd nations on earth, the number you'd actually want to live in if you had a choice barely exceeds 50 or so.
I'm not going to ask you if a 'pragmatic' 'engagement' like Albright made, one that caused the death of 500,000 children, was a price they had to pay to 'influence a nation away from totalitarianism and toward a more open, liberal society'. I think the answer might scare me. Be real. Everything the USA does, and has done is purely in the interest of money and power. To suggest the underlying reasons are out of the concern for the happiness of other humans beings, altruism … well, each to his own.
That is laughable.
The USA has replaced at least 40 and counting, progressive and democratic regimes with totalitarian ones.
Over 83 and counting deliberate ,"destabilisations.
The idea that the USA is a force for peace and stability is, on the evidence, comic
Sadly as far as the USA goes a few commentors here have adopted a '4 Legs good 2 Legs Bad' mentality waste of time engaging…
Some , "commentators on here" don't go around making excuses for murderous baby killing regimes, just because they are ," on our side".
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-58380791
@RedLogix
"hope that by engagement they (The USA) could hope to influence these nations away from totalitarianism and toward more open, liberal societies."
So even though no actual facts support in any way your white man triumphalist fantasy story, in-fact the actual facts tells us your story is the opposite, and is nothing but pure fantasy…(some would say propaganda, but for propaganda to work it has to have a element of truth in it, which is why everyone knows the notion of the USA spreading democracy is bullshit)…but yet here you are, back yet again, straight faced telling us yet again to believe up is down, black is white.
[RL: Blatant race baiting. Take a week off.]
See moderation note above.
Geopolitics as cabaret.
But darlin' it's cold outside.
I really must go.
lol. Same here.
Unfortunately we seldom get to choose our overlords as they tend to impose themselves upon us. With the British Empire gone and the US hegemony fading one wonders who the next oppressor nation will be that steps into the vacuum ….
I suggest you listen to the old Tom Lehrer song about the rocket scientist Wernher von Braun.
In particular take note of the last line of the last verse.
"You too may be a big hero,
Once you've learned to count backwards to zero.
"In German oder English I know how to count down,
Und I'm learning Chinese!" says Wernher von Braun."
A multi polar world may be where we head to next , where there is no singular all powerful oppressor.Have we become so habituated to the neighbourhood bully we can no longer imagine a world without him?
Personally, I'm more worried by western oligarchs like Bezos, Branson, and Musk (Boggis ,Bunce and Bean) add Thiel,who with their immense wealth and power can drive, unchecked, technology and human aided evolution in ways that continue their power but are not in the best interests of humanity and the life humanity depends on
When elephants fight, the grass gets trampled.
Not sure four or five bullies beating the weak to assert their dominance is better than one.
I thought for a moment, McFlock. that you were commenting upon the 'discussions' above at #4.
What happens when flicking through interminable squabbles trying to find the end.
Still the elephants have trumpeted, and the ants rejoice……….
Must be the threads with significant input from a contributor who I'm not allowed to reply to for fear of doom. No point in reading such threads. If there happens to be any accurate medical information or insightful geopolitical commentary, I'll have to pick it up from elsewhere.
I'm interested in Judith's insistence on vaccination targets. She wants a specific number – yesterday (I think) she was saying to Corin Dann that 70-75% will "give us options". She didn't say what those options might be, nor did she have any targets for what those options might produce, e.g. less than x excess deaths and less than y excess hospitalisations annually. She was not pressed on where she got the 70-75% number from. Was it from the Doherty Institute, a faithful echo of Scomo's 'plan', or simply an imitation of what the UK has actually done? Or based on something else?
This insistence on a hard number, yet total vagueness on what it might lead to, looks methodologically inconsistent. So it seems that what she's really after is an arbitrary target (preferably one that's not very high) because it will provide a justification for doing what National have always wanted to do – open up.
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10229022787053264&set=gm.3106590699573622
Cool cartoon
The insistence on hard numbers is so further down the line she might have the possibility of being deep and meaningful in the House.
"To the Prime Minister: Why did she say on the 14th of June there would 3,128,716 people vaccinated by November 21st and yet there are only 3,128,402 vaccinated? Did she deliberately mislead the House?"
The arbitrary target is the PM.
Collins needs to consider what the efficacy (effectiveness) is in the Pfizer vaccine before she counts her chickens.
120 cases in Victoria today. My guess is that Victoria will now throw in the towel like NSW.There goes the Oz bubble.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/australia-news-live-nsw-victoria-and-act-covid-19-cases-continue-to-grow-more-pfizer-jabs-on-the-way-20210831-p58nku.html
….throwing in the towel...might be more of a case of accepting the inevitable.
UK and Europe looking at only testing people with symptoms. The vaccines offer 50% efficacy for Delta, although they do seem to prevent 90% hospitalisations. Vaccinated people still carry similar viral load as unvaccinated. Vaccinated will be offered booster shots. Herd immunity and elimination no longer feasible. Calls for greater emphasis on immune support and therapeutics.
And vaccinating children?
Dr Ruchi Sinha, consultant paediatrician, Imperial College Choosing not to vaccinate children would be unlikely to cause problems in the health service What matters is the burden of patient hospitalisation and actually there hasn't been as much with this delta variant They tend to be the children who have got their comorbidities, obesity, or severe neurological problems and those children are already considered for vaccination. Covid on its own in paediatrics is not the problem
So children under 12 are expendable Rosemary? You have to be kidding.
I think NZ should aim to vaccinate 95% of the population including children. Then we might contemplate gradually opening borders with strict conditions.
Who said children under 12 are expendable ?
Nowhere does anyone say that.
You're making shit up.
What would they know in the UK about this? You did listen and read, didn't you?
[Before you start accusing others of making up shit you must attend to the Moderation note for you here: https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-30-08-2021/#comment-1812340.
In addition, I have another Moderation note ready for you to your response to another Moderation note, which was lacking and mostly avoiding the note: https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-30-08-2021/#comment-1812409.
Are you going to do the mahi or take the ban? You are not in Pre-Moderation because I have no time to monitor it, so please don’t do anything stupid – Incognito]
See my Moderation note @ 2:06 pm.
Bearded Git…"So children under 12 are expendable Rosemary? "
My response to that was, appropriately, "Who said "children under 12 are expendable"?
…and answering my own question… "Nowhere (in the article clip linked to)does anyone say that."
Perhaps Bearded Git could answer my question?
[In no way did this address your Moderation. You are now in Pre-Moderation, so that I can deal with all your problematic existing and future comments. You’re taking way too much Moderation time by ignoring Moderation notes and keep adding more to it – Incognito]
He can, but you need to respond to Incog's moderation in the other thread or you will be banned. It's not a hard one to sort out, I've commented in the other convo that I think it's a matter of semantics and nuance in language.
A young friend visited shortly before Lockdown, and horrified that I had obviously not attended to basic laptop housekeeping, "cleared my cookies". I am sure he did me a good turn, but one consequence of this "cookie clearing" is that I no longer see the "Replies" button to the right of the page. (There are other inconveniences, but they;re not pertinent here.)
Gone it is, and has resisted all attempts to restore it.
This means that I have no idea if someone has replied to a comment of mine or not…unless I actively go looking.
I did spot the Mod note yesterday in passing and thought I had explained myself…but clearly not. I really don't have the time or inclination to go back and have another go. I don't think anything I write now would make any difference.
I don't 'make shit up'. I don't spread 'misinformation'. I do obviously have a different way of looking at things from the norm…and I refuse to blindly accept without question all that either the government or mainstream media decide is the 'truth'. I read very widely from news sources from all over the world.
With regards to Covid …TS has become largely an echo chamber and Bearded Git's "'So children under 12 are are expendable Rosemary?" is typical of the sort of response I seem to elicit. Responses that are clearly unwarranted and simply wrong…but that largely go unchallenged. I have come to expect these kind of responses now, and see The Standard as being an almost hostile place for any type of discussion about the issue that has dominated the past eighteen months of all of our lives. I guess the 'keep to your bubble' message has been taken a little too far.
[Letting this last one go through – Incognito]
Thanks for letting me know about the Replies tab, that's pretty important.
I also don't believe you make shit up or spread misinformation and I disagree with Incognito's characterisation of your comments. I've had other stuff going on lately so haven't been following the debate on TS, but I understand what you are saying here. There's a lot of tension around the pandemic stuff because it's so close to home (as opposed say to arguing about the US election).
I"m tending to let comments slide except where they're going to cause immediate problems or tip over into flaming. I did say something to BG, but the comment wasn't bad enough to get out the bold pen. I can see how this is a problem when there's a lot of active moderation happening elsewhere. Not sure what can be done about that atm.
If you get a ban, I will look forward to seeing you back in due course, I think your presence here is good for the community and your comments are often thought provoking. Maybe consider writing a post for TS? That would change the echo chamber a bit. Not sure if you have been writing elsewhere lately?
(If you reply here but are banned I will see your reply in the back end)
Thanks weka.
I reckons it is of huge importance that you continue to encourage and facilitate 'robust discussion' on sex self ID and the misrepresentation of 'gender conversion therapy'. There's an awful lot of rabbit hole stuff going on at the moment that demands we all suspend fact and reality and pass around the teacups at the party. Left unchallenged the long term effects are going to be considerable. Let not future generations ask why the fuck we didn't speak up.
Please keep up this work. I'll be lurking and checking.![wink wink](https://cdn2.thestandard.org.nz/wp-content/plugins/ark-wysiwyg-comment-editor/ckeditor/plugins/smiley/images/wink_smile.png?x42494)
I have a proposal for you, Rosemary, and I sincerely hope you’ll take it.
You are a valued contributor on this site and I acknowledge and respect that.
I intend to ban you for a while for your series of comments on Covid vaccination and wasting Moderator time. I also intend to reply to at least some of them, for the record only, no further response from you is desirable. However, if you agree to stay off this topic of Covid vaccination, for two months, you are free to continue commenting here, as far as I am concerned. That will reset the current Moderation of your comments.
It’ll require mutual trust.
Deal?
After clearing cookies, my experience has been that the Replies tab is automatically restored after the next time I make a comment. I guess logging in would have the same effect. @lprent can clarify.
That’s exactly what I said here: https://thestandard.org.nz/how-to-use-the-replies-and-search-tabs-on-this-site/#comment-1814184.
What utter bollocks!
Please stop your virtue signalling, playing the victim, and blaming others such as Bearded Git for your predicament, which is entirely of your own making. You are setting up a ‘nice’ drama triangle here [HT to RedLogix].
You are misinterpreting and misrepresenting a lot of things about Covid-19, particularly about vaccination. For example, see this from Brigid: https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-01-09-2021/#comment-1812893.
Discussion of Covid with you is an exercise in futility because of this and your strong negative bias.
If you really intend to not bother with the Moderation notes then I will go through your recent comments, for the record and clarification, and just ban you. It is up to you.
On 1 August, in Open Mike, Rosemary wrote [@12:25 pm]:
Claiming that "By definition it [the Pfizer vaccine] is not a vaccine." is clearly spreading misinformation. If the "Pfizer so-called vaccine" is "not a vaccine", then how to explain that "they do seem to prevent 90% hospitalisations" @7.1 [12:36 pm today] – that's some placebo effect!
If Rosemary genuinely believes the Pfizer vaccine is not a vaccine, then claiming such might not be disinformation, but it's certainly misinformation.
See My Moderation note @ 4:27 pm.
I also can't see where Rosemary said that, so please be more careful in how you frame your argument BG.
I think Rosemary misinterpreted the comment by Bearded Git. She’s a master at twisting other people’s words to feed her own bias and narrative.
If they throw the towel in only vaccinated people will enjoy some level of protection against the worst effects of Covid-19, as it stands. The vaccine has been approved in NZ for people of 12+, which means that children under 12 would be more likely to catch the virus, as indeed seems to be happening overseas in relatively highly vaccinated populations.
Bearded Git also said that he thinks that “NZ should aim to vaccinate 95% of the population including children.” [my emphasis]
IMO, Rosemary got the wrong end of the stick again and was barking up the wrong tree again. In fact, she did bring up “vaccinating children” in this thread @ 7.1 and stated her position on this again.
That doesn't explain anything though, other than your view.
Rosemary brought up the under 12 thing, didn't say much, dropped a quote and linked a video. I can't see how BG got from that that she thinks kids are expendable. Rosemary can't see it either. Where did she say or even imply that?
She's allowed to express a differing opinion, even if people don't like it. That's robust debate.
sigh
Children under 12 are not being vaccinated, so they go without the protection when we “throw in the towel”.
Rosemary seems to think this is fine. Bearded Git seems to think this is not fine and phrased this as “expendable”, like it or not.
I have already provided loads of examples of Rosemary twisting words and conclusions, so I don’t quite follow why you paint it as just my view!?
If we were are going to have a genuine debate about vaccinating children, here are some recent links from NZ to kick it off:
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/news/2021/07/28/dont-underestimate-covid-in-children.html
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/six-children-aged-under-one-have-covid-19-in-nz-bloomfield
Covid-19 is not just a flu and there is still much we do not know about it and its future variants. We have six babies aged under one who have Covid-19 in Aotearoa-New Zealand. Maybe that focusses the mind?
Lastly,
Sure, she is, but she was under Moderation and simply ignored it, consistently. She’s trying to weasel her way out of it, IMO, and I’m not having a bar of it. Let’s see what she says next, shall we?
@ Incognito
Children under 12 are not being vaccinated, so they go without the protection when we “throw in the towel”.
Rosemary seems to think this is fine. Bearded Git seems to think this is not fine and phrased this as “expendable”, like it or not.
Sometimes, incopnito, you slide from simple interference- running to outright fucking lying aggression.
Nowhere did I imply that kids under 12 years old were expendable.
I quoted a doctor. A paediatrician no less, and a consultant to the Imperial College. Who after looking at all the available information, and no doubt conferring with his peers arrived at the following…which I will provide again…because I try to be helpful like that.![wink wink](https://cdn2.thestandard.org.nz/wp-content/plugins/ark-wysiwyg-comment-editor/ckeditor/plugins/smiley/images/wink_smile.png?x42494)
Dr Ruchi Sinha, consultant paediatrician, Imperial College Choosing not to vaccinate children would be unlikely to cause problems in the health service What matters is the burden of patient hospitalisation and actually there hasn't been as much with this delta variant They tend to be the children who have got their comorbidities, obesity, or severe neurological problems and those children are already considered for vaccination. Covid on its own in paediatrics is not the problem.
I suggest you take it up with the doctor. After all…what would he know about it…the UK being so far behind NZ?
I get that moderating on a site like this has challenges, and I am also beginning to realise that these days it there is a very fine line between what weka calls 'robust debate' and what you and others here (and MSM and the government) call 'misinformation' or 'disinformation'. What was considered a valid opinion or even 'truth' two years ago can now find itself slapped with a label and a ban hammer.
Last year, when it was obvious that there was increasing control over what could and what could not be said about Covid…and I think perhaps it was about the hypothesis that Sars-CoV-2 was a product of a laboratory experiment…I remarked that free speech and the truth might be the most significant victims of this shit show in the long term. I fear I was right.
I'll bother you no more incognito. I'll enjoy casting an eye over TS from well outside the tent.
What is wrong with your reading comprehension?
I clearly stated that Bearded Git used the word “expendable”, not you!?
There was no “fucking lying aggression” in that at all; it is all in your mind and all yours, as usual.
If you’re not fine with not vaccinating children under 12 then you have a really funny way of expressing that.
Don’t hide behind a doctor, and why would I have to take it up with the doctor, as they didn’t comment even here, but you did. Own your own words, say what you mean and mean what you say.
You’re always so evasive when challenged.
'immune support' aka vaccination
There we go again with the 'all the eggs in the vaccine basket' theme.
Such a pity that our own Ministry of Health seems to have failed to keep up with the science. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3166406/
Abstract
It is now clear that vitamin D has important roles in addition to its classic effects on calcium and bone homeostasis. As the vitamin D receptor is expressed on immune cells (B cells, T cells and antigen presenting cells) and these immunologic cells are all are capable of synthesizing the active vitamin D metabolite, vitamin D has the capability of acting in an autocrine manner in a local immunologic milieu. Vitamin D can modulate the innate and adaptive immune responses. Deficiency in vitamin D is associated with increased autoimmunity as well as an increased susceptibility to infection.
From what I can see..the Consensus Statement from the MOH page I linked to has failed to recognise the link between lower vitamin D levels and immune response. With specific reference to Maori and Pasifica peoples the Ministry's stance is/was that because the bone density in these populations is fine, and they are at no greater risk of fractures, then low Vitamin D or the ability to manufacture Vit D from sunlight (due to darker skin) is not an issue.
There has been numerous studies looking at the Vitamin D levels of Covid patients and suggestions that Vitamin D supplementation might be a useful tool in the box have been 'debunked' as being "crackpot". A pity.
Perhaps its time to look at which populations in NZ are at most risk from Covid…and maybe offer them some extra support.
[You’re going around here accusing others of making up shit and not listening and reading and here you are spinning your own BS narrative again.
In the factcheck.org link, it didn’t say at all what you asserted it said. In fact, it was almost the exact opposite!!! WTF!!! SSDD!!!
It could be a genuine misinterpretation on your behalf, but your claim is not true. All this would be less of a problem if weren’t for your confirmation bias and the seriousness of the topic.
I’m growing really tired of battling your false misguided narratives on all things Covid-19 and it has to end, one way or another – Incognito]
An airdrop of 2,000 tonnes of oranges over South Auckland.
raise benefit levels and minimum wage and take the GST off fresh produce.
(ignoring housing crisis elephant in the living room).
Not sure how that raises vaccine or COVID19 protection.
But hey more income to the poor is sure to help generally.
Raising living standards naturally gives one better immunity to viruses, bacteria, or any other greebly.
That's been known for ..oh about 120 years
You are saying that's been proven on a COVID19 population?
Would you like to join the band with Rosemary and the Reckons?
I don't know enough to say it gives better immunity as such (beyond lowering malnourishment rates in general), but I'd be interested to see transmission rates in more crowded homes vs UMC 2 rooms (not just bedrooms) per person homes.
Rosemary and the Reckons, and the WHO.
http://www.emro.who.int/nutrition/news/nutrition-advice-for-adults-during-the-covid-19-outbreak.html
yeah, the crowded housing seems a no brainer given what we know about overcrowding and other diseases, and delta's spread in households.
Even for people that want to ignore the role of nutrition and poverty in infectious diseases, there's still the issue of poverty and food poverty in how one might do things like socially distance, afford masks, afford to take time off work, afford to go to a doctor, afford to drive rather than take public transport and so on.
Edit
Gah!!
You’re not worth replying to.
"Not sure how that raises vaccine or COVID19 protection."
Why would it be an either or? Obviously it should be a both/and.
See my Moderation note @ 2:34 pm.
I used that particular article to demonstrate how mainstream media has addressed the issue of Vitamin D in relation to Covid.
A clue to the slant is the author choosing to use the "crackpot" quote from Frieden, knowing damn well that most folks read little other than the header and the opening paragraph. The author is setting the tone. They are a "factchecker" when all is said and done.
Yes, the author refers to studies that suggest Vitamin D might have uses beyond bone health and acknowledges there Vitamin D supports the immune system and might… tamp down overactive immune responses by tilting those responses toward less inflammatory ones, including by reducing the production of certain pro-inflammatory cytokines, or signaling proteins. (which would be of use with Covid) …then proceeds to cast doubt on any claim that Vitamin D supplementation just might be of use.
Lack of Evidence for Vitamin D and COVID-19
Because the coronavirus is so new, little rigorous research has been done specifically on vitamin D and COVID-19.
Now why on earth did the "factchecking" author feel it necessary to make such a statement?
Coronaviruses are not new. Coronaviruses require a response from our immune systems and Vitamin D has been found to be immune supportive.
Especially in immune modulation. (Which the author has already told us) Which, with this particular coronavirus, could be of considerable help.
And returning to New Zealand and our vulnerable Maori and Pasifika populations (with regard to vitamin D levels)…readers may be interested in this…
"Burden of Disease Associated with low Vitamin D status in New Zealand"
Scragg, Grey, Stewart et al" which specifically references Pasifika peoples.
They say that the 'sun safe' policies should not necessarily apply to Pasifka peoples due to their low rates of skin cancer and low levels of Vitamin D and high disease burden that could be related in part to said low Vitamin D levels. There are graphs and projections and the usual, and they close with a recommendation for clinical trials and perhaps revising sun exposure advice, vitamin D supplementation or fortification of foods to assist with reduction of all cause mortality.
A pity that this paper was apparently ignored by our own Ministry of Health, who seem to still be fixated on Vitamin D's sole use in the human body being for bone health.
Me? I'd immediately advise and fund Vitamin D supplements for all at risk groups in NZ…or at least carry out widespread Vitamin D levels testing. Immediately.
Vaccinating Auckland first, which is where Pacifica are concentrated, covers all those bases. Thankfully the government agrees and is prioritising vaccine accordingly.
From Rosemary's 'debunked' as being "crackpot" link [8 June 2021]:
"Pity" eh.
"There we go again with the 'all the eggs in the vaccine basket' theme."
I'd rather you didn't mis-interpret what I've written.
The vaccine offers immunity support. That is actually a fact.
I've not implied it is the only way to increase immunity.
Noted.
Vaccines prevent 90% of hospitalisations from Covid-19 infections? Sign me up!
Just kidding Rosemary – I'm already vaccinated.
Unite against COVID-19
https://covid19.govt.nz/
To be clear, once some NZers turn their backs on the Covid-19 elimination strategy that has undoubtedly saved many Kiwi lives, there's no going back. Since ‘Freedum Day’ in the UK there have been thousands of Covid-19 deaths.
NZ will get around to "living with covid-19" (straight out of the Plan B playbook) eventually – still, no hurry eh. I hope our govt will wait at least until the tragic global Covid death toll on Worldometers exceeds NZ's population, which with any luck won't be until November.
I believe Victoria are no longer pursuing an elimination strategy.
As I said above Jimmy, they have caved in. This from today's SMH:
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says the state’s public health team changed its COVID-19 advice to the government in the past two days, making it clear “that we are not going to drive these numbers down, they are going to increase”.
“Now it’s up to us to make sure that they don’t increase too fast, and that they don’t increase too much relative to the number of people who are getting vaccinated every single day, every single week,” he said during Wednesday’s COVID-19 update.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/australia-news-live-nsw-victoria-and-act-covid-19-cases-continue-to-grow-more-pfizer-jabs-on-the-way-20210831-p58nku.html
That is grim given the increased death and injury that will occur there.
Couldn't agree more Ad.
Great cartoon. Judith Collins seemingly has a tantrum or tendency to bully whenever she is challenged, whether it be from her own caucus or Breakfast tv. Fair enough to put her case, but she should be able to handle questioning with more composure. Not a person to respect at all.
When you think how our PM has handled Hosking over the last few years when he has harangued her, what a difference. I never listen to him, but pick up comments from people, so am interested if he gives Collins an easy time in comparison when he interviews her.
When Jacinda got the hard questions from Hosking that she couldn't answer, she decided not to go on the show any more. I guess that is one way to handle it. At least Hipkins and Robertson still turn up although they do get a grilling.
"When you think how our PM has handled Hosking over the last few years when he has harangued her, what a difference."
I suppose so. Are you suggesting that Judith should behave like Jacinda? Throw a hissy-fit and refuse to appear for an interview again?
The hissy-fits were entirely those thrown by Hosking. He was clearly incensed by Jacinda Ardern's seemingly effortless ascendancy over him.
Hosking was hissy fitting for weeks after it, I doubt Adern spared him a second thought.
I'm hearing Collins is having a blinder in the house today!
He threw a hissy-fit nearly every time she came on his dog of a programme. Her composure, and her constant cheerfulness, obviously rattled him; he never had the wit or the knowledge to challenge her.
Even Paul Henry seemed gracious and adroit compared to Hosking.
https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-16092015/#comment-1071308
Yes.. Remember earlier on when Hosking tried to tell Jacinda that our frontier controls needed more 'subtleties and nuances' like the Australian controls? As I remember, she smiled and replied, "Mike, if you have become a person of subtleties and nuances – Bless!" Hilarious.
And I have yet to hear Hoskings defend his argument, given what has since transpired in NSW and Victoria. If we do beat Delta Covid in this round, surely Hosking has to offer an apology? (But does he have a memory capable of recording anything unfavourable to his current obsession? No evidence of that to date.)
God yes please.
Clearly Indira Stewart rattled the Judith this morning. Caught out in another lie.
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/126249973/covid19-talofa-judith–collins-hasnt-been-in-touch-says-pasifika-church-community
With Algeria finally running out of the last of its supplies, the scourge of leaded petrol for road transport has finally been eliminated from the world, in a significant victory for public health.
https://grist.org/regulation/leaded-gasoline-lead-poisoning-united-nations/
But this barbaric substance is still widely and legally used in New Zealand, as far as I can tell. In piston engine airplanes. It doesn't need to be, lead-free avgas is completely technically feasible.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avgas
The dates given in your link seem to be very old. Was this product really successful and is it in use today?
Z avgas low lead, available in NZ, still has some lead.
https://z.co.nz/keeping-business-on-the-move/fuels/aviation-fuel-2/
Gotta say, my old K75 goes better on the red petrol.
There are good reasons for not wanting the octane level raised with aromatics, instead of lead, when an engine failure means falling out of the sky.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/australia-news-live-nsw-victoria-and-act-covid-19-cases-continue-to-grow-more-pfizer-jabs-on-the-way-20210831-p58nku.html
This from a letter in Oz found on the above link:
"Renewable power generation hit a record in August – 31.6% of all power generated in Australia was from wind, solar and hydro. Coal was down to 62%."
Such a triumph when coal-generated power is down to 62%-scary stuff. Still good to see renewables are increasing rapidly in Oz.
Does anyone else have concerns about the person inside the Ministry of Health, who is leaking daily case numbers to the NZ Herald? Is it just a National party supporter or is it corruption? Is the NZ Herald paying an insider for information? The right wing influence of Australian owned news media can be seen around the world. Anybody?
Just looks like good old fashioned daily back-channelling to me.
Beehive staff do it all the time: When the story is this repetetive and dull, you've got to keep the media sweet with fresh stuff.
Yes Nic I share your concern. If these numbers are being leaked for political purposes what else is being leaked? It stinks.
Since the State Sector Act and Reserve Bank Act etc. the public service top echelon seems loaded to the gunwales with fifth columnists by design–well paid neo libs happy to receive bloated salaries courtesy of the tax payer–while frustrating any minuscule move away from monetarist managerialism.
No? Well even the Deputy Prime Minister is frustrated enough to have set up an Implementation Unit. The informants seem all over Govt. Depts, Immigration being a classic leak source among many others.
MoH though is a special worry during a pandemic.
Implementation Unit has to do with policy implementation, not whether infection figures are released.
Hipkins' lead of the information flow is better than you would find anywhere else.
Is it actually a "leak", or simple liaison with the ministry?
Yes Minister used the line that "leaking" was an irregular verb: "I give confidential press briefings, you leak, they have been charged under S2A of the Official Secrets Act", but it's public information that isn't necessarily embargoed until a formal relase time.
Anyone here following the Canadian election? Trudeau who had a minority govt but could pass any legislation he wanted with help of labours sister party the NDP , the center left BQ or on rare occasions the Canadian conservative party. No party wanted to go to election and all parties especially the NDP had bent over backwards to pass legislation (and made some huge left wing amendments to liberal legislation) Trudeau who came second in the popular vote in the 2019 election but had a plurality of seats was polling well but only about 5% higher than the tory's called a snap election noone wanted in the middle of the fourth wave of a pandemic and with no platform other than attacking the other parties as boogie men is now consistent 2-6 % behind in the polls and it his party may not even be able to form a minority govt now.
The public are quite furious that he forced an election. His opponents all released platforms he hasn't, and the tory's have interesting policies like putting workers on the boards of companies and banning companies that receive govt money from laying off staff or giving executives bonuses. Trudeau is trying to make this pro choice moderate out to be a knuckle dragging fascist and it's not working, the guy doesn't seem to have a mean bone in his body
The NDP labours sister party are the most liked and trusted. Their green party is in a state if shambles that makes national look functional.
What's most interesting is they are all seriously debating and coming up with housing policies that make nz parties look like right wing free market zealots in comparison. Though interestingly they all seem to be wanting to ban foreign ownership which is fascinating because nzlp got hell for wanting to do that…
This election is keeping me occupied 🤣 I find it fascinating how often nz politics mirrors nz politics for the last two decades of they elect a Tory we elect a Tory in our next election 2006 can 2008 nz) if they elect a young progressive we elect a young progressive in our next election 2015, 2017)
The interesting thing is regardless of whether Trudeau wins a minority, majority or loses this seems to be his last election campaign he's distrusted by the left the right and the center , he's less popular than his party which he brought from the dead and they won't want him to run again if he wins a majority, if he wins a minority he'll have put the covid outbreak at risk and wasted billions on an election noone wanted for nothing and will likely be rolled and if the conservatives win well he'll be gone.
He may go down as the Theresa May of Canadian politics all because of his cynical arrogance to throw an election two years earlier, funnily enough I and many others thought he was once the template all center left leaders should run on but his charisma hasn't led to policy reforms or the transformation people wanted and expected and hoped for…
Stormy days are on the horizon eh
And while much has been made about the similarities between Ardern and Trudeau (and we borrowed quite a bit of their ideas especially messaging and social media for 2017) I believe apart from being young excellent media managers that's about where it ends. Trudeau is a trust fund baby who lacks substance and is a cringe machine with comments like "people-kind" "she-lection" "she-cession" who bombards the public with so social virtues he doesn't believe in and while his organization has run a good covid response his governing has been marred in quite serious corruption allegations and he isn't let's say a brain box the way his father or Ardern are he recently said "I don't think about monetary policy" , imagine the hell an nz candidate would get for that, Ardern is an afept administrator and while I have issues with policies and the pace of transformation she is not style over substance, she has both , Trudeau junior is all style and no substance.
He did however save his party's fortunes when it looked like the NDP had finally replaced the liberals as the main party of the opposition he was able to increase his party's seats from 34 to 184 in two years but governing is a hard job. He also has broken a million promises , he promised 2015 would be the last campaign under first passed the post and then won a landslide, ironically much like the UK if they had proportion the center left would always be in power.
Here's hoping for an NDP win or at the very least a strong NDP that can bargain or gain concessions from the liberals I hope proportional rep is one of them.
There's no point looking for anything redemptive for the left in the Canadian election.
The Conservatives will get the greatest share, the centre left will decline, and the wee minorities like the Greens will continue to consign themselves to the 1-2% dustbin of history.
The Liberals would need to team up with the New Democratic Party to have a shot at power. Not likely so far.
This fool needs to be thrown out of the Party, schnell.
It hardly matters, now that the Labour Party has been burned to the ground by its Blairite rump, but surely this fellow should be automatically excluded for being stupid enough to speak up for untermenschen six years ago. It's verboten for any British Labour Party member to speak up for them now…
https://twitter.com/trendylefty/status/1432705834925105157
Uk labour is dead in the water unless it can form some kind of progressive electorate seat alliance with the lib Dems and greens to not split the center to center left vote.
The agreement could be any labour govt institutes proportional rep but weirdly the labour party who would have governed in every election since the 70s with PR is dead against it they'd rather be a large opposition than a coalition govt.
Also the party that most wants PR the liberals are dead set against deals, coalitions and negations so I don't understand what they think they'll do in a PR system if they don't like compromise or coalitions or working with other parties
No need for any formal tie before election date.
Plenty of scope afterwards.
After 2 massive electoral losses, Keir Starmer can figure out what his predecessors didn't.
More foolish Middle Eastern donkeys like George Galloway will continue to seek to split the vote and turn Labour to rubble. Galloway came very close to killing Labour off in the Batley and Spen by-election just a month ago. Corbyn just made it worse in 2019 and worse until he let Boris Johnson in, such was his ineptitude.
Corbyn and Galloway have just ruined much of Labour's traditional vote in the north. Corbyn should just retire. Galloway is just a perpetual loser.
Personally i find much to admire about Corbyn AND Galloway .I enjoy Corbyns quiet dogged pursuit of his principles and Galloways steely resolve to right wrongs and injustices .To tell the truth im in the habit of going to bed and watching MOATS but i seldom last the whole three hours !
Hi Weston, I also hold both Corbyn and Galloway in high regard, what is MOATS please?
Evn Tony MOATS is the mother of all talk shows avail apparently on multiple platforms i watch it on you tube.Its up to episode 115 i think atm is broadcast every sun night from london so we get it the following day
Cheers Weston, I see it also plays on Sputnik News ..
One of the most important things Corbyn did while leader of the UK Labour, was to unwittingly expose without question which individuals and institutions who were/are actually Left Progressives and those who are (left leaning?) Liberal Centrists…two quite different things…I find the results of that unveiling very helpful indeed.
And btw, who is another last high profile politician you can name who has been regularly on the front line in food banks, marching in solidarity for Palestinian Human rights raise his voice over the treatment of Julian Assange?
When Corbyn was LOTO, this was just one of his and his team’s contributions delivered to food banks for Christmas
https://skwawkbox.org/2020/12/21/when-corbyn-was-loto-this-was-just-one-of-his-and-his-teams-contributions-delivered-to-food-banks-for-christmas/
Politics isn't therapy, witting or unwitting.
What Corbyn exposed was simply nothing more than himself. You either show you have the capacity to achieve and hold power, or you just don't. Hell even Milliband got closer to power than Corbyn.
Considering the forces of power amassed against him making damn sure he didnt come to power how could corbyn have brought about a different outcome ?Round the clock media attacks were only a part of the strategy .He was deliberately brought down imo by concerted effort on many fronts .Perhaps some of us can remember the antics of a certain pr company called Cosby and Texter and what they managed to achieve both in nz and aus fairly recently ?Add in an intelligence service or two maybe and his chances became slim indeed .
" Hell even Milliband got closer to power than Corbyn."…no he didn't, and he only got as far as he did because he was no threat to the status quo and power..
Critics must accept Jeremy Corbyn has created largest political party in Europe – and work with him
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/john-prescott-critics-must-accept-8626296
This is why he didn't get into power…..it's a simple as that.
Labour’s Jeremy Corbyn: Redistribute UK wealth, tax the rich
https://apnews.com/article/elections-london-international-news-jeremy-corbyn-general-elections-72b180c44ca67f73ce5d5ebe21269790
Backed by Corbyn, over 3,000 march for ‘free Palestine’ in London
https://www.timesofisrael.com/backed-by-corbyn-hundreds-march-for-free-palestine-in-london/
In the UK 2017 election, Corbyn led Labour to 262 seats. Against Theresa May.
In the UK 2019 election, Corbyn led Labour to 202 seats. A drop of 60. Against Boris Johnson.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_Kingdom_general_elections#/media/File:UK_popular_vote.svg
Corbyn is an unfortunate historical blip of – as you point out – incoherent ideological noise – and has bequeathed to Keir Starmer a party in pretty average shape. They are still in the polls about where they were when Corbyn finished the election.
Nothing to do with the unrelenting white anting from within, of course!
Theresa May had worse from within and still won.
It really is Corbyn who lost for Labour.
Sure.
Jeremy Corbyn rattled the ruling class cage–no mistake there. Senior British Military figures openly threatened a coup if he was ever installed in 10 Downing St! His social democratic model and international solidarity outlook was way too much for the generals and British capital and finance capital.
Jeremy’s two key mistakes imo were…
1. not playing hardball with the underminers–he should have vigorously deselected right wing candidates, and made most of head office reapply for their jobs.
2. waffling on Brexit–all that was needed was to say…we will respect the vote of the people whichever way it goes AND implement “For the many not the few” policy of re-nationalisations etc.
Yes that would have helped in 2019.
What Corbyn exposed quite clearly in the UK (and to some extent, here) is that half the people we hear who identify as 'Left' of 'Progressive' etc, shit their pants when a actual live Left wing politician comes along and looks like they might actually get into a position to make the radical changes they thought they believed in…turns out most of them are not now and never will be on the side of radical progressive change, and when push comes to shove will actively work against it, as we have seen…Lenin got that one right!
A career portfolio manager's climate change predictions.
“Climate change is the next major mega-trend, and we believe it represents the biggest investment opportunity since the internet,” says portfolio manager at Munro Partners James Tsinidis.
“We’re just at the beginning of the next big S-curve, a massive and sustainable decades-long growth trend.”
https://www.afr.com/wealth/personal-finance/climate-change-biggest-investment-opportunity-since-the-internet-20210826-p58m4w
Agreed. Principled individuals in politics are rare. Craig Murray is another person whose current predicament hasn't caught the attention of many here.
https://twitter.com/craigmurrayorg
My open letter to Dr Ayesha Verrall on why the conversion practices prohibition legislation bill is such a terrible idea. It really is.
https://www.publicgood.org.nz/wp/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Letter-to-Dr-Ayesha-Verrall.pdf