Open mike 02/02/2025

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, February 2nd, 2025 - 38 comments
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Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step up to the mike …

38 comments on “Open mike 02/02/2025 ”

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  1. Dennis Frank 1
    2 February 2025 at 6:54 am

    Western imperialist reaches out to restless natives…

    US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives in Panama on Saturday for his first trip as the United States’ top diplomat that will test if his diplomacy can build on President Donald Trump’s bellicose and transactional approach to “American First” foreign policy, particularly on migration.

    Rubio’s choice to visit Central America – Panama, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic – is intentional and meant to drive forward the Trump agenda by “paying closer attention to our own neighborhood.” Discussion about the Panama Canal – which Trump has repeatedly said should be back under US control – is also “a priority” while the top US diplomat is in Panama City.

    Just like Oz expelled kiwi gangsters a few years ago:

    “During the first Trump Administration, El Salvador was one of three countries that had a Safe Third Agreement with the United States, which will also be a topic of discussion,” Trump special envoy for Latin America Mauricio Claver-Carone told reporters Friday.

    The US and El Salvador also expected to discuss the possibility of deporting suspected members of the Tren de Aragua gang, which originated in Venezuela, to El Salvador, where Bukele’s vast and violent crackdown on gangs has earned admiration from the Trump administration.

    “Those extraordinary measures, which are frankly the envy of a lot of countries throughout the Western Hemisphere, has really made him one of the most consequential leaders not only on security but a great ally on migration,” Claver-Carone said.

    “We’re looking to do a new agreement that might include the members of the Tren de Aragua, who will want to go back to Venezuela rather than having to share the prison with the Salvadorean gangs like MS-13. It’s part of what we want to discuss and how President Bukele can help us,” Claver-Carone said.

  3. Dennis Frank 3
    2 February 2025 at 8:02 am

    Fake news apparently…

    "It's difficult to treat New Zealand as a normal ally within the American alliance system, when they denigrate and punish Israeli citizens for defending themselves and their country from Iranian-controlled terrorists," Texas Senator Ted Cruz posted on the social media platform X.

    Peter's response was fiery. He directly called out the senator and the outlet, and said the article was "fake news". "We are demanding it be corrected," he said, "Israelis do not need visitor visas to travel to New Zealand, let alone have to declare their military service."

    He did not admit the establishment is hiding behind privacy law – probably because it's obvious.

    That was echoed by Immigration New Zealand. "There may be certain circumstances where we need more information from an applicant to determine they meet the requirements for entering New Zealand – such as details of their military service," deputy chief operating officer Jeannie Melville. But she said "it is not correct to say that every Israeli wanting to visit New Zealand is asked to provide details of their military service".

    So genocide-perpetrators are officially suitable tourists according to our govt, which makes Minto seem to be operating on a sound basis. Accountability hinges on identity.

    Israel's view is that state agents are officially unaccountable to other people, doesn't matter if they did genocide. Morality is irrelevant in geopolitics. That our govt shares their view shows solidarity with T's jewish niche connection. One wonders why zionism is worth supporting when it has no moral basis. Automatism, I guess.

    • SPC 3.1
      2 February 2025 at 8:45 am

      The link.

      https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/02/02/fake-news-peters-hits-back-at-us-senator/

      Peters (and not the only one) is trying to confuse.

      Israelis do not need visitor visas to travel to New Zealand

      The story

      There are tourist visas and there are visitor visas. The visa waiver only applies for 3 month visas (tourist visa only category).

      AI

      General terminology

      While often used interchangeably, a "tourist visa" is typically considered a specific type of "visitor visa" that is primarily intended for leisure travel and sightseeing, whereas a "visitor visa" can encompass a broader range of purposes like visiting family, attending a short course, or conducting business, in addition to tourism, and usually allows for a longer stay than a tourist visa alone; generally, a tourist visa is obtained on arrival while a visitor visa requires a prior application at an embassy or consulate

      Local

      People travelling on a passport from some countries must apply for a Visitor Visa to visit New Zealand. You can stay for up to either 6 months (multiple entry) or 9 months (single entry). You cannot work, but you can study for up to 3 months.

      Yes, citizens of some countries can enter New Zealand without a visa under the Visa Waiver Program. However, they must have a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA).

      The Visa Waiver Programme permits citizens of some countries to enter New Zealand for business and tourism purposes for up to three months.

      The Haaretz article said

      According to standing immigration policies in New Zealand, Israelis wishing to enter the country have always been required to complete New Zealand electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) declarations as part of their tourist visa application.

      Now, according to a press release from the New Zealand Immigration Authority (INZ), Israelis will be required to complete an "additional information form" which includes two sections for those who have undertaken military service in their home country.

      In the first section, applicants must disclose the dates and locations of their service, as well as their unit, rank and role.

      In the application's second section, applicants are asked if they had active roles in "armed conflict," including whether they have ever "been in any group or organization that has used or promoted violence to further their aims," "committed or been involved in war crimes, crimes against humanity and/or human rights abuses,

      https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/asia-and-australia/2025-01-30/ty-article/.premium/new-zealand-to-require-israelis-to-detail-idf-service-as-part-of-visa-application-process/00000194-b792-db53-a1bd-f7bf0eeb0000

      And this, the story

      Israelis applying for a tourist visa are being asked about the dates of their service, the locations of their bases, and whether they have ‘been involved in war crimes

      New Zealand’s Immigration Authority (INZ) spokesperson

      A visitor visa can be declined for a number of reasons, and it is difficult for us to comment on why a person’s application was declined without the details of their application. Immigration instructions do not prevent individuals who have served in this conflict from applying for or being granted a visitor visa,”

      Is anyone talking about the same thing?

      https://www.timesofisrael.com/new-zealand-requires-israelis-to-disclose-idf-service-details-as-condition-for-entry/

      Seymour says

      That is not the position of the New Zealand Government. Israeli citizens are welcome here and can enter New Zealand without a visa under our Visa Waiver program.

      Yeah but they still need a

      However, they must have a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA).

      And the Haaretz article said

      According to standing immigration policies in New Zealand, Israelis wishing to enter the country have always been required to complete New Zealand electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) declarations as part of their tourist visa application.

      The visa waiver is in the tourist visa category.

      • Jenny 3.1.1
        2 February 2025 at 9:15 am

        Minto has put pressure on the government and the immigration service from below, Ted Cruz is putting pressure on our government and immigration service from above.

        Which one will win out?

        From the link supplied by SPC @3.1

        The new immigration service policy as it applies to serving IDF soldiers wanting to holiday in New Zealand:

        …..according to a press release from the New Zealand Immigration Authority (INZ), Israelis will be required to complete an "additional information form" which includes two sections for those who have undertaken military service in their home country.

        In the first section, applicants must disclose the dates and locations of their service, as well as their unit, rank and role.

        In the application's second section, applicants are asked if they had active roles in "armed conflict," including whether they have ever "been in any group or organization that has used or promoted violence to further their aims," "committed or been involved in war crimes, crimes against humanity and/or human rights abuses….

        Peters may huff and puff and obfuscate, and deny it, but will he, Winston Peters New Zealand minister for immigration, bow to pressure from the US, and reverse the immigration authority's requirement for IDF soldiers to complete an "additional information form"?

        And what if Peters doesn't act to reverse this policy?
        Apart from his snarky comment on X, what US pressure could Ted Cruz seek to bring to bear on this country to get his way?

        All politics is pressure.

      • SPC 3.1.2
        2 February 2025 at 9:22 am

        Ted Cruz on X on New Zealand, inferring tariff bullying risk to those not in lock step with the USA.

        https://x.com/tedcruz/status/1885445724755673110

        • Populuxe 3.1.2.1
          2 February 2025 at 11:30 am

          Cruz seems to have missed the salient point that were we to let in possible war criminals we'd be obliged to arrest them as per the International Crimes and International Criminal Court Act 2000.

          • lprent 3.1.2.1.1
            2 February 2025 at 11:39 pm

            That is the point.

            That Act was part of the legislation required for signing up to the ICC. I can't see any reason for us to not be signed up to the ICC. After all NZ Soldiers are not widely known for their tendency to indulge in the following acts with a few now well-known exceptions..

            Purpose

            The purpose of this Act is—
            (a) to make further provision in New Zealand law for the punishment of certain international crimes, namely, genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes; and
            (b) to enable New Zealand to co-operate with the International Criminal Court established by the Rome Statute in the performance of its functions.

            Statute means the Rome Statute of the ICC dated 17 July 1998, a copy of the English text of which is set out in the Schedule and includes—

            (a) amendments to Article 8 of the Statute contained in depository notifications—
            (i) C.N.533.2010 Treaties-6, dated 29 November 2010; and
            (ii) C.N.116.2018.TREATIES-XVIII.10, dated 8 March 2018; and
            (iii) C.N.125.2018.TREATIES-XVIII.10, dated 8 March 2018; and
            (iv) C.N.126.2018.TREATIES-XVIII.10, dated 8 March 2018; and
            (v) C.N.399.2019.TREATIES-XVIII.10, dated 30 August 2019; and

            (b) amendments to the Statute contained in depository notification C.N.651.2010.TREATIES-8, dated 29 November 2010, including the insertion of the following Articles into the Statute:
            (i)Article 8 bis:
            (ii)Article 15 bis:
            (iii)Article 15 ter:
            (iv)Article 25 (3 bis)

            https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2000/0026/latest/whole.html#DLM63091

            Achieving compliance with this Act, INZ collects information at or before the border.

            Now I know that Israel, US, Russian, Mymar, China, India and a number of other nations haven't signed up or have failed to ratify with the Rome Convention. Probably because their military, citizens, or politicians have performed actions that violate the Rome convention.

            However unlike them, NZ is actually reasonably civilised. So Israeli politicians and dumbarse US ones can screw themselves, and they, their citizens and soldiers can conform to our laws whilst entering this country.

            That includes making declarations that are used to determine if there may be a case to answer under international laws that we have signed up for.

      • Dennis Frank 3.1.3
        2 February 2025 at 9:26 am

        Oh yeah, clearly the gap between early morning coffee & brain activation was too short; thanks for that, plus your excellent clarification of the diplomacy murk! yes

        • Visubversa 3.1.3.1
          2 February 2025 at 4:51 pm

          And don't forget the Mossad agents who came here some years ago and stole the identities of disabled Kiwi children to get false New Zealand passports.

  4. Tony Veitch 4
    2 February 2025 at 8:48 am

    As usual, Jonathan Pie tells it like it is!

    And it's a message we should make abundantly clear to any incoming Labour/Greens/PTM government – stop fucking around and deliver REAL change!

    • SPC 4.1
      2 February 2025 at 9:52 am

      If you're wondering if off grid living is legal, the answer is simple – yes. In New Zealand, where GridFree is based, you're not required to be connected to utilities, whether you're living in a campervan or on a patch of land

      https://gridfree.store/blogs/how-to-articles/qa-is-going-off-the-grid-legal

      AI

      Technically, someone could live in a house without water and power in New Zealand, but it would be considered "off-grid" living and would require significant adaptations to access basic necessities like water for drinking and sanitation, and alternative sources of power for lighting and cooking; this would likely be restricted to remote locations and require proper planning and local council approval depending on the situation

      While it's legal to live off-grid in New Zealand, any structures built for this purpose usually need council consent depending on the location and design.

      • Ad 4.1.1
        2 February 2025 at 1:53 pm

        All in my parents' generation were "off grid" farms in the backblocks.

        Except they were more honest and now call it for the true mean poverty it was. Ain't nothing to aspire to.

        • SPC 4.1.1.1
          2 February 2025 at 2:13 pm

          Nor is renting a "shoe box" for life (water and power charges), in a nation with lack of state housing and old aged care homes and declining health care.

          The thing is lifestyle blocks could also be used for villages, composed of mobile small builds and motor home places. Many would prefer that to retirement villages (where the property and CG goes to a corporate).

        • joe90 4.1.1.2
          2 February 2025 at 3:12 pm

          I've done bits and pieces for an electrical engineer brought in to try and sort out pie in the sky off-grid systems. All sorts of stupid, ill conceived shit where people have cheaped-out and ultimately, pissed tens of thousands up the wall.

  5. PsyclingLeft.Always 5
    2 February 2025 at 9:28 am

    An important day to be aware in NZ of what is happening to our Wetland NZ "kidneys"…

    Today, 2 February, marks World Wetlands Day 2025. Some links…

    Restoring peat wetlands – our climate change secret weapon

    https://www.forestandbird.org.nz/resources/restoring-peat-wetlands-our-climate-change-secret-weapon

    Expert feature: New Zealand Wetlands

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/2018680059/expert-feature-new-zealand-wetlands

    Positive action to help

    Stop destroying our freshwater protections

    https://www.forestandbird.org.nz/petitions/stop-destroying-our-freshwater-protections

  6. Dennis Frank 6
    2 February 2025 at 9:37 am

    If you don't believe bureaucrats rule, contemplate the fact that the origin of civilisation was official accounting of economic production (oldest clay tablet in Mesopotomia inscribed with cuneiform signs, about 5 millennia back). Bomber specifies rule by bureaucrats in Aotearoa:

    At least one soldier who served in Gaza during the ongoing war against Hamas has been denied entry to New Zealand. He said that this was a direct result of his answers to the questionnaire, while noting that he said he had not been involved in war crimes in Gaza. Australia has been operating a similar policy, and at least two Israelis have been denied entry as a result.

    New Zealand’s Immigration Authority (INZ), reached for comment, did not deny the details of this report, but said that serving in the current war did not automatically disqualify Israelis from entering the country.

    So the result of bureaucratic rule has been innocent Israeli soldiers denied holidays here because they told the truth: a bureaucrat's dream outcome. Gotta ensure that truth and reality get eliminated by procedure.

    https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2025/02/02/no-one-has-told-winston-immigration-nz-have-already-started-vetting-idf-war-criminals-and-he-panics/

  7. tWig 7
    2 February 2025 at 10:20 am

    At Stuff's site the under-banner headings now just starts : 'NZ news…Trump in power…'

    No World News, just Trump.

  8. Dennis Frank 8
    2 February 2025 at 10:24 am

    New DNC chair is establishment:

    Martin’s election represents a triumph of state party leaders and DNC veterans over senior national Democrats and donors, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Democratic mega-donor Reid Hoffman, who had thrown their lot behind Wikler. The latter group saw Wikler as a more innovative organizer whose work in a presidential battleground state better equipped him to lead Democrats during a second Trump term.

    Martin leveraged deep relationships with state party chairs, officers and other DNC members to cultivate an air of inevitability. He entered the contest in November with nearly 100 commitments from DNC members, and secured more than 200 public commitments from DNC members by the eve of the election… He received 246 votes to Wikler’s 144 and O’Malley’s 44.

    Huffpost profiled the three candidates here: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ken-versus-ben-dnc-chair-preview_n_679d7d49e4b0d54b8bb888a9

  9. Dennis Frank 9
    2 February 2025 at 10:37 am

    Neoliberalism as sacrifice cult, according to Dame Anne:

    Somehow, selling off ‘assets’ (which can be the means of life itself, including land and basic infrastructure), running down public services, cutting jobs, degrading the environment and exporting our young people is supposed to deliver a thriving economy. As an anthropologist, it reminds me of the Aztecs who sacrificed their children to ensure good harvests and cosmic balance https://newsroom.co.nz/2025/02/01/hell-is-truth-seen-too-late/

    Once ‘the market’ is held to be the most intelligent form of life on the planet, according to Mirowski, the human quest to understand how the world works and education for ‘the masses’ become futile, alongside public journalism, libraries and ‘blue skies’ research. Those most closely in touch with ‘the Market,’ entrepreneurs, are closer to ‘reality’ than scholars and scientists, research institutes and universities, which must be harnessed to market demands, as in the recent science reforms in New Zealand.

    The finesse with which the dame evades mentioning ongoing leftist support for neoliberalism is awe-inspiring. She dances all around that elephant in the room. Readers marvelling at her expertise will think "Whatta dame!"

  10. SPC 10
    2 February 2025 at 11:17 am

    Damien Grant doing some greenwashing, to show that, some of those who worship at the altar of deconstruction society to serve aggregate capital order of the economy, are somehow still also fellow human-beings.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360566722/damien-grant-golriz-ghahraman-and-visceral-antipathy-she-generates-fringes

  11. Mike the Lefty 11
    2 February 2025 at 12:22 pm

    There is a curious irony here that the ravings of Cruze represents what SHOULD be the case.

    Why the hell should a country at war be entitled to visa free access to NZ?

    They should have to apply for a visa and answer questions about their military service. I should add that Chinese citizens have to answer those same questions in their visa applications.

  12. adam 12
    2 February 2025 at 1:18 pm

    Canada Oh Canada a good leader even.

  13. Dennis Frank 13
    2 February 2025 at 3:46 pm

    Steve Bannon excoriates tech bros jumping on the Trump bandwagon, calls them

    oligarchs who believe in technofeudalism. Elsewhere in the hourlong interview, Bannon said the tech oligarchs all want "eternal life."

    … 11-year-old boys that are kind of science fiction 'Dungeons & Dragons' guys, and we’ve turned the nation over to that. And yes, I’m going to fight it every [expletive] step of the way. This is taking us back a millennium to feudalism. Their business model is based upon that," he raged.

    Marc Andreessen and the oligarchs are nothing but a bunch of progressive leftists that had their Damascene moment between 10 and 11 o’clock on the evening of Nov. 5 when the Trump movement won Pennsylvania.

    https://www.rawstory.com/steve-bannon-2671044061/

    Perhaps he's miffed because T is using Musk and not him? Perhaps ideological purity is important to him, so he hates pragmatic power-shifts.

  14. Ad 14
    2 February 2025 at 6:38 pm

    The Trump tariff earthquake: will Red State governors or Canada+Mexico blink first.

    Those US Midwest refineries which rely on Canadian crude the most will I think means Red State governors will be in serious mid term election trouble.

  15. joe90 15
    2 February 2025 at 8:21 pm

    Ketamine doing it's thing.

    /

    @kevinmkruse.bsky.social‬

    The only thing better than having an unelected dipshit in charge of the federal government, is having that dipshit refer to that same government as "the opposing team."

    https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:cnpe7qvcyjrhm6w7w7e4atur/post/3lh5r5vtbvc2g