Was on TV 1 last night. (maybe get it OnDemand?) An Insightful and Informative NZ Doco about the Mis and Dis Information being channelled to.. and within NZ. Exposed Hater NZ well.
Are you serious,,,a TV1 documentary on the evils of dis-misinformation…..a must see, well maybe to better understand who your enemy is guess.
MSM are the largest single disseminators of the most damaging mis- disinformation and neo-imperialist propaganda on the planet today…when was the last Western backed war or intervention that western MSM hasn’t backed up with straight out propaganda?..these blood thirsty pricks love wars.
Western liberal MSM proved right out in the open that they were the most loyal and aggressive guard dogs of the neo-liberal status-quo when an actual Left Wing threat showed up in the form of Jeremy Corbyn and Bernie Sanders (on his first run)…they have proved beyond question again and again, that they will do anything necessary to defend this death cult neo-liberal capitalist status-quo…and when the biggest political leak in UK history happens and proves the media to be on the side of power and not the people, what happens?….well they just don't report on those leaks of course… must see, come on, get serious.
Any chance of you putting up a list of the dreaded 'MSM' for me? I'll then know which to absolutely avoid, never use in any way. Let it include newspapers as well as the broadcast media.
A list of the 20 media outlets to definitely use would be good too. (Those who have a purity and honesty and altruism in everything they do.)
My Pleasure…The Guardian, BBC, The Washington Post, NPR, RNZ etc ets…infact every Liberal MSM media source that I can think of, except maybe The Independent…are complicit in undermining and defaming every single serious Left Wing person or project around the world that even poses a minor threat the safe cosy Liberal world/ideology that they inhabit.
The Right Wing press does what it does, so it is not worth focusing on them…but the way MSM Liberal media is employed to destroy progress Left Wing movements should be of serious concern to anyone who cares about the future of our children, families and the planet…for obvious reasons.
I of course read MSM Right and Liberal..but with my bullshit detector turned up high….
All I wanted was a simple list. You provide a few names and then go on a bit of a rave.
It appears you look at/listen to the same stuff we all do but you do it with your bullshit detector turned up high. Are you presuming others don't have bullshit detectors?
I wonder about those who totally rubbish some media outlets yet still continuously indulge. A bit like someone averring they hate a food but keep on eating it. And telling us how bad it is.
Adrian….I sometimes agree with what you say. But really ….everything is not "quite" as you black as you think. I Watch TV News and Docos. I read the Guardian, RNZ,Stuff,Newspapers, even lol the Herald .
There is a lot of Good reporting..and Good Reporters. maybe focus on them?
Anyway, hope all good and your Cycling etc going well.
The presidential address may defuse protests by his supporters who have blocked highways in many states across Brazil, along with pro-Bolsonaro truckers calling for him to defy the electoral victory of leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Why any serious progressive Leftie would still think that anything that this completely rogue Nation does militarily, is done with any kind of holistic or altruistic intent, would by now, have to be completely delusional….or mad…or both.
Interesting that we are told by the US backed Western world hegemony that Russia should have just ignored the build-up of a ultra-aggressive multi National military pact forming on their actual boarders…while at the very same time that same, that same the US backed western hegemony freaks out over a tiny island thousands of km’s from anywhere in the middle of the pacific making a alliance with China….
To most of the worlds population it is understood to be exactly what its actions prove it is, a US led Western neo-imperialist hegemony…but you can call it what ever you like…from where you sit.
The Grayzone is a far-left (sic) news website and blog founded and edited by American journalist Max Blumenthal. ,,, content is generally considered to be fringe. It is known for misleading reporting and sympathetic coverage of authoritarian regimes, in addition to it's denial of human rights abuses against Uyghurs. The Grayzone has published conspiracy theories as well as pro-Russian propaganda during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. ~ Wikipedia.
If we laugh at you, Weston, it is that we may not weep.
"Known for " doesnt prove a thing stuart produce some actual facts which the greyzone have misrepresented go ahead .
That some journalists dont agree with other journalists whether its about the Uyghurs or any other topic is not something to be scared of stuart they just have a different viewpoint that might be worth discussing .
Its all too easy to dismiss other opinions by smearing them with the very hackneyed term 'conspiracy theories ' You do know dont you stuart that its not just the ' evil russians ' that do propaganda ??
Yes, I know all about smearing, I've been smeared incessantly by Putin dupes like you over the last five years or so.
I have contacts in Russia, and some knowledge of its history. The positions you routinely take: that Putin is fine when he is a murderous despot, that NATO is to blame when it is Moscow's geopolitical ambitions that caused their invasions, and that MSM are risible when you swallow untenable propaganda without a moment's thought make your pretensions to objectivity one of the sickest jokes on the internet.
Perhaps the biggest joke though, is that you pretend to be of the Left, when you are merely a fascist fanboi. You should be ashamed of yourself – I'm ashamed of you.
"The clue is in the title, NORTH ATLANTIC Treaty organisation"
I was surprised to see that Mongolia is listed as a global partner in NATO. It doesn't even border a country that borders a country that borders the Atlantic.
The sanctimonious sanctuary is again telling LIES. NATO is a defensive organisation that has never attacked anyone .. except Libya, Afghanistan, Yugoslavia, Bosnia. Maybe you should take a month off spewing lies and do some actual research you peddler of disinformation.
As the USSR broke up into constituent republics, so did Yugoslavia. Initially there was a Yugoslavian peoples army effort to maintain unity, but this soon lost non Serb soldiers when it became apparent it was in reality a greater Serbia project by seizing parts of Croatia and Bosnia (not like Russia in Ukraine*).
The UN and NATO started nothing. They (GHWB at his worst) were simply inept – there should have been plebescites (a peaceful methodology) to determine borders (internal borders are not always in sync with nationalist ethnic ones*).
It was the US and UK who deposed the Taleban regime for not handing over the Al Qaeda leader after 9/11. NATO was engaged in Afghanistan in Dec 2001 as part of the ISAF established by the UNSC to help assist the Karzai administration provide basic security.
The UN authorised a no fly zone in Libya (to end air attacks in civilian areas and ensure peace talks) – but NATO went beyond its mandate and attacked Libyan government ground forces. Because of this, no such mandate was ever enabled in Syria (and so Russians bombed the civilian areas to keep the government in power).
Australia is the 12th biggest economy in the world. The trans-tasman countries collectively would be the tenth biggest economic block in the world. Based on GDP per head Singapore, the USA, Australia and New Zealand are first, second, third and fourth richest countries in Asia-Pacific. And they are all on the same side.
The Australian mainland also suffered heavy attacks from Japan in WW2 and they had to fight a desperate land battle on their own door step in New Guinea.
The point is, Australia has massive amounts of natural resources, in incredibly rich, and at 25 million plus people has a big enough population to be major middle power, and is clearly a regional great power. That plus their experience in WW2 means they see security through a different lens to us.
You and I might shake our heads at how tighly aligned the Aussies are with the USA, but it has obvious military advantages for Canberra. The military alliance between Australia and the United States is as close as it could be. The United States would not even consider selling its most advanced nuclear submarines to anyone else (and I include the UK and Japan in that.
Personally, I am not sure what Australia's end game is, beyond aggressively containing China without necessarily thinking through the consequences to Australia of major regional war with China.
Arnuad Betrand offers interesting commentary on geopolitics, here a summary of a recent interview with George Yeo.
George Yeo, one of the most consummate statesmen in Asia (Singapore Cabinet member for 21 years!) is always a mandatory listen.
Here he explains the worrying dynamic between the US and China. He has by far the best understanding I've come across.
Just thinking about Jacinda's recent trip to the ice.
According to what I have read there is at least 50 billion barrels of oil in the Ross sea. At current prices, that would be nine trillion NZ dollars worth of oil, and you could probably double that for gas. Eighteen trillion NZ dollars worth of oil and gas.
That would turn five million NZer's into the wealthiest people on earth, richer even that Arab potentates because in addition to having whatever we want – bike path over the harbour bridge? High speed rail from Auckland to Christchurch? Fully equipped 300 bed hospital in every provincial city? Free university for all? No taxes at all? Sovereign wealth fund to be forever rich? Predator free NZ? Sure! – we also don't live in a overheated sandy desert like the Arabs do.
Persuade me we wouldn't all cause a stampede to the polls to vote for the drill, baby drill party if we found fifty billion barrels of oil, that we wouldn't be "persuaded" to drill by the USA and/or China even if we did decide not to drill by ourselves, and that we wouldn't fight all comers and to hell with any treaties to guard the precious stuff.
I suppose you're right that some will be suckered into that idea but it’s getting very boring to argue against yet again.
The taxes i.e. costs on that nine trillion?
Obviously the environmental cost which would make the money so worthless that once again, the powerful would hog the bulk of it to protect their own property as the world melts.
Then the actual monetary taxes on the pollution through "offsetting" and whatever other bogus scheme governments dream up.
And of course the military costs in protecting ourselves against those who would now declare us to be WMD hoarders or some other bullshit; not just costs in mil hardware, but bribes, "deals" and other expenses to be able to sell at a price that more powerful nations deem acceptable.
The very idea that we'd simply be permitted to get away with it is absurd. But of course your point is that you don't have to convince everyone, just a rabid few. Hope you're wrong on that number being a "stampede".
The harm is not in extracting the oil/gas. It is what happens to it when it is used. If the environmental impact of that is reduced sufficiently then there is no reason why we should restrict extracting it.
What do you find problematic with that statement? If there was little AGW impact from use of fossil fuels and other harmful environmental impacts were managed so as not to have major effects why would you restrict fossil fuel extraction? It would be like restricting living because of potential negative environmental impacts.
it's a pigs might fly statement. At some point in the future, humans may find a way to burn fossil fuels without emitting GHGs. We're not even on the same planet as that idea currently, so I can't see the use of the idea in this conversation.
There is plenty of usage of hydrocarbons beyond burning it. It forms the basis of many of the products we use. You are likely using some right now in this communication with me.
I see, no harm in storing or transporting it either? Nothing ever goes wrong with tankers, storage tanks, pipelines, et cetera? You’re smoking too much of your own dope.
Do you mean the SAME cronies that Labour supports and NO one here will admit !!! Remember the PROMISED in 2017. I suppose once you tell 1 lie it becomes so much easier foe the next lie to tell eh PM !!!. It is difficult – Now open your eyes but that would mean some to admit that this Labour Govt is no different to any other govt.,
"Then came the Speech from the Throne in November 2017 that said “there will be no new mines on conservation land”
If 100 million of the tweeters (c200-400m of them) pay $8 a month – US$100 a year, that is a nice $10Bpa. He may not care much about PC advertisers if enough GOP/right wingers sign up.
So who will be the ones seeking a venue without PC rules/without hate …
Electric cars – the carbon credits.
Social media free speech – making money from the Trump rabble.
Elon Musk has said Twitter will charge $8 (£7) monthly to Twitter users who want a blue tick by their name indicating a verified account.
As part of changes after a $44bn (£38bn) takeover of the social media site, Mr Musk said it was "essential to defeat spam/scam"reduce Twitter's reliance on advertising.
Mr Musk, the world's richest person, added that paid users would have priority in replies and searches, and half as many advertisements.
He is posing it as an egalitarian system
"Power to the people! Blue for $8/month," the billionaire said on Twitter, criticising the old method of blue tick verification as a "lords and peasants system".
Misrepresenting how the current system evolved
Twitter's former method of verifying users for a blue tick included a short online application form, and was reserved for those whose identities were targets for impersonation, such as celebrities, politicians and journalists.
The company introduced the system in 2009, after it faced a lawsuit accusing it of not doing enough to prevent imposter accounts.
Follow the money. Trickle up, the elite making money out of IT, and hardly any of the CG is taxed.
Nothing of the like since Trump collected millions from his loyal followers to challenge the election result in court and placed the money in his personal PAC.
Elon Musk just announced that you can purchase a blue checkmark on Twitter for $8. The woke journalists are throwing a tantrum because they can no longer act superior to us peasants.
Netanyahu and right wing allies seem set for 61-62 seats (120 seat Knesset) after a deal with Religious Zionism (an extremism now unleashed by BN favour). And they go to being the third largest party.
Netanyahu's doing his best to delegitimise Arab votes.
Central Elections Committee head Orly Adas says incidents were not dramatic and dealt with, as Likud leader tries to cast doubt on ballots cast for Arab parties
The head of the Central Elections Committee said early Wednesday morning that election voting had gone smoothly, after Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu made unfounded accusations of “fake” votes.
Orly Adas, director-general of the Central Elections Committee, said irregularities were isolated and minor at some of the 12,000 voting stations nationwide as Israel held its fifth election in under four years.
“There were a number of incidents throughout election day but they weren’t dramatic and were taken care of,” she said.
[…]
Netanyahu and his Likud party have repeatedly alleged voter irregularities at certain polling stations in Arab communities without providing evidence to back it up.
“Likud warns of a wide-scale effort to violently forge the election results,” the party said in a statement Tuesday after polls closed. It alleged that right-wing poll watchers were subject to violence and threats once exit polls showed that “results of the election hinged on the results for Balad.”
The Arab party Balad is hovering near the electoral threshold needed to win Knesset representation. If the party makes it into the Knesset, it could tip the scale back toward a split between the pro- and anti-Netanyahu blocs.
Netanyahu also repeated an unfounded accusation of voter irregularities at certain polling stations in Arab communities, saying that he was waiting for the “real count, not the fake count that somebody is trying to subvert by violence or intimidation.”
Australia should buy equipment to cheaply and temporarily convert military transport aircraft into waterbombers. On current planning, the Australian Defence Force will have a total of 34 Chinook helicopters and Hercules airlifters. They should be ...
Indonesia’s government has slashed its counterterrorism (CT) budgets, despite the persistent and evolving threat of violent extremism. Australia can support regional CT efforts by filling this funding void. Reducing funding to the National Counterterrorism Agency ...
A ballot for a single Member's Bill was held today, and the following bill was drawn: Resource Management (Prohibition on Extraction of Freshwater for On-selling) Amendment Bill (Debbie Ngarewa-Packer) The bill does exactly what it says on the label, and would effectively end the rapacious water-bottling industry ...
Twilight Time Lighthouse Cuba, Wigan Street, Wellington, Sunday 6 April, 5:30pm for 6pm start. Twilight Time looks at the life and work of Desmond Ball, (1947-2016), a barefooted academic from ‘down under’ who was hailed by Jimmy Carter as “the man who saved the world”, as he proved the fallacy ...
Foreign aid is being slashed across the Global North, nowhere more so than in the United States. Within his first month back in the White House, President Donald Trump dismantled the US Agency for International ...
Nicola Willis has proposed new procurement rules that unions say will lead to pay cuts for already low-paid workers in cleaning, catering and security services that are contracted by government. The Crimes (Theft by Employer) Amendment Bill passed its third reading with support from all the opposition parties and NZ ...
Most KP readers will not know that I was a jazz DJ in Chicago and Washington DC while in grad school in the early and mid 1980s. In DC I joined WPFW as a grave shift host, then a morning drive show host (a show called Sui Generis, both for ...
Long stories shortest: The IMF says a capital gains tax or land tax would improve real economic growth and fix the budget. GDP is set to be smaller by 2026 than it was in 2023. Compass is flying in school lunches from Australia. 53% of National voters say the new ...
Last year in October I wrote “Where’s The Opposition?”. I was exasperated at the relative quiet of the Green Party, Labour and Te Pati Māori (TPM), as the National led Coalition ticked off a full bingo card of the Atlas Network playbook.1To be fair, TPM helped to energise one of ...
An agreement to end the war in Ukraine could transform Russia’s relations with North Korea. Moscow is unlikely to reduce its cooperation with Pyongyang to pre-2022 levels, but it may become more selective about areas ...
This week, the Government is hosting a grand event aimed at trying to interest big foreign capital players in financing capital works in New Zealand, particularly its big rural motorway programme. Financing vs funding: a quick explainer The key word in the sentence above is financing. It is important ...
In a month’s time, the Right Honourable Winston Peters will be celebrating his 80th birthday. Good for him. On the evidence though, his current war on “wokeness” looks like an old man’s cranky complaint that the ancient virtues of grit and know-how are sadly lacking in the youth of today. ...
As noted, early March has been about moving house, and I have had little chance to partake in all things internet. But now that everything is more or less sorted, I can finally give a belated report on my visit to the annual Regent Booksale (28th February and 1st March). ...
Information operations Australia has banned cybersecurity software Kaspersky from government use because of risks of espionage, foreign interference and sabotage. The Department of Home Affairs said use of Kaspersky products posed an unacceptable security ...
The StrategistBy Linus Cohen, Astrid Young and Alice Wai
One of the best understood tropes of screen drama is the scene where the beloved family dog is barking incessantly and cannot be calmed. Finally, somebody asks: What is it, girl? Has someone fallen down a well? Is there trouble at the old John Key place?One is reminded of this ...
The ’ndrangheta, the Calabrian mafia, plays a significant role in the global cocaine trade and is deeply entrenched in Australia, influencing the cocaine trade and engaging in a variety of illicit activities. A range of ...
In the US, the Trump regime is busy imposing tariffs on its neighbours and allies, then revoking them, then reimposing them, permanently poisoning relations with Canada and Mexico. Trump has also threatened to impose tariffs on agricultural goods, which will affect Aotearoa's exports. National's response? To grovel for an exemption, ...
Troy Bowker’s Caniwi Capital’s Desmond Gittings, former TradeMe and Warehouse executive Simon West, former anonymous right wing blogger / Labour attacker & now NZ On Air Board member / Waitangi Tribunal member Philip Crump, Canadian billionaire Jim Grenon who used to run vaccine critical, Treaty of Waitangi critical, and trans-rights ...
The free school lunch program was one of Labour's few actual achievements in government. Decent food, made locally, providing local employment. So naturally, National had to get rid of it. Their replacement - run by Compass, a multinational which had already been thrown out of our hospitals for producing inedible ...
New draft government procurement guidelines will remove living wage protections for thousands of low-paid workers in Aotearoa New Zealand, said NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff. “The Minister of Finance Nicola Willis has proposed a new rule saying that the Living Wage no longer needs to be paid in ...
The Trump administration’s effort to divide Russia from China is doomed to fail. This means that the United States is destroying security relationships based on a delusion. To succeed, Russia would need to overcome more ...
Māori workers now hold more high-skilled jobs than low-skilled jobs with 46 percent in high-skilled jobs, 14 percent in skilled jobs, and 40 percent in low-skilled jobs. Resource teachers of literacy and Te Reo Māori are “devastated” by a proposal from the Education Minister to stop funding 174 roles from ...
Knowing what is going on in orbit is getting harder—yet hardly less necessary. But new technologies are emerging to cope with the challenge, including some that have come from Australian civilian research. One example is ...
This is a guest post by Malcolm McCracken. It previously appeared on his blog Better Things Are Possible and is shared by kind permission. New Zealand’s largest infrastructure project, the City Rail Link (CRL), is expected to open in 2026. This will be an exciting step forward for Auckland, delivering better ...
“The reality is I'm just saying to you I'm proud of the work we're doing. We're doing a great job”, said Luxon, pushing back at Auckland Council’s reports of rising homelessness and pleas for help. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories shortest:Christopher Luxon denies his Government caused a ...
Should I stay, or should I go now?Should I stay, or should I go now?If I go, there will be troubleAnd if I stay, it will be doubleSo come on and let me knowSongwriters: Topper Headon, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, Joe Strummer.Christopher,Tomorrow marks seventeen months since the last election. We’re ...
Homelessness in Auckland has risen by 53% in 4 months - that’s 653 peopleliving in cars, on streets and in parks.The city’s emergency housing numbers have fallen by about 650 under National too - now at record lows.Housing First Auckland is on the frontlines: There is “more and more ...
A growing consensus holds that the future of airpower, and of defense technology in general, involves the interplay of crewed and uncrewed vehicles. Such teaming means that more-numerous, less-costly, even expendable uncrewed vehicles can bring ...
Only two more sleeps to the Government’s Jamboree Investor Extravaganza! As a proud New Zealander I’m very much hoping for the best: Off-shore wind farms! Solar power! Sustainable industry powered by the abundant energy we could be producing!I wonder, will they have a deal already lined up, something to announce ...
After decades of gradual decline, Australia’s manufacturing capability is no longer mission-fit to meet national security needs. Any whole-of-nation effort to arrest this trend needs to start by making the industrial operating environment more conducive ...
Back in October 2022, Restore Passenger Rail hung banners across roads in Wellington to protest against the then-Labour government's weak climate change policy. The police responded by charging them not with the usual public order offences, but with "endangering transport", a crime with a maximum sentence of 14 years in ...
Luxon’s popularity continues to fall, and a new survey shows voters rank fixing the health system as the top priority. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / Getty ImagesLong stories shortest in Aotearoa’s political economy this morning: National’s pollster finds Christopher Luxon has fallen behind Chris Hipkins as preferred PM for the first ...
The CTU is calling for an apology from Nicola Willis after her office made a false characterisation of CTU statements, which ultimately saw him blocked from future Treasury briefings. New data shows that Māori make up 83% of those charged under new gang laws. Financial incentives are being offered to ...
Australia’s cyber capabilities have evolved rapidly, but they are still largely reactive, not preventative. Rather than responding to cyber incidents, Australian law enforcement agencies should focus on dismantling underlying criminal networks. On 11 December, Europol ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters Finally, there’s some good news to report from NOAA, the parent organization of the National Hurricane Center, or NHC: During the highly active 2o24 Atlantic hurricane season, the NHC made record-accurate track forecasts at every time interval (12-, ...
The Australian government has prioritised enhancing Australia’s national resilience for many years now, whether against natural disasters, economic coercion or hostile armed forces. However, the public and media response to the presence of Chinese naval ...
It appears that Auckland Transport is finally set to improve Auckland’s busiest non-frequent bus route, the 120. As highlighted in my post a month ago on Auckland’s busiest bus routes, the 120 is the busiest route that doesn’t already run frequently all day/week and carries more passengers than many other ...
Economists have earned their reputation for jargon and tunnel vision, but sometimes, it takes an someone as perceptive as Simplicity economist Shamubeel Eaqub to identify something simple and devastating. As he pointed out recently, the coalition government is trying to attract foreign investment here to generate economic growth, while – ...
Opinion & AnalysisSimeon Brown, left, and Deloitte partner David LovattIn September 2024, Deloitte Partner David Lovatt, was contracted by the National Government to help National ostensibly understand “the drivers behind HNZ’s worsening financial performance”.1 i.e. deficit.The report shows the last version was dated December 2024.It was formally released this week ...
This cobbled-together government was altogether more the beneficiary of Labour getting turfed out than anything it managed to do itself. Even the worthless cheques they were writing didn't buy all that much favour.How’s it all looking now?Shall we take a look at a Horizon poll?The Government’s performance is making only ...
There's horrible news from the US today, with the Trump regime disappearing Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University student, for protesting against genocide in Gaza. Its another significant decline in US human rights, and puts them in the same class as the authoritarian dictatorships they used to sponsor in South ...
Yesterday National announced plans to amend the Public Works Act to "speed up" land acquisition for public works. Which sounds boring and bureaucratic - except its not. Because what "land acquisition" means is people's homes being compulsorily acquired by the state - which is inherently controversial, and fairly high up ...
Contenders: The next question after “Will Luxon really go?” is, of course, “Will that work?” The answer to that question lies not so much in the efficacy of Luxon’s successor as it does in the perceived strength of the Centre-Left alternative.AT LEAST TWO prominent political commentators are alluding publicly to the ...
Ice will melt, water will boilYou and I can shake off this mortal coilIt's bigger than usYou don't have to worry about itIt's circumstantialIt's nothing written in the skyAnd we don't even have to trySongwriters: Neil Finn / Tim Finn.Preparing for the future.Many of you will be familiar with the ...
In my post last Thursday I offered some thoughts on changes that should be initiated by the government in the wake of the Governor’s surprise resignation. (Days on we still have no real explanation as to why he just resigned with no notice, disappearing out the door and (eg) leaving ...
In late February a Chinese navy flotilla including a cruiser, a frigate and a replenishment ship began to circle Australia, conducting a live fire exercise in the Tasman Sea along the way. The Strategist featured ...
China’s deployment of a potent surface action group around Australia over the past two weeks is unprecedented but not unique. Over the past few years, China’s navy has deployed a range of vessels in Australia’s ...
Long stories shortest in Aotearoa’s political economy this morning: Within months and before Parliamentary approval is obtained, the Government plans to strip non-Maori landowners of the right to use the Environment Court to stop compulsory acquisition for fast-track projects and big new motorways.The Government also wants to buy off landowners ...
Hi,When I was 16 (pimples, braces, painfully awkward) — I applied for a job at Video Ezy.It’s difficult to describe how much I wanted this job. Video Ezy was my local video shop in Tauranga, and I’d spend hours of my teenage life stalking through those aisles, looking at the ...
A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 2, 2025 thru Sat, March 8, 2025. This week's roundup is again published by category and sorted by number of articles included in each. We are still interested ...
The title of this post comes from Albert Wohlstetter’s 1976 seminal essay Moving Towards Life in a Nuclear Armed Crowd. In that essay he contemplated a world in which several nations had nuclear weapons, and also the strategic logics governing their proliferation, deployment and use (mainly as a deterrent). For ...
Adrian Orr resigned unexpectedly and immediately on Wednesday, giving no explanation for departing three years before the end of his second term. File Photo: Lynn GrievesonLong stories shortest in our political economy this week: David Seymour’s lunch programme came under increasing scrutiny;Adrian Orr resigned unexpectedly after clashing with Nicola Willis ...
You've got to live, lady liveDo the tongue rollGive me joyBut don't kiss me too fastSong: Th’ Dudes.Good morning, all. After another heavy week of less-than-positive news, it’s time for something silly: the old standby of memories and questions.I can’t face writing about any more terrible people this week. I usually ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is Greenland losing land ice? Data from satellites and expeditions confirm Greenland has been losing land ice at an accelerating rate for decades. ...
After the Reserve Bank’s appearance on 20 February at the Finance and Expenditure Committee (the Governor, his macro deputy Karen Silk, and his chief economist Paul Conway) on the previous day’s Monetary Policy Statement, I wrote a post here about it, focused on a number of areas in which Orr, ...
Beijing deployed a naval task group to the waters around Australia for three related reasons. First, to demonstrate the reach and potency of Chinese sea power and to put Australia on notice that it is ...
That's the price that we all payAnd the value of destiny comes to nothingI can't tell you where we're goingI guess there was just no way of knowingSongwriters: Bernard Sumner / Gillian Lesley Gilbert / Peter Hook / Stephen Eric Hague / Stephen Paul David Morris.What an eventful week it’s ...
In what might have been the longest presidential address to Congress in American history—an hour and forty minutes without intermission—President Donald Trump delivered a performance on Tuesday night that was simultaneously grandiose, confrontational, optimistic and ...
Peter Frankopan’s The Earth Transformed: An Untold History is a compelling account of the interaction between humans and the environment. We would be unwise to ignore it. The Silk Roads: A New History of the World by Oxford professor of history Peter Frankopan was initially widely admired. But critics point ...
The United States shocked the world last week with President Donald Trump’s very public rift with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This was followed by a US pause on military aid and some intelligence sharing with ...
International Women’s Day (IWD) serves as both a celebration of progress and a reminder of the ongoing challenges women face worldwide. Across national security, diplomacy, human rights and digital spaces, women continue to break barriers. ...
Domestic violence is an under-recognised early indicator of terrorism. It is not a reliable solitary indicator, but when observed alongside risk factors, it can prompt authorities to take a closer look at a potential terrorist. ...
1. The Government is bringing back what to Health New Zealand?a. Buckb. Sexyc. The arrangement they dumped nine months ago2. Patient advocate and health campaigner Malcolm Mulholland said Commissioner Levy's time would be remembered as what?a. The Good Placeb. The Bad Placec. Absolute havoc and mayhem3. The government also announced ...
The current National government is one of the worst in Aotearoa's history. And because of this, its also one of the most unpopular. A war on Māori, corrupt fast-track legislation, undermining the fight against climate change, the ferry fiasco, the school lunch disaster... none of these policies are making friends. ...
Australia should enlist partners in the Quad to help address China’s increasingly assertive naval behaviour in the Indo-Pacific. The Quad may be slow in moving into security roles, but one militarily useful function that it ...
Women’s rights and protections are regressing on the international stage, from the Taliban’s erasure of women from public life to US President Donald Trump’s misogynistic rhetoric and decision to suspend USAID. Against this backdrop, Australia’s ...
E tū, representing many of NZME’s journalists, says it is “deeply worried” by a billionaire’s plans to take over its board. They are also concerned that NZ Post call centre jobs are gradually shifting to the Philippines as a cost-cutting measure. APEX have announced that more than 850 lab staff ...
US President Donald Trump, his powerful offsider Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are slashing public spending in an effort to save US taxpayers anywhere between US$500 billion and US$2 trillion. Caught ...
Miles and miles on my ownWarm with shame, I follow onA language to find hard to hearNot to understand, just disappearCould you take my place and stand here?I do not think you'd take this painYou'll be on your knees and struggle under the weightOh, the truth would be a beautiful ...
The Green Party is disappointed the Government voted down Hūhana Lyndon’s member’s Bill, which would have prevented further alienation of Māori land through the Public Works Act. ...
The Labour Party will support Chloe Swarbrick’s member’s bill which would allow sanctions against Israel for its illegal occupation of the Palestinian Territories. ...
The Government’s new procurement rules are a blatant attack on workers and the environment, showing once again that National’s priorities are completely out of touch with everyday Kiwis. ...
With Labour and Te Pāti Māori’s official support, Opposition parties are officially aligned to progress Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick’s Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in Palestine. ...
Te Pāti Māori extends our deepest aroha to the 500 plus Whānau Ora workers who have been advised today that the govt will be dismantling their contracts. For twenty years , Whānau Ora has been helping families, delivering life-changing support through a kaupapa Māori approach. It has built trust where ...
Labour welcomes Simeon Brown’s move to reinstate a board at Health New Zealand, bringing the destructive and secretive tenure of commissioner Lester Levy to an end. ...
This morning’s announcement by the Health Minister regarding a major overhaul of the public health sector levels yet another blow to the country’s essential services. ...
New Zealand First has introduced a Member’s Bill that will ensure employment decisions in the public service are based on merit and not on forced woke ‘Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion’ targets. “This Bill would put an end to the woke left-wing social engineering and diversity targets in the public sector. ...
Police have referred 20 offenders to Destiny Church-affiliated programmes Man Up and Legacy as ‘wellness providers’ in the last year, raising concerns that those seeking help are being recruited into a harmful organisation. ...
Te Pāti Māori welcomes the resignation of Richard Prebble from the Waitangi Tribunal. His appointment in October 2024 was a disgrace- another example of this government undermining Te Tiriti o Waitangi by appointing a former ACT leader who has spent his career attacking Māori rights. “Regardless of the reason for ...
Police Minister Mark Mitchell is avoiding accountability by refusing to answer key questions in the House as his Government faces criticism over their dangerous citizen’s arrest policy, firearm reform, and broken promises to recruit more police. ...
The number of building consents issued under this Government continues to spiral, taking a toll on the infrastructure sector, tradies, and future generations of Kiwi homeowners. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Prime Minister to rule out joining the AUKUS military pact in any capacity following the scenes in the White House over the weekend. ...
The Green Party is appalled by the Government’s plan to disestablish Resource Teachers of Māori (RTM) roles, a move that takes another swing at kaupapa Māori education. ...
The Government’s levies announcement is a step in the right direction, but they must be upfront about who will pay its new infrastructure levies and ensure that first-home buyers are protected from hidden costs. ...
The Government’s levies announcement is a step in the right direction, but they must be upfront about who will pay its new infrastructure levies and ensure that first-home buyers are protected from hidden costs. ...
After months of mana whenua protecting their wāhi tapu, the Green Party welcomes the pause of works at Lake Rotokākahi and calls for the Rotorua Lakes Council to work constructively with Tūhourangi and Ngāti Tumatawera on the pathway forward. ...
New Zealand First continues to bring balance, experience, and commonsense to Government. This week we've made progress on many of our promises to New Zealand.Winston representing New ZealandWinston Peters is overseas this week, with stops across the Middle East and North Asia. Winston's stops include Saudi Arabia, the ...
Green Party Co-Leaders Marama Davidson and Chlöe Swarbrick have announced the party’s plans to deliver a Green Budget this year to offer an alternative vision to the Government’s trickle-down economics and austerity politics. ...
At this year's State of the Planet address, Green Party co-leaders Marama Davidson and Chlöe Swarbrick announced the party’s plans to deliver a Green Budget this year to offer an alternative vision to the Government’s trickle-down economics and austerity politics. ...
The Government has spent $3.6 million dollars on a retail crime advisory group, including paying its chair $920 a day, to come up with ideas already dismissed as dangerous by police. ...
The Green Party supports the peaceful occupation at Lake Rotokākahi and are calling for the controversial sewerage project on the lake to be stopped until the Environment Court has made a decision. ...
ActionStation’s Oral Healthcare report, released today, paints a dire picture of unmet need and inequality across the country, highlighting the urgency of free dental care for all New Zealanders. ...
As the world marks three years since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced additional sanctions on Russian entities and support for Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction. “Russia’s illegal invasion has brought three years of devastation to Ukraine’s people, environment, and infrastructure,” Mr Peters says. “These additional sanctions target 52 ...
Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced the Government’s plan to reform the Overseas Investment Act and make it easier for New Zealand businesses to receive new investment, grow and pay higher wages. “New Zealand is one of the hardest countries in the developed world for overseas people to ...
Associate Health Minister Hon Casey Costello is traveling to Australia for meetings with the aged care sector in Melbourne, Canberra, and Sydney next week. “Australia is our closest partner, so as we consider the changes necessary to make our system more effective and sustainable it makes sense to learn from ...
The Government is boosting investment in the QEII National Trust to reinforce the protection of Aotearoa New Zealand's biodiversity on private land, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says. The Government today announced an additional $4.5 million for conservation body QEII National Trust over three years. QEII Trust works with farmers and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra On current opinion polls, we are looking at a very close race at the May election. As voting day draws near, Peter Dutton will face more forensic questioning about his policies and how he would ...
While Rodrigo Duterte may still command support from his core base in the Philippines, something has clearly shifted. Yet the power he did wield haunts the nation as it awaits his trial at the International Criminal Court and it renews speculation about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who also has ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Noel Morada, Visiting Professor, Nelson Mandela Centre, Chulalongkorn University; and Research Fellow, Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, The University of Queensland Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is now in the custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julie Old, Associate Professor in Biology, Zoology and Animal Science, Western Sydney University Wombat joeys are dependent on their mothers for up to two years.Tom Wayman/Shutterstock It was hard to watch. In a now-deleted Instagram reel, American influencer Sam Jones is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laura Martín-Francés, Postdoctoral Fellow, PalaeoDiet Research Lab, Monash University The newly found fossil (right) alongside a mirrored reconstruction (left).Maria D. Guillén / IPHES-CERCA / Elena Santos / CENIEH In a system of caves in the Atapuerca Mountains in Spain, nearly 50 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milad Haghani, Associate Professor & Principal Fellow in Urban Risk & Resilience, The University of Melbourne The recent rollover of two army trucks carrying Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel responding to ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred was unprecedented for a domestic emergency operation. Thirty-two ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shima Ziajahromi, Advance Queensland Research Fellow, Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University Gary D Chapman/Shutterstock Compost applied to agricultural soils in Australia each year contains tonnes of microplastics, our research has revealed. These microplastics can harm soil and plant health and eventually ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ferdi Botha, Senior Research Fellow, Melbourne Institute: Applied Economic & Social Research, The University of Melbourne Australia already has the highest gambling losses globally. Now, new data show that between 2015 and 2022, the number of Australian men involved in sports betting ...
Our position is clear – this procurement rule must not be scrapped. It’s a practical way for the Government to improve lives and show these workers that they are valued, says Gina Lockyer, Executive Director of the Living Wage Movement. ...
Asia Pacific Report An open letter signed by 100 Christian leaders, calling for the granting of humanitarian visas to Aotearoa New Zealand for families of Palestinians trapped in Gaza has been handed over on the steps of Parliament. The letter was presented yesterday on Ash Wednesday to opposition Labour Party ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tanya Hill, Honorary Fellow at University of Melbourne and Senior Curator (Astronomy), Museums Victoria Research Institute As the full moon rises tomorrow (Friday March 14), it will be a special sight for those in Aotearoa New Zealand. It will also be worth ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bethany Butchers, Associate Lecturer in Law, University of Newcastle ShutterstockAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains the name of a deceased person. The High Court of Australia has handed down a landmark judgement on native ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lisa M. Given, Professor of Information Sciences & Director, Social Change Enabling Impact Platform, RMIT University Chay_Tee/Shutterstock False and misleading health information online and on social media is on the rise, thanks to rapid developments in deepfake technology and generative artificial ...
An autobiographical theatre show tells Jodee Mundy’s experience being a CODA – a child of deaf adults – and reveals many shortcomings of a world designed for the hearing. When Jodee Mundy was five, she got so caught up staring at a Barbie in its box with a tennis racquet ...
Comment: A sliver of hope for a progressive shift in the Middle East emerged when the brutal Assad regime was finally overthrown in Syria on December 8 last year. Three months later, Syria’s fragile steps toward a better future are torn between historically positive and alarmingly tragic developments.The hope comes ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonathan W. Marshall, Associate Professor & Postgraduate Research Coordinator, Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, Edith Cowan University Big Name, No Blankets.James Henry/Perth Festival In the Perth Festival exhibitions brochure, artistic director Anna Reece noted that the city is “uniquely positioned ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jacquie Rand, Emeritus Professor of Companion Animal Health, The University of Queensland Angelica Pasquali/Shutterstock Cats and milk often go hand in hand in popular culture. But on dairy farms, cats do much more than enjoy a saucer of milk – their ...
The number of complaints about the way government agencies handle OIA requests continues to trend upwards. In the most recent six-month period, the Ombudsman received 1,029 complaints, a rise from 946 in the previous half year. ...
With our English curriculum facing a rewrite, a deeper question emerges: is this about knowledge or control? As a confident speaker of two languages – English and te reo Māori – I often find myself grappling with how history is conveyed. I believe being multilingual sharpens my ability to detect ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nic Rawlence, Associate Professor in Ancient DNA, University of Otago Getty ImagesWhat actually was the biggest dinosaur?– Zavier, 14, Tauranga, New Zealand. Great question Zavier, and one that palaeontologists (scientists who study fossil animals and plants) are interested ...
With several key players away, parliament’s B team put on a confusing and unorganised performance at yesterday’s question time. Prime minister Chris Luxon missed Wednesday’s question time because he was in Auckland preparing for his big international investment summit. Several other senior ministers were also absent, practising their speeches and ...
Analysis: It’s not a criticism of Donald Trump’s tariffs, per se. Christopher Luxon wouldn’t make the same mistake that his Government has already sacked its UK High Commissioner over. But the Prime Minister is now on stage at his infrastructure investment summit at the Park Hyatt on Auckland’s waterfront, unapologetically highlighting ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Karinna Saxby, Research Fellow, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne The mental health of trans, nonbinary and gender-diverse Australians is worse than the general population and the gulf is getting wider. Our new study, published ...
I’ve met someone new, but I’m haunted by the ghost of my last relationship. This week’s question comes from Instagram. We accept questions of all shapes and sizes, emailed to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzDear Hera How to calm tf down and feel safe/relaxed in your first relationship after a very not nice ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Kenny, Professor, Australian Studies Institute, Australian National University Signing off his 26-year parliamentary career three years ago, the retiring Labor MP Joel Fitzgibbon lamented a power imbalance that allowed the majority party routinely to railroad the national legislature. In a refreshingly ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samantha Schulz, Associate Professor, School of Education, University of Adelaide Shutterstock/ Matej Kastelic Editor’s note: this article contains examples of offensive and abusive language. Researchers have been reporting a disturbing rise in sexist, misogynist behaviour from students in school ...
Was on TV 1 last night. (maybe get it OnDemand?) An Insightful and Informative NZ Doco about the Mis and Dis Information being channelled to.. and within NZ. Exposed Hater NZ well.
IMO must see.
Are you serious,,,a TV1 documentary on the evils of dis-misinformation…..a must see, well maybe to better understand who your enemy is guess.
MSM are the largest single disseminators of the most damaging mis- disinformation and neo-imperialist propaganda on the planet today…when was the last Western backed war or intervention that western MSM hasn’t backed up with straight out propaganda?..these blood thirsty pricks love wars.
Western liberal MSM proved right out in the open that they were the most loyal and aggressive guard dogs of the neo-liberal status-quo when an actual Left Wing threat showed up in the form of Jeremy Corbyn and Bernie Sanders (on his first run)…they have proved beyond question again and again, that they will do anything necessary to defend this death cult neo-liberal capitalist status-quo…and when the biggest political leak in UK history happens and proves the media to be on the side of power and not the people, what happens?….well they just don't report on those leaks of course… must see, come on, get serious.
Journalistic Representations of Jeremy Corbyn in the British Press
From "Watchdog" to "Attackdog"
https://www.lse.ac.uk/media-and-communications/research/research-projects/representations-of-jeremy-corbyn
Media 'persistently' biased against Jeremy Corbyn, academic study finds
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/jeremy-corbyn-media-bias-labour-party-media-reform-coalition-birkbeck-a7163706.html
Any chance of you putting up a list of the dreaded 'MSM' for me? I'll then know which to absolutely avoid, never use in any way. Let it include newspapers as well as the broadcast media.
A list of the 20 media outlets to definitely use would be good too. (Those who have a purity and honesty and altruism in everything they do.)
My Pleasure…The Guardian, BBC, The Washington Post, NPR, RNZ etc ets…infact every Liberal MSM media source that I can think of, except maybe The Independent…are complicit in undermining and defaming every single serious Left Wing person or project around the world that even poses a minor threat the safe cosy Liberal world/ideology that they inhabit.
The Right Wing press does what it does, so it is not worth focusing on them…but the way MSM Liberal media is employed to destroy progress Left Wing movements should be of serious concern to anyone who cares about the future of our children, families and the planet…for obvious reasons.
I of course read MSM Right and Liberal..but with my bullshit detector turned up high….
For new on the Ukraine I listen to Defense Politics Asia
https://defensepoliticsasia.com/
For current social and political unpacking I listen to Behind the News https://kpfa.org/program/behind-the-news/
Against the Grain
https://kpfa.org/program/against-the-grain/
All I wanted was a simple list. You provide a few names and then go on a bit of a rave.
It appears you look at/listen to the same stuff we all do but you do it with your bullshit detector turned up high. Are you presuming others don't have bullshit detectors?
I wonder about those who totally rubbish some media outlets yet still continuously indulge. A bit like someone averring they hate a food but keep on eating it. And telling us how bad it is.
" Are you presuming others don't have bullshit detectors?"…don't you talk to people or read sections…or TS.
Adrian….I sometimes agree with what you say. But really ….everything is not "quite" as you black as you think. I Watch TV News and Docos. I read the Guardian, RNZ,Stuff,Newspapers, even lol the Herald .
There is a lot of Good reporting..and Good Reporters. maybe focus on them?
Anyway, hope all good and your Cycling etc going well.
On your bike Bolsonaro ( I realise he wont actually HAVE a Bike: )
All the Best for a New Brazil !
But yet again, right wing ..truckers.. attempting to use their rigs to damage Democracy. As Canada..NZ..etc etc.
Jerks !
Why any serious progressive Leftie would still think that anything that this completely rogue Nation does militarily, is done with any kind of holistic or altruistic intent, would by now, have to be completely delusional….or mad…or both.
US Deploys Nuclear-Capable B-52s to Australia
https://consortiumnews.com/2022/10/31/military-madness-us-deployment-of-nuclear-capable-b-52s-to-australia/
Interesting that we are told by the US backed Western world hegemony that Russia should have just ignored the build-up of a ultra-aggressive multi National military pact forming on their actual boarders…while at the very same time that same, that same the US backed western hegemony freaks out over a tiny island thousands of km’s from anywhere in the middle of the pacific making a alliance with China….
"…that Russia should have just ignored the build-up of a ultra-aggressive multi National military pact forming on their actual boarders…"
NATO is a defensive alliance that has never attacked anyone.
Australia isn't in NATO.
The clue is in the title, NORTH ATLANTIC Treaty organisation.
To most of the worlds population it is understood to be exactly what its actions prove it is, a US led Western neo-imperialist hegemony…but you can call it what ever you like…from where you sit.
From where I sit I see only one country engaged in an unprovoked genocidal war of Imperial aggression and that is Russia.
Yeah, from where you sit…enough said.
There is group out there now that labels persistent Putin dupes. It's called NAFO. The Kremlin is concerned.
The longer form is here: "We are NAFO" – memes against war | TVP World – YouTube
Yep find someone with an alternative viewpoint an troll them hard ..all gd !!!
Heres some more info about NAFO
The Grayzone is a far-left (sic) news website and blog founded and edited by American journalist Max Blumenthal. ,,, content is generally considered to be fringe. It is known for misleading reporting and sympathetic coverage of authoritarian regimes, in addition to it's denial of human rights abuses against Uyghurs. The Grayzone has published conspiracy theories as well as pro-Russian propaganda during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. ~ Wikipedia.
If we laugh at you, Weston, it is that we may not weep.
"Known for " doesnt prove a thing stuart produce some actual facts which the greyzone have misrepresented go ahead .
That some journalists dont agree with other journalists whether its about the Uyghurs or any other topic is not something to be scared of stuart they just have a different viewpoint that might be worth discussing .
Its all too easy to dismiss other opinions by smearing them with the very hackneyed term 'conspiracy theories ' You do know dont you stuart that its not just the ' evil russians ' that do propaganda ??
Yes, I know all about smearing, I've been smeared incessantly by Putin dupes like you over the last five years or so.
I have contacts in Russia, and some knowledge of its history. The positions you routinely take: that Putin is fine when he is a murderous despot, that NATO is to blame when it is Moscow's geopolitical ambitions that caused their invasions, and that MSM are risible when you swallow untenable propaganda without a moment's thought make your pretensions to objectivity one of the sickest jokes on the internet.
Perhaps the biggest joke though, is that you pretend to be of the Left, when you are merely a fascist fanboi. You should be ashamed of yourself – I'm ashamed of you.
"The clue is in the title, NORTH ATLANTIC Treaty organisation"
I was surprised to see that Mongolia is listed as a global partner in NATO. It doesn't even border a country that borders a country that borders the Atlantic.
The sanctimonious sanctuary is again telling LIES. NATO is a defensive organisation that has never attacked anyone .. except Libya, Afghanistan, Yugoslavia, Bosnia. Maybe you should take a month off spewing lies and do some actual research you peddler of disinformation.
NATO is a defensive alliance that has never attacked anyone .. except Bosnia, Libya, Afghanistan, Yugoslavia.
As the USSR broke up into constituent republics, so did Yugoslavia. Initially there was a Yugoslavian peoples army effort to maintain unity, but this soon lost non Serb soldiers when it became apparent it was in reality a greater Serbia project by seizing parts of Croatia and Bosnia (
not like Russia in Ukraine*).The UN and NATO started nothing. They (GHWB at his worst) were simply inept – there should have been plebescites (a peaceful methodology) to determine borders (internal borders are not always in sync with nationalist ethnic ones*).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yugoslav_Wars
It was the US and UK who deposed the Taleban regime for not handing over the Al Qaeda leader after 9/11. NATO was engaged in Afghanistan in Dec 2001 as part of the ISAF established by the UNSC to help assist the Karzai administration provide basic security.
The UN authorised a no fly zone in Libya (to end air attacks in civilian areas and ensure peace talks) – but NATO went beyond its mandate and attacked Libyan government ground forces. Because of this, no such mandate was ever enabled in Syria (and so Russians bombed the civilian areas to keep the government in power).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Libyan_Civil_War
Australia is the 12th biggest economy in the world. The trans-tasman countries collectively would be the tenth biggest economic block in the world. Based on GDP per head Singapore, the USA, Australia and New Zealand are first, second, third and fourth richest countries in Asia-Pacific. And they are all on the same side.
The Australian mainland also suffered heavy attacks from Japan in WW2 and they had to fight a desperate land battle on their own door step in New Guinea.
The point is, Australia has massive amounts of natural resources, in incredibly rich, and at 25 million plus people has a big enough population to be major middle power, and is clearly a regional great power. That plus their experience in WW2 means they see security through a different lens to us.
You and I might shake our heads at how tighly aligned the Aussies are with the USA, but it has obvious military advantages for Canberra. The military alliance between Australia and the United States is as close as it could be. The United States would not even consider selling its most advanced nuclear submarines to anyone else (and I include the UK and Japan in that.
Personally, I am not sure what Australia's end game is, beyond aggressively containing China without necessarily thinking through the consequences to Australia of major regional war with China.
Arnuad Betrand offers interesting commentary on geopolitics, here a summary of a recent interview with George Yeo.
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1584132133488300033.html
Full interview, 23:12mins
Just thinking about Jacinda's recent trip to the ice.
According to what I have read there is at least 50 billion barrels of oil in the Ross sea. At current prices, that would be nine trillion NZ dollars worth of oil, and you could probably double that for gas. Eighteen trillion NZ dollars worth of oil and gas.
That would turn five million NZer's into the wealthiest people on earth, richer even that Arab potentates because in addition to having whatever we want – bike path over the harbour bridge? High speed rail from Auckland to Christchurch? Fully equipped 300 bed hospital in every provincial city? Free university for all? No taxes at all? Sovereign wealth fund to be forever rich? Predator free NZ? Sure! – we also don't live in a overheated sandy desert like the Arabs do.
Persuade me we wouldn't all cause a stampede to the polls to vote for the drill, baby drill party if we found fifty billion barrels of oil, that we wouldn't be "persuaded" to drill by the USA and/or China even if we did decide not to drill by ourselves, and that we wouldn't fight all comers and to hell with any treaties to guard the precious stuff.
Sanc-links to 50 billion barrels claim please.
It has been discussed for many years
Here
Here (Sky is the limit for this guy)
or
Here (Quite an old report)
and
Here
Thanks Sanc. And these appear the be proven reserves.
"…proven oil reserves today are closer to 47 billion barrels."
https://dialogo-americas.com/articles/the-future-of-the-coldest-windiest-driest-highest-place-on-earth-the-antarctic-treaty/#.Y2GdP3ZBy3A
Let's hope solar continues to get cheaper and cheaper such that it will never make sense to exploit this for profit.
(Of course in terms of CC it already makes no sense, but that wouldn't stop people like Trump or Bolsonaro et al)
I suppose you're right that some will be suckered into that idea but it’s getting very boring to argue against yet again.
The taxes i.e. costs on that nine trillion?
Obviously the environmental cost which would make the money so worthless that once again, the powerful would hog the bulk of it to protect their own property as the world melts.
Then the actual monetary taxes on the pollution through "offsetting" and whatever other bogus scheme governments dream up.
And of course the military costs in protecting ourselves against those who would now declare us to be WMD hoarders or some other bullshit; not just costs in mil hardware, but bribes, "deals" and other expenses to be able to sell at a price that more powerful nations deem acceptable.
The very idea that we'd simply be permitted to get away with it is absurd. But of course your point is that you don't have to convince everyone, just a rabid few. Hope you're wrong on that number being a "stampede".
From memory I thought the Antarctic Treaty banned all mineral production in the Antarctic.
Are you planning on ignoring that minor little road-block?
https://polarconnection.org/banning-hydrocarbon-extraction-antarctica/#:~:text=The%20short%20answer%20to%20this,when%20that%20Protocol%20turns%2050.
"… Hope you're wrong on that number being a "stampede"…"
Greens: "We must leave the oil in the ground to save the planet"
Labour: "We'll responsbily drill and drip feed it to the world over 100 years"
National/ACT: "Bonanza! No taxes! $50k a year free to everyone for 100 years! Vote for us for free money!"
Who is going to win that election I wonder…
I think a lot of people will realise that, given the past history, sweet fuck all of any oil money will come to any of us, or any wealth funds.
It will all accrue to oil companies and Nationals "investee" cronies.
The harm is not in extracting the oil/gas. It is what happens to it when it is used. If the environmental impact of that is reduced sufficiently then there is no reason why we should restrict extracting it.
Gosman
"If???"
What do you find problematic with that statement? If there was little AGW impact from use of fossil fuels and other harmful environmental impacts were managed so as not to have major effects why would you restrict fossil fuel extraction? It would be like restricting living because of potential negative environmental impacts.
it's a pigs might fly statement. At some point in the future, humans may find a way to burn fossil fuels without emitting GHGs. We're not even on the same planet as that idea currently, so I can't see the use of the idea in this conversation.
There is plenty of usage of hydrocarbons beyond burning it. It forms the basis of many of the products we use. You are likely using some right now in this communication with me.
What usages are you thinking of that don't release GHGs into the atmosphere?
I see, no harm in storing or transporting it either? Nothing ever goes wrong with tankers, storage tanks, pipelines, et cetera? You’re smoking too much of your own dope.
Do you mean the SAME cronies that Labour supports and NO one here will admit !!! Remember the PROMISED in 2017. I suppose once you tell 1 lie it becomes so much easier foe the next lie to tell eh PM !!!. It is difficult – Now open your eyes but that would mean some to admit that this Labour Govt is no different to any other govt.,
"Then came the Speech from the Throne in November 2017 that said “there will be no new mines on conservation land”
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2022/08/no-new-mines-on-conservation-land-petitioners-demand-action-now-after-government-delivers-excuse-after-excuse.html
https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/07-08-2020/we-were-promised-no-more-mines-on-doc-land-and-we-were-betrayed
Musk invested in Twitter to make money.
If 100 million of the tweeters (c200-400m of them) pay $8 a month – US$100 a year, that is a nice $10Bpa. He may not care much about PC advertisers if enough GOP/right wingers sign up.
So who will be the ones seeking a venue without PC rules/without hate …
Electric cars – the carbon credits.
Social media free speech – making money from the Trump rabble.
He is posing it as an egalitarian system
Misrepresenting how the current system evolved
Follow the money. Trickle up, the elite making money out of IT, and hardly any of the CG is taxed.
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-63478854
Nothing of the like since Trump collected millions from his loyal followers to challenge the election result in court and placed the money in his personal PAC.
And the target audience buys into it.
Hilarious.
How many other labour candidates don’t actually believe in Labour Party policy anymore?
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/300728543/labour-hamilton-west-candidate-seen-at-ambush-protest-against-own-minister
Where did it say in the article that Labour candidate Georgie Dansey doesn't believe in Labour party policy?
Netanyahu and right wing allies seem set for 61-62 seats (120 seat Knesset) after a deal with Religious Zionism (an extremism now unleashed by BN favour). And they go to being the third largest party.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-63459824
Stuff just got real.
https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/10/30/religious-zionism-israel-far-right-different/
Netanyahu's doing his best to delegitimise Arab votes.
Central Elections Committee head Orly Adas says incidents were not dramatic and dealt with, as Likud leader tries to cast doubt on ballots cast for Arab parties
The head of the Central Elections Committee said early Wednesday morning that election voting had gone smoothly, after Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu made unfounded accusations of “fake” votes.
Orly Adas, director-general of the Central Elections Committee, said irregularities were isolated and minor at some of the 12,000 voting stations nationwide as Israel held its fifth election in under four years.
“There were a number of incidents throughout election day but they weren’t dramatic and were taken care of,” she said.
[…]
Netanyahu and his Likud party have repeatedly alleged voter irregularities at certain polling stations in Arab communities without providing evidence to back it up.
“Likud warns of a wide-scale effort to violently forge the election results,” the party said in a statement Tuesday after polls closed. It alleged that right-wing poll watchers were subject to violence and threats once exit polls showed that “results of the election hinged on the results for Balad.”
The Arab party Balad is hovering near the electoral threshold needed to win Knesset representation. If the party makes it into the Knesset, it could tip the scale back toward a split between the pro- and anti-Netanyahu blocs.
Netanyahu also repeated an unfounded accusation of voter irregularities at certain polling stations in Arab communities, saying that he was waiting for the “real count, not the fake count that somebody is trying to subvert by violence or intimidation.”
https://www.timesofisrael.com/election-czar-rebuffs-netanyahu-allegations-of-arab-fraud-says-vote-went-smoothly/