Open mike 04/04/2021
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- 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #51
A listing of 25 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 15, 2024 thru Sat, December 21, 2024. Based on feedback we received, this week's roundup is the first one published soleley by category. We are still interested in ...3 hours ago - Dance Magic
Well, I've been there, sitting in that same chairWhispering that same prayer half a million timesIt's a lie, though buried in disciplesOne page of the Bible isn't worth a lifeThere's nothing wrong with youIt's true, it's trueThere's something wrong with the villageWith the villageSomething wrong with the villageSongwriters: Andrew Jackson ...14 hours ago - Government Forces Universities to Enforce “Free Speech” While Limiting Universities̵...
ACT would like to dictate what universities can and can’t say. We knew it was coming. It was outlined in the coalition agreement and has become part of Seymour’s strategy of “emphasising public funding” to prevent people from opposing him and his views—something he also uses to try and de-platform ...15 hours ago - Fact brief – Are we heading into an ‘ice age’?
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The Natural Choice: As a starter for ten percent of the Party Vote, “saving the planet” is a very respectable objective. Young voters, in particular, raised on the dire (if unheeded) warnings of climate scientists, and the irrefutable evidence of devastating weather events linked to global warming, vote Green. After ...2 days ago - Bernard’s last Saturday Soliloquy for 2024
The Government cancelled 60% of Kāinga Ora’s new builds next year, even though the land for them was already bought, the consents were consented and there are builders unemployed all over the place. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political ...2 days ago - Bernard’s Picks ‘n’ Mixes for Saturday, December 21
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- The baby-boomers’ last gasp
The Government can head off to the holidays, entitled to assure itself that it has done more or less what it said it would do. The campaign last year promised to “get New Zealand back on track.” When you look at the basic promises—to trim back Government expenditure, toughen up ...3 days ago - Skeptical Science New Research for Week #51 2024
Open access notables An intensification of surface Earth’s energy imbalance since the late 20th century, Li et al., Communications Earth & Environment: Tracking the energy balance of the Earth system is a key method for studying the contribution of human activities to climate change. However, accurately estimating the surface energy balance ...3 days ago
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“Like you said, I’m an unreconstructed socialist. Everybody deserves to get something for Christmas.”“ONE OF THOSE had better be for me!” Hannah grinned, fascinated, as Laurie made his way, gingerly, to the bar, his arms full of gift-wrapped packages.“Of course!”, beamed Laurie. Depositing his armful on the bar-top and selecting ...3 days ago
- GDP Figures No Christmas Present for New Zealand
Data released by Statistics New Zealand today showed a significant slowdown in the economy over the past six months, with GDP falling by 1% in September, and 1.1% in June said CTU Economist Craig Renney. “The data shows that the size of the economy in GDP terms is now smaller ...4 days ago
- Cheeseburgers and Stunt Monkeys
One last thing before I quitI never wanted any moreThan I could fit into my headI still remember every single word you saidAnd all the shit that somehow came along with itStill, there's one thing that comforts meSince I was always caged and now I'm freeSongwriters: David Grohl / Georg ...4 days ago - MSD rejecting 220 pleas for food grants each day
Sparse offerings outside a Te Kauwhata church. Meanwhile, the Government is cutting spending in ways that make thousands of hungry children even hungrier, while also cutting funding for the charities that help them. It’s also doing that while winding back new building of affordable housing that would allow parents to ...4 days ago
- The Wing Parties’ Economic Policies.
It is difficult to make sense of the Luxon Coalition Government’s economic management.This end-of-year review about the state of economic management – the state of the economy was last week – is not going to cover the National Party contribution. Frankly, like every other careful observer, I cannot make up ...4 days ago - Back on Track
This morning I awoke to the lovely news that we are firmly back on track, that is if the scale was reversed.NZ ranks low in global economic comparisonsNew Zealand's economy has been ranked 33rd out of 37 in an international comparison of which have done best in 2024.Economies were ranked ...4 days ago - Book Review: How Big Things Get Done
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- Wednesday 18 December
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In 1998, in the wake of the Paremoremo Prison riot, the Department of Corrections established the "Behaviour Management Regime". Prisoners were locked in their cells for 22 or 23 hours a day, with no fresh air, no exercise, no social contact, no entertainment, and in some cases no clothes and ...5 days ago
- HYEFU and BPS data shows New Zealand is way off track
New data released by the Treasury shows that the economic policies of this Government have made things worse in the year since they took office, said NZCTU Economist Craig Renney. “Our fiscal indicators are all heading in the wrong direction – with higher levels of debt, a higher deficit, and ...5 days ago
- “Better economic management”
At the 2023 election, National basically ran on a platform of being better economic managers. So how'd that turn out for us? In just one year, they've fucked us for two full political terms: The government's books are set to remain deeply in the red for the near term ...5 days ago
- Shameless, clueless
AUSTERITYText within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedMy spreadsheet insists This pain leads straight to glory (File not found) Read more ...5 days ago - Minimum wage ‘increase’ is an effective cut
The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi are saying that the Government should do the right thing and deliver minimum wage increases that don’t see workers fall further behind, in response to today’s announcement that the minimum wage will only be increased by 1.5%, well short of forecast inflation. “With inflation forecast ...6 days ago
- Crazy ’bout a Sharp-dressed Man
Oh, I weptFor daysFilled my eyesWith silly tearsOh, yeaBut I don'tCare no moreI don't care ifMy eyes get soreSongwriters: Paul Rodgers / Paul Kossoff. Read more ...6 days ago - How much should you worry about a collapse of the Atlantic conveyor belt?
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Bob Henson In this aerial view, fingers of meltwater flow from the melting Isunnguata Sermia glacier descending from the Greenland Ice Sheet on July 11, 2024, near Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. According to the Programme for Monitoring of the Greenland Ice Sheet (PROMICE), the ...6 days ago
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In August, I wrote an article about David Seymour1 with a video of his testimony, to warn that there were grave dangers to his Ministry of Regulation:David Seymour's Ministry of Slush Hides Far Greater RisksWhy Seymour's exorbitant waste of taxpayers' money could be the least of concernThe money for Seymour ...6 days ago - When austerity worsens public debt & cuts GDP
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And if there is a GodI know he likes to rockHe likes his loud guitarsHis spiders from MarsAnd if there is a GodI know he's watching meHe likes what he seesBut there's trouble on the breezeSongwriter: William Patrick Corgan Read more ...7 days ago - A Lipstick Government
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Iain Rennie, CNZMSecretary and Chief Executive to the TreasuryDear Secretary, Undue restrictions on restricted briefings This week, the Treasury barred representatives from four organisations, including the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi, from attending the restricted briefing for the Half-Year Economic and Fiscal Update. We had been ...7 days ago
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- Thank You
Hi all,I'm pretty overwhelmed by all your messages and emails today; thank you so very much.As much as my newsletter this morning was about money, and we all need to earn money, it was mostly about world domination if I'm honest. 😉I really hate what’s happening to our country, and ...1 week ago - 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #50
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- Making Gravy
I started writing this morning about Hobson’s Pledge, examining the claims they and their supporters make, basically ripping into them. But I kept getting notifications coming through, and not good ones.Each time I looked up, there was another un-subscription message, and I felt a bit sicker at the thought of ...1 week ago - Nothing here but the shadows
Once, long before there was Harry and Meghan and Dodi and all those episodes of The Crown, they came to spend some time with us, Charles and Diana. Was there anyone in the world more glamorous than the Princess of Wales?Dazzled as everyone was by their company, the leader of ...1 week ago - The United Right: the FSU’s Continued Efforts to Undermine Academia
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Just ten days ago, South Korea's president attempted a self-coup, declaring martial law and attempting to have opposition MPs murdered or arrested in an effort to seize unconstrained power. The attempt was rapidly defeated by the national assembly voting it down and the people flooding the streets to defend democracy. ...1 week ago
- 2 Men, 1 Haircut
Hi,“What I love about New Zealanders is that sometimes you use these expressions that as Americans we have no idea what those things mean!"I am watching a 30-something year old American ramble on about how different New Zealanders are to Americans. It’s his podcast, and this man is doing a ...1 week ago - Chris Penk’s Hate Parade
What Chris Penk has granted holocaust-denier and equal-opportunity-bigot Candace Owens is not “freedom of speech”. It’s not even really freedom of movement, though that technically is the right she has been granted. What he has given her is permission to perform. Freedom of SpeechIn New Zealand, the right to freedom ...1 week ago - Tell me a story
All those tears on your cheeksJust like deja vu flow nowWhen grandmother speaksSo tell me a story (I'll tell you a story)Spell it out, I can't hear (What do you want to hear?)Why you wear black in the morning?Why there's smoke in the air? Songwriter: Greg Johnson.Mōrena all ☀️Something a ...1 week ago
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National has only been in power for a year, but everywhere you look, its choices are taking New Zealand a long way backwards. In no particular order, here are the National Government's Top 50 Greatest Misses of its first year in power. ...2 days ago - Release: Minister’s plan for tertiary sector a backwards step
Returning to the model that was failing for most polytechnics and Institutes of Technology is not the answer. ...2 days ago
- Release: National buries 1019 planned homes
It’s been revealed that National has cancelled 60 percent of its housing projects planned before mid-2025 amidst housing woes. ...3 days ago
- Release: Rule-Czar bill a right-wing power grab
The Government is quietly undertaking consultation on the dangerous Regulatory Standards Bill over the Christmas period to avoid too much attention. ...3 days ago
- Release: Why not both? Luxon shuns Waitangi celebrations
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is running away from problems of his own creation, with his decision not to go to Waitangi. ...3 days ago
- Govt’s ‘free speech’ legislation stokes fear, not freedom
The Government’s planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. ...3 days ago - Release: Nicola Willis spirals country deeper into recession
The economy shrank 1% this quarter and New Zealand has tumbled into the depths of a recession of Nicola Willis’ making. ...4 days ago
- Release: Hikes for company directors but not ordinary Kiwis
Working people are going backwards while company directors are being given huge pay hikes. ...4 days ago
- ECE no place to cut corners
The Ministry of Regulation’s report into Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Aotearoa raises serious concerns about the possibility of lowering qualification requirements, undermining quality and risking worse outcomes for tamariki, whānau, and kaiako. ...4 days ago
- Release: Strengthening Justice Services for New Zealanders
A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...5 days ago
- Release: Labour will continue fight against destructive projects
Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...5 days ago
- Green Government will revoke dodgy fast-track projects
The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...5 days ago
- Government for the wealthy keeps pushing austerity
The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. ...5 days ago
- Release: Visa changes let migrant workers be paid less
The Government’s latest move to reduce the earnings of migrant workers will not only hurt migrants but it will drive down the wages of Kiwi workers. ...5 days ago
- Release: Nightmare before Christmas for Nicola Willis
With more debt and a larger deficit, Nicola Willis’ reputation is in tatters after her failure to return the Government’s books to surplus. ...5 days ago
- Warning to Fast-Track Applicants – ‘Exploit the Whenua, Face the Consequences’
Te Pāti Māori has this morning issued a stern warning to Fast-Track applicants with interests in mining, pledging to hold them accountable through retrospective liability and to immediately revoke Fast-Track consents under a future Te Pāti Māori government. This warning comes ahead of today’s third reading of the Fast-Track Approvals ...5 days ago
- Release: Govt cuts wages for lowest paid NZers… again
For the second year running, the government has effectively cut wages for the lowest paid workers in New Zealand. ...6 days ago
- Govt’s miserly 1.5% minimum wage will take workers backwards
The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many. ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt shirking responsibility for rate hikes
All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...6 days ago
- Luxon’s ‘localism’ strikes again
The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing. ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt breaks promise on EV chargers
The Government has failed to keep its promise to ‘super charge’ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...6 days ago
- Greens call for end to subsidies for Methanex
The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the country’s gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-national’s disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...6 days ago
- Govt child poverty targets allow for increase in poverty
The Green Party is appalled with the Government’s new child poverty targets that are based on a new ‘persistent poverty’ measure that could be met even with an increase in child poverty. ...1 week ago
- Release: Four weeks annual leave under threat
The Government’s attack on workers continues with news it is scrapping work on the Holidays Act. ...1 week ago
- Govt’s emissions plan for measly 1% reduction
New independent analysis has revealed that the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets. ...1 week ago
- Greens stand in solidarity with Whakaata Māori on sad day
The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata Māori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for Māori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...1 week ago
- Sanctions regime to create more hardship for families
Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...1 week ago
- Govt gifts renters housing anxiety for Christmas
Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill–which allows landlords to end tenancies with no reason–ignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...1 week ago
- Release: National Party urged to support modern slavery legislation
Labour is urging the Prime Minister to walk the talk and support legislation combating modern slavery. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour has lost confidence in the Speaker
The Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament made an unprecedented decision on the government amendment to the Fast Track Approvals Bill last night. ...2 weeks ago
- One year on, still no progress on new ferries
Today’s announcement from the Government on its plan for new ferries throws more uncertainty on the future of the country’s rail network. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Nicola Willis’ smaller ferries will cost more
After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...2 weeks ago
- Bill to sanction unlawful occupation of Palestine
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has today launched a Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as the All Out For Gaza rally reaches Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour fully supports greyhound racing ban
The Government has done the right thing in moving to ban greyhound racing. ...2 weeks ago
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He has a point. Why shouldn't ACC pay the same for over 65s? It’s a clearly discrimination on the basis of age and it’s not like their ACC levy is lower to compensate.
And while we are all about change, completely unrelated to the article below all ACC lump sum payments should be tied to inflation. A 10% impairment in the 1980s was $10,000, which is the same $ amount today. That's money ACC takes for profit that should be paid out.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/124579078/working-over65s-dont-get-full-benefit-of-acc-levies-says-campaigner
As is the pension, yes.
Happy Easter, may you all find lots of eggs.
The Messiah being played on RNZ Concert at the moment! A highlight that makes Easter worth looking forward to.
Good stereo sound, too. Thank heavens the barbarians did not succeed in pushing Concert FM back onto mono, lo-fi AM.
I was given a 400g egg and I am very happy with it. The problem is once I break into it I may over indulge.
The ridiculous Gwyneth Paltrow
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-9430371/Gwyneth-Paltrow-slammed-horrifying-SPF-application-Vogue-video.html
To be fair, there seems to be so many cowboys in this field is any SPF any good.
Loose clothing and a broad brimmed hat would seem to be more effective
I take it it is a slow news day in Aussie.
And the bingo at the Northcote RSA is off for the holiday.
Here is one that is bound to get the juices flowing for some of our local Putin antagonists (but in all likely hood secret admirers)…..
Vladimir Putin is voted Russia's SEXIEST man: Survey of 2,000 Russians finds president is country's most good looking male
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9432607/Vladimir-Putin-voted-Russias-SEXIEST-man-survey-2-000-Russians.html
and Prince William is the sexiest bold man, oh yeah baby….
Can't say there one royal alive today that I know of, that would term sexy..can't get the thought of all that royal inbreeding out of my mind I guess…sort of ruins the mood
The body partially disrobed as a visual strategy for self-branding is the theme of this article. During Fascism, photography, in synergy with the communications industry ante-literam, was an essential part of the construction of the cult of the leader that transformed the figure of Mussolini into an icon. Mussolini’s partial nudity is considered here as a powerful political tool. The Duce, in anticipation of our celebrities today, did not hesitate to undress and display his torso in what Valerie Sperling calls ‘iconic public-relations stunts’ that were both exhibitionistic and voyeuristic (Sperling 2014, 21).
Figured out what you're a fan of yet?
A comment such as this is generally on par with having a cheap and lazy go at one of the Kardashians or Gwyneth Paltrow, of all goopy people. In this case, however, it is more like an attempt to target and wind up a select group of other commenters who cannot and will not resist taking the bait. In other words, you have no interest in debating but only in continuing a shit fight. Please suggest how this site should respond to that. I have my own ideas but I’d like to consult the relevant parties [plural] first …
How should you respond etc Incognito ?Keeping your sense of humour would be a good start imo since thats obviously the spirit in which the comment was offered .
Yes, fair comment. OTOH, see whether you can keep your sense of humour after a site search on “Putin” and you have viewed the numerous and endless shit fights here. There’s a handful of commenters who seem to enjoy slagging each other as soon as one mentions something about Putin (or Assange, for that matter). In addition, it spills over to other commenters who like to join the fray from time to time. I don’t think that is funny or positive for this site.
obviously, your honour
Well here I was on a sunny Easter Sunday afternoon, just having a little bit of fun with the new revelation, that it turns out that a bunch of TS commenters are in very very close geo political alignment with the UK conservative party, which, after all the often quite tense exchanges (shit fights) with them on this left leaning forum over the year on that very subject, I find hilarious, not to mention, also an extremely damning illumination of where they actually stand politically… but as I was saying, here I am having a little fun with that, until of course I get you following me about, critiquing my comments as usual, which is wearing real thin, especially as I often read things you write that I find stupid and annoying as well, but you don’t see me jumping all over you all the time, because I respect your right to say what you want here, within reason, as it is mine.
Maybe if you don’t like my style of commenting then don’t read my comments, I am sure if I step out of line as far as the rules go, someone will make you or other moderators aware of that soon enough…..until then, please leave me alone.
I think most people who have watched us post here over a good few years, will know your attempts at baiting, using a false narrative constructed on our behalf, to make out we're not left of centre and tories in drag is a stretch too far, even for someone prattle prone like you.
https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-03-04-2021/#comment-1786566
[link fixed]
“It really has become quite apparent to me over the previous few days, that you, Mcflock, Joe90, Al1en and a couple of others on TS are in fact, in your geopolitical beliefs (the ones you express on TS anyway) for want of a better description, are some sort of postmodern (liberal) imperialists. It was always obvious that you guys had some pretty seriously flawed world views, but when I saw recently, exactly how closely nearly all your geopolitical standpoints matched with the UK Conservative parties own positions”
Thornton, I see you. Arms outstretched to their limit, forever reaching for that which is just beyond your taking, all the while unable to see what is right in front of your face.
Enjoy your bank holiday Monday.
If I don’t read your comments then the shit fights here don’t exist? That’s very Zen.
Do you suggest this to everyone who reads and/or comments here? To all the silent readers of this site who have to scroll past your lengthy and many shit battles? You don’t think these might be slightly off-putting?
Winding up others is neither fun nor Zen.
So, I’m afraid I can’t oblige your request to leave you alone as long as you keep having these shit fights. I’m not doing this because I enjoy annoying you; I do it because I think the site needs these shit fights like a hole in the brain and because my pleading has not made any difference.
Luckily, Moderators have a few tools available, thanks to Lprent, and I intend to use them as wisely and effectively as I can to try lift the quality of discourse on this site. I’m not going to die on this hill but I will make an effort to improve things here. Whether you’re on board or fight back is entirely up to you; it is nothing personal to me.
Never forget.
https://twitter.com/katyn1940/status/1378243422419554306
An appropriate place to leave this link to the hauntingly beautiful Nocturne No 20 by the famous Polish composer, Chopin.
This was the last piece of music played on Warsaw Radio during the destruction of Warsaw. It was not heard from again until after WW2 was over.
The German Officer protected "The Pianist" and many other Jewish people until the war was over. He ended up in a Siberian Labour Camp courtesy of the Bolsheviks where he died of sickness and starvation.
Latest as RadioNZ trumdles in the tumbril towards the guillotine – a high-class act that we should hole onto to not pollute with television and semi- commercialism.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/mediawatch/audio/2018790008/public-media-plan-moves-forward-behind-closed-doors\
The government’s plan moved a step forward this week when seven media people were appointed to oversee and scrutinise a business case which the Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media Minister Kris Faafoi wants on his desk by mid-year.
He plans to take it to Cabinet for approval before the end of the year and last Wednesday Faafoi confirmed he wants a new outlet up and running by 2023.
The Strong Public Media Business Case Governance Group is chaired by former NZ First party deputy leader Tracey Martin, who pledged to speed up the process.
“People are frustrated that it has taken this long and the minister is as frustrated as everybody else,” she told reporters.
Tracey Martin is frustrated that government should be frustrated in its desire to run over our heads with a bulldozer. I have not caught Tracey Martin saying anything of note – have you? Seems just another functionary for the efficiency gang of neolib stripping us of all the features of civilisation that we hold dear.
One of NZ's best long-serving journalists has some observations: https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/mediawatch/audio/2018790029/simon-collins-a-lifetime-in-journalism
The image of Collins receiving a citation needed them to be shuttled around somewhat. A bit to the right and Collins would have been right under the wide goldish light, rather like a halo which it seems that he deserves.
He is a lovely man.
Thanks for that information, although I think RNZ has been dumbed down dramatically over the past decade, it is still of some use and could even be hopefully revived again one day if we ever get a genuine progressive left wing govt (probably not in my life time), but that would never happen if it is 'semi- commercialized', which would of course quickly lead to it's complete commercialization.
Fucking Labour..what a compete disappointment, even when my hopes were set so very low to start with.
@ Grafton Gully,
I strongly believe in live and learn.
If you wish, you can write a genuine apology and explain what was wrong with your comment.
Let me know, and I’ll lift your ban so that you can submit it through the Pre-Mod filter.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/439807/resources-stretched-as-fire-crews-battle-blazes-across-south-island
Three properties are being evacuated near the South Canterbury town of Fairlie, as fire crews battle a forestry plantation blaze.
As Foreign owners grow forestry for carbon offsets etc. are we going to be providing cheap fire fighting services for their plantations? We may achieve lower net emissions, but at a continuing cost to us. What fire prevention plans are there, and what officious regulatory body is going to make sure that they are carried out properly and timely too? I think we have to get back to the officious type with everything, all this working with business starts to get wet round the edges – a bit soggy.
When government owned there used to be fire watching towers. I guess now there could be drones checking, but those drones are going to be disliked and distrusted now on principle, because they are up there and it is so easy to spy, and it is nice to feel part of the world and look at the birds without those little machines buzzing overhead.
ECan. Good luck with that..
The guys fighting this fire since this morning are the voluntary firefighters. You won't find much cheaper.
Yes, they have an outdated sense of what's important; 20th century standards for men and women doing the hard yards while often the executives float round like butterflies, and sting like bees and call it efficiency.