Open mike 05/10/2015
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6:00 am, October 5th, 2015 - 75 comments
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Returning to the model that was failing for most polytechnics and Institutes of Technology is not the answer. ...3 days ago
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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
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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. ...4 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. ...5 days ago
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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. ...5 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. ...6 days ago
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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. ...6 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. ...6 days ago
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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 ...6 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
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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
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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
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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
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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. ...7 days ago
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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. ...7 days ago
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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
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The Government’s attack on workers continues with news it is scrapping work on the Holidays Act. ...1 week ago
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Labour is urging the Prime Minister to walk the talk and support legislation combating modern slavery. ...2 weeks ago
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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
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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
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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
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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
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The Government has done the right thing in moving to ban greyhound racing. ...2 weeks ago
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TPP update
Richard Madan @RichardMadan 32s33 seconds ago
Canada says #TPP agreement “close”; won’t go as far as Japan & Mexico that says imminent. So not a done deal yet #canpoli #elxn42
Richard Madan @RichardMadan 17m17 minutes ago
A burst of energy filled hotel after word #TPP deal reached. I’m up live on @ctvnewschannel in moments to bring latest #elxn42
Guajardo Says He Expects TPP Deal Sunday; Biologics, Dairy Still Not Done
ATLANTA – Mexican Economy Secretary Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal said midday Sunday (Oct. 4) that he expects Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade ministers will be able to reach an agreement by the end of the day here, but that parties were still working to hash out a compromise on the exclusivity period for biologic drugs.
U.S., Australia Float Joint Biologics Text To Other TPP Countries For Vetting
ATLANTA – The United States and Australia have jointly developed a text proposal on the exclusivity term for biologics medicines and overnight began showing it to other Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) countries in an effort to build support, in a move that is raising optimism that negotiators can reach a broader agreement by the end of the day Sunday (Oct. 4), according to informed sources.
http://insidetrade.com/
Burcu Kilic @burcuno 44m44 minutes ago
Reportedly Japanese Minister Amari said “a deal in principle”. Plenary sometime between 1&3 pm, press conference at 4 pm. #tpp
Burcu Kilic @burcuno 47m47 minutes ago
Mexican Minister briefing Mexican stakeholders “we are making progress & expect a deal today”. #TPP
Burcu Kilic @burcuno 1h1 hour ago
There has been so much speculation lately so i just want to set the record straight “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed” #TPP
9:16 AM – 4 Oct 2015 · Details
Burcu Kilic Retweeted
León Felipe Sánchez @lion05 1h1 hour ago
Go Australia! Save the world from pharmaceutical apocalypse #TPPA
Burcu Kilic @burcuno 2h2 hours ago
There are some reports that AU-US agree on 8 yrs data excl. Ignore them, US has only 4 yrs data excl., the rest (8 yrs) is market excl. #TPP
Burcu Kilic Retweeted
John Kehoe @Johnkehoe23 1h1 hour ago
@burcuno Robb says no change to Aus laws or regs on biologics.What this means for other countries I’m not sure http://www.afr.com/news/politics/national/us-australia-drug-dispute-is-holding-up-settlement-of-the-trans-pacific-trade-deal-20151003-gk0r65 …
Jane Kelsey is due one tv1 any minute to talk tpp
Would appreciate feedback on this interview
Why does TV nz keep interviewing this person. She is totally negative.. At least balance the communism with some other mainstream views.
Peter Petri is expert on the TPPA and has taken a keen interest in the benefits to New Zealand.
Ppetri.com
English is on in 10 for your balance ,who do you think will be more honest?
English was caught out this AM by Nadine in the Interview.. Can’t any Nat lie straight in bed .
Because she is an expert in aspects of the TPP slylands. You may not like her view but that doesn’t change that she can support her view. As for needing someone positive about TPP, aren’t Groser, English, Collins, Key, Joyce, and Dr Wayne Mapp enough for you and your media delights?
Has Peter Petri seen the deal?
Srylands bases his opinions on the cult of John Key.
Paul 5pylands just repeats what ever he is told.
No brain no pain.
He uses the ‘too big to fail’ argument.
http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/tpp-too-big-fail-says-visiting-us-trade-deal-specialist-petri-b-175060
Ah, so he’s one of those people who supports massive corporate subsidies at everyone else’s expense which thus increases poverty for the many while enriching the rich.
+100
Why dont you admit you think it is OK to our government to be sued for outlawing the pollution of our rivers.
TPPA = profit before people
Some people would defend anything.
SSLands would be one of the people suing.
Because she’s a knowledgeable person who knows what she’s talking about and who doesn’t let ideology colour her thinking.
The problem is the mainstream views – they’re disconnected from reality.
Japan and Mexico had already accepted the 8 for biologics so they have finished playing their hands. That’s why they are keen to push things through.
Burcu Kilic @burcuno 43s44 seconds ago
In less than 2 hours, we may have the #TPP or maybe not. There are mixed messages but another meltdown like Maui is very unlikely.
Burcu Kilic @burcuno 4m4 minutes ago
Burcu Kilic Retweeted iPolitics
Chile & Peru are still fighting hard. I am sure ‘quite a number’ of high-level calls are going on now. #TPP
Burcu Kilic @burcuno 50s50 seconds ago
Just heard there would be a Canadian Press briefing at 3 pm. Quite curious what is happening to Canadian supply management system. #TPP
Burcu Kilic @burcuno 3m3 minutes ago
# USTR just announced closing press conference, which will be held at 4 pm ET. Guess “#TPP in principle” is coming
Bill English lies about TPP being pretty open
Admits NZ has not taken a strong line on pharmaceutical issue.
In less than 2 hours our sovereignty will be gutted.
Key will have done his job and sold us to his banking and financier masters in the US.
Getting desperate to have poor Bill English speaking on it. He has his hands full lying about how the surplus is achieved (or not)
Looks like we can say good bye to lower power prices and hello to high water prices, as water schemes are privatised.
A sad day for democracy.
I hope you’re right cause I’ve got some spare cash that i wouldn’t mind putting into (almost) guranteed returns
I hear Serco shares are going cheap if you want to get in on that action too..
I prefer utilities
Of course you do – for the very reason same they should be run for the common good.
I just love how you RWNJs gloat about becoming ever bigger bludgers.
Shameless.
You lefties got me more money through partial privitisation of the power companies so if you have a problem with it then you need to take a good, long hard look in the mirror to see where the problem is
We know where the problem is – it’s you and your selfish bludging ways.
Its the people that’re blinded by ideology that’re the problem
Yeah, the RWNJs.
So glad we could agree on that.
There is no evidence and no chance that water schemes will be privatised.
I’d be interested to know your definition of “privatised”, and what exactly you mean by “water schemes”.
the Natz have assured us TPP will be a ‘quality’ deal…thats comforting…in context with other deals they’ve done…like..Sky City Convention Centre.
Just the TPP has massive impacts that will shackle us to neoliberal dogma whatever we vote.
Bill English says the TPP will be positive for our economy.
The TV1 Breakfast interviewer failed to ask ‘Why’?
Why, Bill?
Guajardo Says He Expects TPP Deal Sunday; Press Conference Pushed To Roughly 6 P.M.
Second Update: ATLANTA – Mexican Economy Secretary Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal said midday Sunday (Oct. 4) that he expects Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade ministers will be able to reach an agreement by the end of the day here, shortly before the U.S. government announced that the closing press conference for the ministerial is tentatively scheduled for 6 p.m. local time. http://insidetrade.com/
Burcu Kilic @burcuno 1m1 minute ago
It is still questionable whether Chile & Peru agreed/wld agree 5+ something biologic exclusivity. I really hope they haven’t & won’t. #TPP
Burcu Kilic @burcuno 3m3 minutes ago
Reportedly #TPP biologic deal includes 2 alternatives; 8 yrs exclusivity or 5 + something but not 3 yrs (at least in letter).
Too big to fail means when it does fail, the public have to pay out!
OPEN LETTER TO JOSIE PAGANI:
This is the THIRD request for you to respond
Monday 5 October 2015
Dear Josie Pagani,
On this forum, nearly three weeks ago, I asked you to answer two questions:
1.) In the light of your support for the destruction of Afghanistan, do you support the invasion of the United States and Great Britain, the bombing and obliteration of British and American schools, hospitals, power stations and churches, and the killing of hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, of American and British civilians?
2.) Can you explain your statement that Hezbollah and Hamas are anti-Semitic?
Could you please respond?
http://thestandard.org.nz/all-the-left-wants-is-a-clean-contest-of-ideas/#comment-1071118
This Open Letter to Josie Pagani was also published on:
Saturday 3 October 2015.
Sunday 4 October 2015.
So far, she has failed to justify her statements.
Note: Josie Pagani has a history of making unsupported claims and failing to respond when challenged. I am still waiting for her to provide evidence for a scurrilous claim she made about Martyn “Bomber” Bradbury. On her Pundit blog, I wrote:
http://pundit.co.nz/content/the-left-must-stand-up-to-abuse
The right wing don’t have any arguments, Morrissey.
Just catchphrases, memes and ad hominem attacks
Her continued silence actually says a lot about her integrity, or lack of.
Just catchphrases, memes and ad hominem attacks
Ironically, if you go to her Pundit page, you’ll find it full of prim little homilies counseling “the left” against precisely the kind of behaviour in which she routinely engages.
I have so many things to do rather than read or listen to Pagani.
I admire your tenacity in doing so.
Give it up — she aint going to reply.
She sees herself too good to post on here.
Anyone who is interested in keeping up-to-date with the latest global protests etc might enjoy Revolution News ” an international group of independent journalists, photographers, artists, translators and activists reporting on international news with a focus on human rights,” with daily coverage of global protests, human rights, social movements, civil rights, environment, Internet censorship, etc
Here’s their website – http://revolution-news.com/
and on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/RevNews?fref=ts
Gun Violence Solved – a truly American solution to a uniquely American problem:
http://juanitajean.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/CQZ3bmzUcAA4wGb.jpg
Warning – coffee spurt trigger
Or slightly more seriously:
http://www.examiner.com/article/what-if-gun-laws-were-like-abortion-laws
Meanwhile, we’re on the cusp of something special.
Emphasis added.
Wonder if Mr Hooton does any of the following when he appears on 9 to noon today?
a. uses the meme ‘chicken little’
b. makes ad hominem attack on Jane Kelsey
c. uses the catchphrase ‘too big to fail’
d. diverts using pandas or flags or Chris Brown or…..
He was more outrageous than normal, and Mike “I Agree With Matthew” Williams was weaker than normal.
To her credit, Kathryn Ryan at least tried to say something intelligent, but Hooton dominated from start to finish, as usual.
Transcript* on the way….
* Yes, Felix, I know, I know…
Looking forward to it.
You listen to Hooton so we don’t have to.
Rewriting history :
According to Kathryn Ryan’s radionz ninetonoon programme the Syrians are fleeing Assad!!!! …is this propaganda and disinformation?….because it certainly wasnt challanged by Ryan…
(I thought the Syrians democratically elected Assad and they were fleeing ISIS)
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/201773272/europe-correspondent-carsten-von-nahmen
Washington educated Carsten von Nahmen argues that ” according to human rights organisations the forces of Assad, the ally of Russia, are responsible for the vast majority of casualties in this war and caused millions of Syrians to flee to neighbouring counties and to move on to Europe “….
http://www.zoominfo.com/p/Carsten-von%20Nahmen/1291121086
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/04/bashar-al-assad-winds-reelection-in-landslide-victory
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/harrowing-images-show-desperate-syrian-refugees-break-through-fence-to-turkish-territories-to-escape-10320170.html
http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/isis-terror/im-refugee-now-syrians-fleeing-isis-forced-street-n380196
‘Donald Trump supports Putin ‘bombing the hell out of ISIS’’
https://www.rt.com/usa/317641-trump-syria-putin-isis/
Finally hes seen the light
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3258264/The-U2-U-turn-years-telling-hand-aid-Bono-admits-trade-eradicate-extreme-poverty.html
dunno which is funnier – what you call “the light”, or that you believe a daily mail article that’s based entirely on one short possible quote from anyone who makes even the most vague attempt to give a damn about others.
Well maybe now he’ll shut up about taxes while paying virtually none himself
Because of the daily mail? You hold them in high regard, obviously.
Please don’t waste our time with sources such as the Daily Mail.
A mouthpiece of fascist propaganda and hate speech.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/markhendrickson/2013/11/08/u2s-bono-courageously-embraces-capitalism/
http://utv.ie/Entertainment/2015/10/03/Bono-urges-businessmen-to-fight-poverty-46253
and for more of the same
http://www.pressreader.com/ireland/irish-daily-mail/20151003/281689728630373/TextView
http://blog.independent.org/2013/08/12/bono-capitalism-takes-more-people-out-of-poverty-than-aid/
Best way to get the developing nations out of poverty is to mechanize their agriculture.
I was watching something on TV some time back about fishermen in Tanzania who used dugout canoes — perhaps if someone bought them a decent sized fishing boat they would be able to catch enough food to feed their village and sell the surplus.
Don’t need to buy them anything – just need to teach them how to make plywood and plywood boats from their own resources.
Actually, the plight of the local fishing industries in many developing nations isn’t due to us not giving them or teaching them anything.
It’s large scale international fisheries stripping EEZs in the mid to deep water areas because the governments are either too unstable, too poor or too small to do anything about it. And if they’re really unlucky, then the hazardous waste industry find a handy place to drop tonnes of barrels where nobody is looking, much cheaper than safe incineration down to the elements.
And then you get a two-fer like Nigeria, where many of the inshore/inland fisheries that are already over-exploited to support the population by themselves then get oil spills to finish the job.
Developing nations have some of the most ingenious people on the planet, because you have to be when you’re on a buck a day. There’s not much we can teach them that would be useful for them. Best way to get them out of poverty is to ask them how we can help.
In other news, a musician has an opinion.
Meanwhile, at the World Bank…
Note the significant presence of what you might call “Socialism”.
time to retire Mike Williams from RNZ–please–his performance was truly appalling again today
+100…yes please
Agreed. I have a transcript coming, composed in mounting disbelief and horror.
frankly many commenters here would do way better against Mr Hooton
Williams did not seem even dimly aware of the differing views on the TPPA, TTIPs and TISA of various UN agencies and prominent staff compared to what Helen Clark might say
Tiger Mountain
Mike Williams could be described as ‘dimly’ – very appropriate for what I heard this morning which added to the majority of his previous utterings and mutterings indicates a mind dulled by? Accumulated alcohol, knocks playing rugger when younger, or a combination.
He seems to have done well because he was good at raising money for the Labour Party. Always important but it doesn’t go near to putting him in as a political commentator. I’d rather listen to one of the political journalists not on TV and not immured in the left or right.
Mike Williams – Labour Party activities
Williams initially started working for the Labour Party as an education officer but rapidly moved into fundraising where he instigated a number of new practices:
– A pledge system, whereby supporters agreed to pay a regular amount using the then-new automatic bank transfer system;
– Sending out requests for donations to the party membership, enclosing pre-paid reply envelopes;
– Visiting businesses to solicit donations;
– Systematic canvassing and direct-mailing.
These activities helped the party to achieve a landslide victory in 1984. After the election, Williams joined the Australian Labor Party in Canberra but had returned to New Zealand within a year.
Williams was appointed as Campaign Manager for the 1999 election which was won by the Labour Party. After the election he was appointed as Party President.
Commercial activities
Williams set up two successful companies based on his experience of Labour Party organisation. Insight Research (now UMR Insight) was a market research company (which was sold in 1994) and Insight Data, which specialised in direct-mail and marketing and was sold in 1997.[7]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Williams_%28New_Zealand_politician%29
+100 greywarshark
Hey Chooky i would like to hear you for the Left on radio. You are full of get up and go, keen fresh ideas, know about politics and up to date with all. What is your voice like for presentations?
Latest TPP News
Burcu Kilic @burcuno 4m4 minutes ago
Oh, #TPP press conference is postponed until sometime tomorrow.
Guajardo Hopes For TPP Deal By Midnight; Market Access Remains Hurdle
ATLANTA – Mexican Economy Secretary Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal said here Sunday evening (Oct. 4) he hopes a Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) deal can be reached by midnight, but that an agreement is being held up as countries engage in last-minute bilateral negotiations on market access, a likely reference to the dairy talks underway between New Zealand and other countries.
Hi TMM (ps – looked up a translation and like it!)
Noticed you were missing today. Lots more on what is happening etc on the TPP deal close? post and comments. Its been quite a morning.
Richard Madan, CTV correspondent at the Atlanta negotiations has turned out to be a good source on Twitter for totally up-to-date reporting.
Links on the other post eg http://thestandard.org.nz/tppa-deal-close/#comment-1078647
Gordon Campbell article also linked is well worth reading.
How the Koch brothers and the super-rich are buying their way out of criticism
As I say, the problem is the rich. We simply cannot afford them and how they skew our society to favour them at everyone else’s expense.
DTB I can see the beginnings of this in NZ….Possibly eventually reaching down into our primary schools..charter school sponsors have begun.
Father said ;
‘in WWII when British planes flew overhead, the Germans dived for over.When German planes flew overhead the British and ANZACs dived for cover.
When American planes flew, everyone dived for cover.’
It appears that nothing changes.
lol…i have heard something similar
… terrible what happened in Afghanistan!…no excuse
http://www.msf.org.au/from-the-field/field-news/field-news/article/afghanistan-kunduz-eyewitness-they-had-just-been-working-in-the-hospital-to-help-people-and.html
http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/country-region/afghanistan