Russian missiles slamming into apartment buildings in Mariupol say otherwise,
Hyperbole? Lying? Take your pick.
The first thing to determine about the Bucha massacre; Did the Bucha killings actually take place and in the manner described?
Or was this massacre faked, or 'staged'? – as the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has publicly alleged.
With all the claims and counter claims swirling around, I am reminded of the Douma gas attack in Syria, or even further back, the Katyn massacre of captured Polish officers during WWII. To this day the Russians claim the German's did it. The Germans (and the Poles) claim the Russians did it.
What is uncontested about the Katyn Forest, is that a massacre took place there, The captured Polish officers were massacred by someone.
What is contested about the Bucha massacre, is that it ever took place at all.
….Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has described the scenes outside Kyiv as a “stage-managed anti-Russian provocation.”
If it is determined that the Bucha Massacre was not 'staged' or faked, as the Russian Foreign Minister has alleged. That in fact, this massacre of civilians did occure: Then the next question to determine; who committed it?".
At this far remove at the other end of the world, the weight of evidence presented to us, is that the massacre of civilians in Bucha was committed by the Russian forces during their occupation of the town.
….The Kremlin has categorically rejected accusations that Russian forces were responsible for killing civilians in Bucha, suggesting images of corpses lining the streets were “fakes”.
….Russian “experts at the Ministry of Defence have identified signs of video fakes and various fakes”
Jenny if you are going to use past form(of denial) to predict current culpabilities you may have to widen your range(in the interests of fairness)
Between 1943 and 1945, members of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army massacred thousands of Poles throughout Volhynia, a region that was in Nazi-occupied Poland and is part of present-day Ukraine. Polish historians say the death toll could be as high as 100,000, while Ukrainians say it’s between 20,000 to 30,000. In 2016, Poland’s Parliament recognized the killings as genocide, a term that Ukraine rejects.
When it comes to denial, the apologists for Russian and imperialism and Assad fascism need to look at themselves.
Amid the fog of war and the competing narratives over the atrocity committed in Bucha. I know one thing for sure;
Apologists for Russian aggression and Assad fascism like yourself, will argue endlessly over the reality, or not, of one single act of atrocity. Just as you did over the gas attack on Douma in Syria.
But one thing you won't do Francesca, is address the undeniable evidence of the genocidal nature of the war itself.
I recognise the genocidal nature and cruelty of all wars, and I recognise and call out the propaganda that attempts to make us believe that our "enemies"are monsters but we are kind and just.
You state " To this day " the russians claim the germans killed the poles etc not quite true considering in 1990 Yeltsin released the execution orders signed by stalin to the new polish president Lech walesa .
You state " To this day " the russians claim the germans killed the poles….
Yes and I stand by my statement.
Since Yeltsin's day, under Putin's rule, the admission by Russia of Russian culpability for the Katyn Massacre is being rolled back.
Russia removes memorial to Katyn Massacre in new attack on historical truth
08.05.2020
Halya Coynash
……Russian officials, acting on an order from the prosecutor's office, have removed plaques commemorating victims of the Terror and Polish officers executed by the NKVD in 1940, while the Soviet Union was still collaborating with Nazi Germany. This may have been a regional initiative, but it is very much in line with Russia’s aggressive attempts under President Vladimir Putin to blur or rewrite the darkest pages of Soviet history.
Two memorial plaques, erected in 1991, were removed from the former NKVD building in Tver on 7 May….
Glad you amended your original statement jenny i think its as well to remember that the soviet bear has been known to recover its memory from time to time .The world is bleak and depressing enough without painting it black cover to cover .
I don't think there is any doubt that the Russians committed the atrocities. As I pointed out yesterday, satellite images at the time of Russian occupation have been geolocated to where bodies have been found.
If anything, this type of event is actually working against the Russians because it is motivating other countries to get in behind Ukraine.
For example, here is a great interview with Roberta Metsola, president of the European Union. She has just met with Zelenskyy. Well worth spending the 7 minutes to watch it.
According to her, the Ukranians are fighting on behalf of Europe, and she wants to make sure that Russia is never again able to attack European countries.
On a side note, she seems to be an outstanding politician, of a calibre far higher than anyone we have in New Zealand.
Also, after having taken an interest (or obsession) in this conflict, I have been very impressed with the quality of news and investigative journalism on the likes of DW and France 24. Makes our stuff seem very fluffy and weak. Having said that, they are able to have channels that are just full time news, unlike us here.
While we we wait for actual proof of culpability to this horrific event from actual professionals in this field, (trial by a biased media is proof of nothing)…don't you find it somewhat incongruous that no MSM have covered this horrific event (please be aware that the video is extremely disturbing, viewer discretion is advised) at all..why is that you think?
A satellite image of Bucha in Ukraine appears to show bodies lying in the street nearly two weeks before the Russians left the town.
The image from 19 March, first reported by the New York Times and confirmed by the BBC, directly contradicts Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's claim that footage of bodies in Bucha, that has emerged in recent days, was "staged" after the Russians withdrew.
The satellite image shows objects that appear to be bodies in the exact locations where they were subsequently found by Ukrainian forces when they regained control of the town north of Kyiv.
I am not going to get into armchair speculation on this matter….you and others on this site would do well to remember this old adage "The first casualty of war is the truth"…as I keep trying to remind people, all western MSM have declared war on Russia, they have picked a side, that is just a plain fact,,,therefore they have negated their positions as impartial news outlets…..so everything they report has to be regarded, by anyone who is actually concerned with the truth… as suspect, am I wrong?
The exact same logic applies to the Russians. The same people who six weeks ago were solemnly assuring the world there would be no invasion of Ukraine.
Yet here we are. In politics you can debate facts, ideas and nuance all you want. In war you pick a side and fight for it – or get crushed.
You have clearly picked the side of boundless cruelty.
No RedLogix, unlike you I haven't picked a side….if I were in the Ukraine (but not a Russian speaking Ukrainian in the Donbass) I would be fighting the Russian today you can be sure of that….however I am not in the position, so I (and you) have the luxury of being able to appraise the conflict from a much wider perspective.
I believe that it is exactly because we are in this privileged position to observe and appraise the conflict from this distance, that it is essential for us to remain neutral, try and negotiate our way through the fog of war, and remain steadfast in our efforts to seek out only the facts and truth…that’s all I am trying to do here.The only reason why it sometimes look like I am pro Russia is because I am pushing back against the obvious propaganda that our media spews out daily…but you can be sure that if I were in Russia, I would be doing exactly same vigorous critiquing of their propaganda on some Russian version of TS.
I know that remaining neutral is impossible for you, that is your choice and I respect that, but please respect my position of neutrality.
“Whatever the source, address the content” …I would agree in normal times, however as western MSM have willfully become a propaganda arm of the Ukrainian govt, exactly where does one even start to address the content, when that is the starting point? ….That is the problem, a very serious problem, don't you agree?
Think about it, we have now ended up with not one western MSM source that we can rely on for news of Ukraine, doesn't that bother you?…this is exactly why I so often bang on about 'Fair and Balanced Reporting' in our media as a primary problem in our search for the truth.
You've already decided the western media are propaganda tools so clearly the link wasn't for you.
Maybe leave it to those inclined to seek another perspective and concentrate on the juxtaposition of that rapid decision with the one that wants to wait and see about russian war crimes in Bucha.
So we can assume by your none answers to my questions, that you find MSM content on Ukraine to be, on the whole, fair and balanced then?
“those inclined to seek another perspective”…you see that is the problem…that ‘perspective’ you mention is the main one most people are exposed to…so if it extremely biased as I maintain…then that is a problem..no?
I'm self moderating so need need to wait for a discussion around what you, or I, think constitute balance.
So, as I'm not arguing with you or attempting to change your mind about anything, the best case outcome is people head off down their own rabbit holes and sift the truth out for themselves, with an eye to probability and credibility.
Tricledown , did you miss the fact that prior to the invasion Zelensky's pollings were trailing in the 20s and as far as his efforts against corruption go, he's sponsored by the most corrupt oligarch Kolomoisky, and he himself was shown up hiding wealth offshore .
Truth in language alert, only one party has declared war – Russia, and in invading Ukraine it has in a sense done so against the international regime – the collective security of nations. Because it has nukes and a veto on the UNSC .. it thinks it it can do what it likes.
The idea that the western MSM, not any other MSM such as in China or Russia, cannot be relied on for truth is a definition of partisanship – not truth seeking.
And of course the central "fact" of the sovereign citizen movement and every other social media rabbit warren cult on earth is that it alone has the truth. That form of the force is with us is a secular variant of end of the world uber Zionism and related Christian and Moslem theocracy.
"The idea that the western MSM, not any other MSM such as in China or Russia, cannot be relied on for truth is a definition of partisanship – not truth seeking"…When exactly did I say or imply that?
I am happy use any western MSM and any other MSM sources when I believe they a useful.
BTW, The last part of your comment didn't make any sense…what were trying to say there?
" that many claim to the truth is with them and them alone. A definition of a cult"….that sounds a lot like western MSM….link me to one serious debate or discussion on western MSM from someone serious, pushing back against the 'Russiagate' conspiracy during the Trump era.
Note that western MSM only maintained one truth on that issue…I think you find the same 'single truth' narrative around the Douma gas attack incident…I could go on but you get the idea I am sure.
So if I apply your definition, Western MSM is a cult of some sort.
According to her, the Ukranians are fighting on behalf of Europe, and she wants to make sure that Russia is never again able to attack European countries.
It is much more likely the Ukranians are fighting on behalf of the US. After all, what were McCain, Biden and Nuland doing in Kyev around 2013 or 2014?
Why would Russia, these days, wish to attack European countries anyway?
Why would Russia, these days, wish to attack European countries anyway?
Funny question, given it's doing exactly that.
But assuming a good faith question, one particular stand-out feature of the vagaries of post-Soviet geography is Kaliningrad. Can you think of any reason some Baltic states lying between Kaliningrad and the rest of Russia might be shitting themselves at the moment, given the current Russian expansionist imperialism? What about Moldova and Transnistria?
And then there are the innumerable opportunities for border expansion, a little piece here or there…
Ukraine is not really part of Europe, though some of its citizens apparently would like it to be. This whole sorry mess grew out of the events in 2014 when Yanukovich, who was at the time the Ukrainian president, failed in his attempt to join Europe. Putin seems to have seen this attempt, after Yanukovich's ousting, together with a desire to join NATO, as an existential threat to Russia. Hence the invasion.
The invasion seems to have been a defensive move on Putin’s part. He ain’t no Napoleon Bonaparte.
Despite the blatant stupidity of that comment, it is however the only thing that bears any relevance to my response to your question as to why some definitely European countries (in addition to the country in eastern Europe called Ukraine) might be worried that the authoritarian kleptocracy controlling Russia might wish to invade their territory, too.
Russia, of course, famously spans two continents. But Ukraine is firmly in Europe, well west of the Urals.
What worries me is that RadioNZ seems to be cravenly followed the "plucky little Ukraine" line without questioning whether there is a factual basis for the reports coming out of the war. The NZ public deserve better.
Yes, fair points made in that article. That is why I think it is wise to seek sources that don't have a dog in the fight. Though, that is hard to find.
After reading all the stuff on here about the media bias, for one side or the other, maybe RadioNZ should not report anything about what is going on except to say "there is conflict in Ukraine." (Maybe there will be some who say even that is propaganda.)
If they carry a story about a number of deaths I suppose the information has come from someone. Who is to say the information is true? If they carry a story about anything to do with not all the information has come from someone. Who is to say the information is true?
I wonder where these lovely tenants will end up living now? I doubt the landlord will ever see any of the $10k owed. There should be a register of bad tenants and a bad landlords so people can avoid either renting to them or becoming their tenant.
They will probably end up being State housing tenants for life as no other landlord in their right mind would let them rent their house, and unfortunately you and me will end up paying for them.
"There should be a register of bad tenants and a bad landlords so people can avoid either renting to them or becoming their tenant"
Have you, or do you know anyone who has trying getting into a rental lately?….they have to jump through every hoop that the landlord can possibly make up…and then some more for good measure…but what single reference does the landlord have to provide to that hopeful tenant?
And because of tenants like these, that is exactly why there are so many hoops to jump through. Their "CV" would not make good reading and I wouldn't wish them on any landlord. The landlord is the one with a property at risk. The tenant risks nothing.
But I still believe there should also be a register of the bad landlords.
Nonsense. Hoops have existed for years – many of my Maori staff twenty years ago struggled to get rentals. It was called racism.
That they have increased (hoops that is) is not due to bad tenants – it's due to the bull-dozing of state houses, the massive increase in immigration without a building program to go with it, the massive subsidisation of landlords through accommodation supplement and tax breaks, reduced taxation of the wealthy freeing up capital, the realisation after the Canterbury Earthquakes by landlords they could get away with charging a fortune, the lack of rent controls, bloody-mindedness by some landlords like the one who told me he put all his rents up to piss off Jacinda, the loss of other government housing.
In short a deliberate and concerted effort to create a supply and demand shortage by capitalists. Bad tenants are the very least cause in the whole back to slum-lords and homelessness mess.
From the NY Times article:
“The images show dark objects of similar size to a human body appearing on Yablonska Street between March 9 and March 11″
yet:
” However, according to the Institute of War report, the Russians did not control the south of the city from March 9 to 11. Attention should also be drawn to the statement of the General Staff of Ukraine on Facebook on March 10, which reads «the enemy is trying to break through the defenses of Ukraine’s defenders in the areas of Poliske, Kukhari, Zhovtneve, Andriyivka, Kopyliv, Motyzhyn, Buzova, Horenychi, Bucha, Demydiv, and block Kyiv». Next, the Institute of War, in its Facebook post of March 11, states that all attempts by the Russian army to take Bucha have failed.” https://southfront.org/more-evidence-more-doubts-about-bucha-massacre/
'In 2016, Finnish journalist Jessikka Aro writing in Springer Link described SouthFront as "an allegedly citizen-sourced project that looks more like a suspicious information operation." Describing it as "a fascinating hybrid of revealingly detailed military intelligence and totally bogus stories," she said that the site's content centers on "the success of Russia's armed forces, and showing off Russia's weapons." '
Whatever the source, address the content
Article references the NYTimes article, Facebook entries of Ukrainian military and other verifiable sources.
It’s not an opinion piece
.If you dispute the validity of the references, offer counters to them or prove them to be false
Them thar facebook accounts prompted an FB phishing warning. Went as far as I could without logging in.
But despite that, nothing in your links actually contradicts the possibility that the people were killed in areas controlled by the Russians, or even the progress of events depicted in wikipedia (with considerable more precision than "in the area of [half a dozen major suburbs]").
What you, specifically, are saying is not what the sources for your article state.
Zhao Lijian: "….. in a contrasting move to its (the USA) pressuring of European countries to not buy Russian oil, the US increased crude oil supplies from Russia by 43 percent, or 100,000 barrels per day, over the past week and allowed its companies to import mineral fertilizers from Russia. The ongoing war and sanctions have incurred an influx of refugees, capital outflow and energy shortage in Europe, but enabled the US to have profited and made a fortune from that"
The US gets about 1 – 3% of its total crude oil from Russia. They get about 60-61% of oil from Canada.
The US public will not stand for gas prices even higher than they are (Witness how fast our own government folded after just 2 weeks).
Oil markets are now so roiled that even a partial oil sanction has driven India into the hands of Russia for perpetual oil supply. You can only mess with energy security so far.
The sanctions such as they are, are altering Russian export flows. But the trades are going to get very shadowy.
Price-sensitive refiners in India are buying Urals crude at a discount to Brent crude prices of $25 per barrel or more.
In China, both independent refiners and state oil companies are buying ESPO blend and Urals volumes.
Russian off-the-radar transactions will grow and they make it hard to calculate the current market disruption with great precision: the revenue loss for Russia isn't going to be as big as hoped.
The US is generating enough pressure to be noticeable, but not so much that Russian accelerates a full geopolitical re-alignment of India into the Russia-China-Iran-Kazakhstan-Donbas oil power that is emerging.
This world does not need energy markets more destabilised than they are. So the US has smaller oil levers to operate than would be obvious.
Equally, it's very clear that only the US and Europe are really standing up to Russia at all – in energy or anything else.
Putin and Lavrov can forget their holidays in Rotorua, and making supplies of potassium more expensive for NZ agriculturalists is really going to stick it to the Muscovites
With the Tauranga by-election on May 19th, Climate Change plan coming out a week after that, and the Tauranga by-election on June 18th, government and National get the closest thing possible to a live straw poll.
What can Labour do now to turn their fortunes around?
That is an absolutely uncharacteristic post from you it makes no sense please consider immediate medical attention as I am afraid your your blood oxygen may be way too low – this is not an attempt to harass or criticize I am concerned for your well being please seek medical help now
Labour could promise every Tauranga citizen a million dollars each, dropped into their bank account the day after the bi-election – provided that the Labour candidate is elected…
And they would still lose.
This is not a poll on the government's performance. This is a bi-election is a safe blue seat.
The inevitable loss will mean nothing in the greater scheme of things.
With the Tauranga by-election on May 19th, Climate Change plan coming out a week after that, and the Tauranga by-election on June 18th … What can Labour do now to turn their fortunes around?
Well, for a start … stop wasting public money on 2 by-elections in the same electorate just a month apart. Seems just a little bit … extravagant … and vaguely indecisive.
Still, each to their own, I spoze.
[To be brutally honest, I’ve long favoured monthly by-elections in every geographical seat as a way of making politics much more interesting … so this would certainly seem to be a move in the right direction by the Govt]
The new builds in the CBD in CHCH a high proportion already went to investors between 50-90 %,A high proportion went into short term accommodation.
A more sustainable outcome was to make them legalise their activity,change the rating,and increase their opex costs with building act requirements such as WOF.
Only need 10% of inventory to move back into the residential market,and that would increase the listed rental stock in CHCH by 25%.
It might guarantee more new builds, not necessarily new rentals.
I say it might, because it depends on the market.
I will agree in that with a market at a high and interest rates sure to rise (prevent the market rising further) there is less prospect of build and profit. And more of have the equity to build and rent out because there is market demand for a place to live by those who cannot buy at these prices.
In the USA equity firms are buying up houses to rent out for the return. NZ Super Fund and Kiwi Saver may do the same.
Investing in new builds at the peak of the market, when interest rates are rising … is a game for those with equity and who can hold and earn rent income.
I would agree with Soper, it was clearly not a job that Bloomfield would have found tempting enough to stay on for. A year working with Little and then the 2023 election challenge to the administration (political attacks on the Maori Authority etc) and potential of having to work with National (and risk of being removed). So much easier to take a sabbatical, do some advisory/consulting work and wait for post 2023.
Sure the normal – better qualified older white men not having a job and younger women of colour having jobs is par for the course for those of his generation and ambition to remain in control. It's equal part legacy white man privilege and colonialism – no wonder he just loves Winnie, one who knew his place.
A year working with Little and then the 2023 election challenge to the administration (political attacks on the Maori Authority etc) and potential of having to work with National (and risk of being removed). So much easier to take a sabbatical, do some advisory/consulting work and wait for post 2023.
Spare me the nonsense. The man is exhausted and so are the other senior health officials. They don't want their lives snuffed out early with exhaustion-induced heart attacks and the like.
In short, Bloomfield and senior colleagues are burnt out after 2 years of 12 hour days and 7 day working weeks. There is no conspiracy. Nor is there bad blood. He's made up the drivel about Ardern in an attempt to further vilify her.
Imo, he's gone too far this time and the Press Council should take action against him.
If you feel that strongly about it why don't you complain? Or have you already done so? If you aren't willing to go to the trouble of doing so then your statement is merely another of the "Someone outa do something" variety.
It is now (and has been since 2017) the New Zealand Media Council. The things you have to do in making a complaint are described here. I don't believe it costs anything to make a complaint but there are are a number of things you will have to do before they take the complaint up.
The war in Ukraine is reaching an interesting point.
From a strategic perspective, I think the Russians would be better to regroup, and reinforce the areas they have taken, and ensure they have a good solid foundation to base further attacks on.
However, Putin has put the pressure on his forces by declaring a victory by May 9th.
Therefore, in order to achieve something worth the effort, the Russians will have to go on the offensive again. This is likely to involve attempting to encircle Ukrainian forces in the east which are well dug in, and then try and take the whole Dombas region.
One option is to try and take the strategically important Sloviansk. The problem with that strategy is that Sloviansk is incredibly well defended, from what I have read. And I expect more Ukranian forces and assets no longer required up North will be deployed there. Therefore, as we have seen in Mariupol which is still fighting, this will be an incredibly hard nut to crack.
Another option is for the Russians to avoid Sloviansk by looping around it. But the Spring rains are coming, thus turning fields into a quagmire and confining tanks etc to the roads. Also, this strategy involves the problems of maintaining logistic supplies over a long distance. The problem that has plagued the Russians all along. This is going to allow the Ukrainians to continue to ambush convoys with a similar outcome to what the Russians have been experiencing thus far.
So, I think, rather than going on the offensive too much, at the moment, the Ukranians are best to dig in and let the Russians sustain more losses trying to attack defensive positions as they try and make gains to meet the progress that Putin is expecting.
Should be interesting times ahead. I hope the Ukranians are supplied with more long range missiles and the like that will allow them to target Russian artillary and ships that have been causing so much damage to civilian areas recently. And I hope they are provided with more long-range anti-aircraft capability to take on Russian bombers.
While the Ukranians are calling for more tanks, I am not sure that this is such at necessity at the moment as they will be affected by boggy fields as much as the Russians.
The death and destruction is absolutely appalling and unforgivable. But on another level the strategist in me finds the abstract lines on a map quite interesting.
So far as the death and destruction is concerned, a good thing is that Ukraine is trying to evacuate citizens from population centres in the east that are likely to be in the line of Russian fire. So hopefully there shouldn't be lots of civilian casualties in those areas as we have seen before.
BTW I started watching that series you recommended ÿday "Secret City''. It looks really good and relevant to our strategic situation down here.
… concentrate more on suffering and death from warmongers
I totally agree.
Vietnam war: 2,000,000 civilian deaths
Iraq war: 208,167 civilian deaths
Yemen War: Estimated 111,000, up to a quarter children.
Afghanistan war: 46,319 civilian deaths
Drone strikes since 911: >22,000 at least, possibly as high as 48,000
What will be interesting is how soon and where the Russians deploy from Izium. That will give a good idea of their tactics. From sources I have seen, the Russians are heavily bombarding Ukrainian dug in positions in the east which suggests they may be planning to try and break through soon.
I am sure that Putin will declare a win on May 9th regardless. I guess the problem for the Russians is, if they go for the slow build-up option, it gives the Ukranians a lot more time to get tooled up with better equipment and get trained in more modern systems the West can provide.
My take on this now is that the West has changed its perspective a bit. Rather than trying to set up an insurgency after a Russian take over, the strong performance of the Ukranians means the West wants to try and prevent Russia from being able to claim a win in Ukraine as this would just embolden Putin to keep on going.
9 May is the date Russia holds its victory parade ie the date Russia won the 2nd ww. 12000 plus troops and all the modern weapons on show. What's not for Putin to love.
The Ukrainians need more Armour for it's Combined Arms TTP's, yes it's the muddie seasons & once the ground dries out its going to be a fluid Battle Zone.
The Ukranian Armoured Corps has been very quiet so far, but what I've seen so of the Ukrainian Armoured TTP's they are 1k times better than the Russians.
Sloviansk Pocket is going to the next crucial battle for the Ukrainians, if they can hold without only major losses.
Then the Ukranian Military have a chance of doing some serious damage to the Russians especially if the Ukrainian Forces manage to bump the Russians out of the Kherson.
Yes, Anne, reading Soper's cynical bitter column on Dr Bloomfield makes one almost sorry for his new baby growing up with a parent/parents like that. I can never understand why the Herald has a stable full of columnists like Soper, mostly older males. What joyless, miserable people they all are.
It only took a couple of reads of Soper, to never again bother with Soper. And yes, there's a whole pack of them, and they're not worth the time either. Their task is supplying anger in soundbites, daily ammo to 'own the libs' in the form of some moronic bumper sticker.
Don't feed the professional trolls. What they say isn't controversial, it's horse shit.
Bloomfield has had to negotiate NZ through the biggest catastrophe since WW2.
The herald stable of treasonous poisonous traitors have no empathy for Ashley Bloomfeild who has had the biggest burden on his shoulders of any single person since WW2.
Regarding the political right's scorn over Ashley Bloomfield's resignation.
They had good reason to hate Bloomfield, because he repeatedly told them what they didn't want to hear, stood by it and resisted all their attempts to undermine his work.
The political right have few principles and don't like it when their opponents stand fast.
And as far as Jacinda is concerned there is also a certain amount of misogynistic jealousy too. Some elements hate it that we have a female PM who is a real leader.
The convergence of they stole the election and mistrust of liberal democracy vaccine mandates – the white race Christian identity movement of Putin (eastern Tsar) of the GOP and the crusade for totalitarian kingdom come power.
At events across the United States, it is not unusual for participants to describe encountering the divine and feel they are doing their part to install God’s kingdom on earth. For them, right-wing political activity itself is becoming a holy act.
“Christians are the ones that are responsible for granting you and myself the right and authority over government,”
“I lay the key of David upon you,” Anthony Kern, a candidate for the Arizona State Senate who was photographed on the Capitol steps on Jan. 6, 2021, proclaimed to the crowd from the stage, paraphrasing a biblical passage about power given by God. “That means the governmental authority is upon you, men and women.”
SPC, it’s the rise of Christian Nationalism, and the splitting of the American church into a militaristic, heretical cult enslaved to Republican propaganda vs the traditional faith and progressive churches who actually know what the Gospel teaches.
The Maga/Q nuts are ideologically similar to Putin’s crazed regime of Russian nationalism, they are spawned from the same toxic brew of paranoia, white supremacy, and personality cult of a dictator supposedly chosen by God. And the enemy is inhuman, satanic, utterly corrupt, and cheating the true believers out of their rightful inheritance. Only a “final solution” can cleanse the earth of this (shadow projection of themselves) great evil
It matters not where the defaults occur, they destroy liquidity and reduce the propensity for credit creation…..and 400k for drilling hands, really! bloody hell thats ridiculous especially in an industry that has lost billions to date.
As the price rises more fields become economic.Without the transport constraint of of oil from large tankers (freight margin around 13bbl) their is a higher local premium.
IEA has announced a further 60 million bbls from strategic reserves,(megan woods to wave our futures contract around soon) ,tends to remove the margin players long positions.
We as part of the IEA are also supposed to have started a conservation campaign,seems to have been overlooked.
Jacinda Ardern needs to have a few stern words to Poto Williams after this interview.
"Williams said she was "not over the detail" despite 1News having sent the details to her office, and described it as an "operational matter to the police".
Luckily for Poto, Helen Clark is not the PM else she would probably be packing up her office today. Poto needs to get over the detail. She's the minister.
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In the weeks after the October 7 Hamas attacks on Southern Israel I wrote about the possible 2nd, 3rd and even 4th order effects of the conflict. These included new fronts being opened in the West Bank (with Hamas), Golan … Continue reading → ...
Peter Dunne writes – It is one of the oldest truisms that there is never a good time for MPs to get a pay rise. This week’s announcement of pay raises of around 2.8% backdated to last October could hardly have come at a worse time, with the ...
David Farrar writes – Newshub reports: Newshub can reveal a fresh allegation of intimidation against Green MP Julie-Anne Genter. Genter is subject to a disciplinary process for aggressively waving a book in the face of National Minister Matt Doocey in the House – but it’s not the first time ...
The Treasury has published a paper today on the global productivity slowdown and how it is playing out in New Zealand: The productivity slowdown: implications for the Treasury’s forecasts and projections. The Treasury Paper examines recent trends in productivity and the potential drivers of the slowdown. Productivity for the whole economy ...
Winston Peters’ comments about former Australian foreign minister look set to be an ongoing headache for both him and Luxon. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for subscribers features co-hosts and , along with regular guests on Gaza and ...
These puppet strings don't pull themselvesYou're thinking thoughts from someone elseHow much time do you think you have?Are you prepared for what comes next?The debating chamber can be a trying place for an opposition MP. What with the person in charge, the speaker, typically being an MP from the governing ...
The land around Lyme Regis, where Meryl Streep once stood, in a hood, on the Cobb, is falling into the sea.MerylThe land around Lyme Regis, around the Cobb that made it rich, has always been falling slowly but surely into the sea. Read more ...
Buzz from the Beehive Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters was bound to win headlines when he set out his thinking about AUKUS in his speech to the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. The headlines became bigger when – during an interview on RNZ’s Morning Report today – he criticised ...
The Post reports on how the government is refusing to release its advice on its corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law, instead using the "soon to be publicly available" refusal ground to hide it until after select committee submissions on the bill have closed. Fast-track Minister Chris Bishop's excuse? “It's not ...
As pressure on it grows, the livestock industry’s approach to the transition to Net Zero is increasingly being compared to that of fossil fuel interests. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / Getty ImagesTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above ...
The New Zealand Herald reports – Stats NZ has offered a voluntary redundancy scheme to all of its workers as a way to give staff some control over their “future” amidst widespread job losses in the public sector. In an update to staff this morning, seen by the Herald, Statistics New Zealand ...
On Werewolf/Scoop, I usually do two long form political columns a week. From now on, there will be an extra column each week about music and movies. But first, some late-breaking political events:The rise in unemployment numbers for the March quarter was bigger than expected – and especially sharp ...
David Farrar writes – The Herald reports: TVNZ says it is dealing with about 50 formal complaints over its coverage of the latest 1News-Verian political poll, with some viewers – as well as the Prime Minister and a former senior Labour MP – critical of the tone of the 6pm report. ...
Muriel Newman writes – When Meridian Energy was seeking resource consents for a West Coast hydro dam proposal in 2010, local Maori “strenuously” objected, claiming their mana was inextricably linked to ‘their’ river and could be damaged. After receiving a financial payment from the company, however, the Ngai Tahu ...
Alwyn Poole writes – “An SEP,’ he said, ‘is something that we can’t see, or don’t see, or our brain doesn’t let us see, because we think that it’s somebody else’s problem. That’s what SEP means. Somebody Else’s Problem. The brain just edits it out, it’s like a ...
Our trust in our political institutions is fast eroding, according to a Maxim Institute discussion paper, Shaky Foundations: Why our democracy needs trust. The paper – released today – raises concerns about declining trust in New Zealand’s political institutions and democratic processes, and the role that the overuse of Parliamentary urgency ...
This article was prepared for publication yesterday. More ministerial announcements have been posted on the government’s official website since it was written. We will report on these later today …. Buzz from the BeehiveThere we were, thinking the environment is in trouble, when along came Jones. Shane Jones. ...
New Zealand now has the fourth most depressed construction sector in the world behind China, Qatar and Hong Kong. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 8:46am on Thursday, May 2:The Lead: ...
Hi,I am just going to state something very obvious: American police are fucking crazy.That was a photo gracing the New York Times this morning, showing New York City police “entering Columbia University last night after receiving a request from the school.”Apparently in America, protesting the deaths of tens of thousands ...
Winston Peters’ much anticipated foreign policy speech last night was a work of two halves. Much of it was a standard “boilerplate” Foreign Ministry overview of the state of the world. There was some hardening up of rhetoric with talk of “benign” becoming “malign” and old truths giving way to ...
Graham Adams assesses the fallout of the Cass Review — The press release last Thursday from the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls didn’t make the mainstream news in New Zealand but it really should have. The startling title of Reem Alsalem’s statement — “Implementation of ‘Cass ...
This open-for-business, under-new-management cliché-pockmarked government of Christopher Luxon is not the thing of beauty he imagines it to be. It is not the powerful expression of the will of the people that he asserts it to be. It is not a soaring eagle, it is a malodorous vulture. This newest poll should make ...
The latest labour market statistics, showing a rise in unemployment. There are now 134,000 unemployed - 14,000 more than when the National government took office. Which is I guess what happens when the Reserve Bank causes a recession in an effort to Keep Wages Low. The previous government saw a ...
Three opinion polls have been released in the last two days, all showing that the new government is failing to hold their popular support. The usual honeymoon experienced during the first year of a first term government is entirely absent. The political mood is still gloomy and discontented, mainly due ...
National's Finance Minister once met a poor person.A scornful interview with National's finance guru who knows next to nothing about economics or people.There might have been something a bit familiar if that was the headline I’d gone with today. It would of course have been in tribute to the article ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Throughout the pandemic, the new Vice-Chancellor-of-Otago-University-on-$629,000 per annum-Can-you-believe-it-and-Former-Finance-Minister Grant Robertson repeated the mantra over and over that he saved “lives and livelihoods”.As we update how this claim is faring over the course of time, the facts are increasingly speaking differently. NZ ...
Chris Trotter writes – IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in acknowledgement of electoral victory: “We’ll govern for all New Zealanders.” On the face of it, the pledge is a strange one. Why would any political leader govern in ways that advantaged the huge ...
Bryce Edwards writes – The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 10:06am on Wednesday, May 1:The Lead: Business confidence fell across the board in April, falling in some areas to levels last seen during the lockdowns because of a collapse in ...
Over the past 36 hours, Christopher Luxon has been dong his best to portray the centre-right’s plummeting poll numbers as a mark of virtue. Allegedly, the negative verdicts are the result of hard economic times, and of a government bravely set out on a perilous rescue mission from which not ...
Auckland Transport have started rolling out new HOP card readers around the network and over the next three months, all of them on buses, at train stations and ferry wharves will be replaced. The change itself is not that remarkable, with the new readers looking similar to what is already ...
Completed reads for April: The Difference Engine, by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling Carnival of Saints, by George Herman The Snow Spider, by Jenny Nimmo Emlyn’s Moon, by Jenny Nimmo The Chestnut Soldier, by Jenny Nimmo Death Comes As the End, by Agatha Christie Lord of the Flies, by ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
Have a story to share about St Paul’s, but today just picturesPopular novels written at this desk by a young man who managed to bootstrap himself out of father’s imprisonment and his own young life in a workhouse Read more ...
The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill English, Simon Bridges, Steven Joyce, Roger Sowry, ...
Newsroom has a story today about National's (fortunately failed) effort to disestablish the newly-created Inspector-General of Defence. The creation of this agency was the key recommendation of the Inquiry into Operation Burnham, and a vital means of restoring credibility and social licence to an agency which had been caught lying ...
Holding On To The Present:The moment a political movement arises that attacks the whole idea of social progress, and announces its intention to wind back the hands of History’s clock, then democracy, along with its unwritten rules, is in mortal danger.IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in ...
Stuck In The Middle With You:As Christopher Luxon feels the hot breath of Act’s and NZ First’s extremists on the back of his neck and, as he reckons with the damage their policies are already inflicting upon a country he’s described as “fragile”, is there not some merit in reaching out ...
The unpopular coalition government is currently rushing to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. The clause is Oranga Tamariki's Treaty clause, and was inserted after its systematic stealing of Māori children became a public scandal and resulted in physical resistance to further abductions. The clause created clear obligations ...
Buzz from the Beehive The government’s official website – which Point of Order monitors daily – not for the first time has nothing much to say today about political happenings that are grabbing media headlines. It makes no mention of the latest 1News-Verian poll, for example. This shows National down ...
It Takes A Train To Cry:Surely, there is nothing lonelier in all this world than the long wail of a distant steam locomotive on a cold Winter’s night.AS A CHILD, I would lie awake in my grandfather’s house and listen to the traffic. The big wooden house was only a ...
Packing A Punch: The election of the present government, including in its ranks politicians dedicated to reasserting the rights of the legislature in shaping and determining the future of Māori and Pakeha in New Zealand, should have alerted the judiciary – including its anomalous appendage, the Waitangi Tribunal – that its ...
Dead Woman Walking: New Zealand’s media industry had been moving steadily towards disaster for all the years Melissa Lee had been National’s media and communications policy spokesperson, and yet, when the crisis finally broke, on her watch, she had nothing intelligent to offer. Christopher Luxon is a patient man - but he’s not ...
Chris Trotter writes – New Zealand politics is remarkably easy-going: dangerously so, one might even say. With the notable exception of John Key’s flat ruling-out of the NZ First Party in 2008, all parties capable of clearing MMP’s five-percent threshold, or winning one or more electorate seats, tend ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is ...
Luxon will no doubt put a brave face on it, but there is no escaping the pressure this latest poll will put on him and the government. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political ...
This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler In the wake of any unusual weather event, someone inevitably asks, “Did climate change cause this?” In the most literal sense, that answer is almost always no. Climate change is never the sole cause of hurricanes, heat waves, droughts, or ...
Something odd happened yesterday, and I’d love to know if there’s more to it. If there was something which preempted what happened, or if it was simply a throwaway line in response to a journalist.Yesterday David Seymour was asked at a press conference what the process would be if the ...
Hi,From time to time, I want to bring Webworm into the real world. We did it last year with the Jurassic Park event in New Zealand — which was a lot of fun!And so on Saturday May 11th, in Los Angeles, I am hosting a lil’ Webworm pop-up! I’ve been ...
Education Minister Erica Standford yesterday unveiled a fundamental reform of the way our school pupils are taught. She would not exactly say so, but she is all but dismantling the so-called “inquiry” “feel good” method of teaching, which has ruled in our classrooms since a major review of the New ...
Exactly where are we seriously going with this government and its policies? That is, apart from following what may as well be a Truss-Lite approach on the purported economic “plan“, and Victorian-era regression when it comes to social policy.Oh it’ll work this time of course, we’re basically assured, “the ...
Hey Uncle Dave, When the Poms joined the EEC, I wasn't one of those defeatists who said, Well, that’s it for the dairy job. And I was right, eh? The Chinese can’t get enough of our milk powder and eventually, the Poms came to their senses and backed up the ute ...
Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is higher than for any other mayor ...
Buzz from the Beehive Pharmac has been given a financial transfusion and a new chair to oversee its spending in the pharmaceutical business. Associate Health Minister David Seymour described the funding for Pharmac as “its largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff”. ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its ...
TL;DR: Here’s my top 10 ‘pick ‘n’ mix of links to news, analysis and opinion articles as of 10:10am on Monday, April 29:Scoop: The children's ward at Rotorua Hospital will be missing a third of its beds as winter hits because Te Whatu Ora halted an upgrade partway through to ...
span class=”dropcap”>As hideous as David Seymour can be, it is worth keeping in mind occasionally that there are even worse political figures (and regimes) out there. Iran for instance, is about to execute the country’s leading hip hop musician Toomaj Salehi, for writing and performing raps that “corrupt” the nation’s ...
Yesterday marked 10 years since the first electric train carried passengers in Auckland so it’s a good time to look back at it and the impact it has had. A brief history The first proposals for rail electrification in Auckland came in the 1920’s alongside the plans for earlier ...
Right now, in Aotearoa-NZ, our ‘animal spirits’ are darkening towards a winter of discontent, thanks at least partly to a chorus of negative comments and actions from the Government Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on ...
You make people evil to punish the paststuck inside a sequel with a rotating castThe following photos haven’t been generated with AI, or modified in any way. They are flesh and blood, human beings. On the left is Galatea Young, a young mum, and her daughter Fiadh who has Angelman ...
April has been a quiet month at A Phuulish Fellow. I have had an exceptionally good reading month, and a decently productive writing month – for original fiction, anyway – but not much has caught my eye that suggested a blog article. It has been vaguely frustrating, to be honest. ...
A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 21, 2024 thru Sat, April 27, 2024. Story of the week Anthropogenic climate change may be the ultimate shaggy dog story— but with a twist, because here ...
Hi,I spent about a year on Webworm reporting on an abusive megachurch called Arise, and it made me want to stab my eyes out with a fork.I don’t regret that reporting in 2022 and 2023 — I am proud of it — but it made me angry.Over three main stories ...
The new Victoria University Vice-Chancellor decided to have a forum at the university about free speech and academic freedom as it is obviously a topical issue, and the Government is looking at legislating some carrots or sticks for universities to uphold their obligations under the Education and Training Act. They ...
Do you remember when Melania Trump got caught out using a speech that sounded awfully like one Michelle Obama had given? Uncannily so.Well it turns out that Abraham Lincoln is to Winston Peters as Michelle was to Melania. With the ANZAC speech Uncle Winston gave at Gallipoli having much in ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff. “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
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Bucha killings.
Fool me once…..
Hard path to justice in Bucha atrocities
Russia’s Defense Ministry said Sunday that “not a single civilian has faced any violent action by the Russian military,”
https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/war-crimes-watch-hard-path-justice-bucha-atrocities-83866892
Russian missiles slamming into apartment buildings in Mariupol say otherwise,
Hyperbole? Lying? Take your pick.
The first thing to determine about the Bucha massacre; Did the Bucha killings actually take place and in the manner described?
Or was this massacre faked, or 'staged'? – as the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has publicly alleged.
With all the claims and counter claims swirling around, I am reminded of the Douma gas attack in Syria, or even further back, the Katyn massacre of captured Polish officers during WWII. To this day the Russians claim the German's did it. The Germans (and the Poles) claim the Russians did it.
What is uncontested about the Katyn Forest, is that a massacre took place there, The captured Polish officers were massacred by someone.
What is contested about the Bucha massacre, is that it ever took place at all.
If it is determined that the Bucha Massacre was not 'staged' or faked, as the Russian Foreign Minister has alleged. That in fact, this massacre of civilians did occure: Then the next question to determine; who committed it?".
At this far remove at the other end of the world, the weight of evidence presented to us, is that the massacre of civilians in Bucha was committed by the Russian forces during their occupation of the town.
Jenny if you are going to use past form(of denial) to predict current culpabilities you may have to widen your range(in the interests of fairness)
Ukraine to this day is denying the full scale of its actions
I see your massacre and raise you a Holodomor https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holodomor
Millions Murdered
When it comes to denial, the apologists for Russian and imperialism and Assad fascism need to look at themselves.
Amid the fog of war and the competing narratives over the atrocity committed in Bucha. I know one thing for sure;
Apologists for Russian aggression and Assad fascism like yourself, will argue endlessly over the reality, or not, of one single act of atrocity. Just as you did over the gas attack on Douma in Syria.
But one thing you won't do Francesca, is address the undeniable evidence of the genocidal nature of the war itself.
As the dead lie beneath the rubble of Borodyanka, the gruesome toll could be worse than Bucha
I recognise the genocidal nature and cruelty of all wars, and I recognise and call out the propaganda that attempts to make us believe that our "enemies"are monsters but we are kind and just.
Yes. Things would get interesting if the dead turned out to be known Russian sympathisers.
You state " To this day " the russians claim the germans killed the poles etc not quite true considering in 1990 Yeltsin released the execution orders signed by stalin to the new polish president Lech walesa .
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katyn_massacre#Post-communist_investigations
Yes and I stand by my statement.
Since Yeltsin's day, under Putin's rule, the admission by Russia of Russian culpability for the Katyn Massacre is being rolled back.
After 80 Years, The ‘Katyn Lie’ Lives On In Russia
https://www.rferl.org/a/after-80-years-the-katyn-lie-lives-on-in-russia/30470317.html
Glad you amended your original statement jenny i think its as well to remember that the soviet bear has been known to recover its memory from time to time .The world is bleak and depressing enough without painting it black cover to cover .
I don't think there is any doubt that the Russians committed the atrocities. As I pointed out yesterday, satellite images at the time of Russian occupation have been geolocated to where bodies have been found.
If anything, this type of event is actually working against the Russians because it is motivating other countries to get in behind Ukraine.
For example, here is a great interview with Roberta Metsola, president of the European Union. She has just met with Zelenskyy. Well worth spending the 7 minutes to watch it.
According to her, the Ukranians are fighting on behalf of Europe, and she wants to make sure that Russia is never again able to attack European countries.
On a side note, she seems to be an outstanding politician, of a calibre far higher than anyone we have in New Zealand.
Also, after having taken an interest (or obsession) in this conflict, I have been very impressed with the quality of news and investigative journalism on the likes of DW and France 24. Makes our stuff seem very fluffy and weak. Having said that, they are able to have channels that are just full time news, unlike us here.
While we we wait for actual proof of culpability to this horrific event from actual professionals in this field, (trial by a biased media is proof of nothing)…don't you find it somewhat incongruous that no MSM have covered this horrific event (please be aware that the video is extremely disturbing, viewer discretion is advised) at all..why is that you think?
Satellite image of bodies site contradicts Russian claims
I am not going to get into armchair speculation on this matter….you and others on this site would do well to remember this old adage "The first casualty of war is the truth"…as I keep trying to remind people, all western MSM have declared war on Russia, they have picked a side, that is just a plain fact,,,therefore they have negated their positions as impartial news outlets…..so everything they report has to be regarded, by anyone who is actually concerned with the truth… as suspect, am I wrong?
The exact same logic applies to the Russians. The same people who six weeks ago were solemnly assuring the world there would be no invasion of Ukraine.
Yet here we are. In politics you can debate facts, ideas and nuance all you want. In war you pick a side and fight for it – or get crushed.
You have clearly picked the side of boundless cruelty.
No RedLogix, unlike you I haven't picked a side….if I were in the Ukraine (but not a Russian speaking Ukrainian in the Donbass) I would be fighting the Russian today you can be sure of that….however I am not in the position, so I (and you) have the luxury of being able to appraise the conflict from a much wider perspective.
I believe that it is exactly because we are in this privileged position to observe and appraise the conflict from this distance, that it is essential for us to remain neutral, try and negotiate our way through the fog of war, and remain steadfast in our efforts to seek out only the facts and truth…that’s all I am trying to do here.The only reason why it sometimes look like I am pro Russia is because I am pushing back against the obvious propaganda that our media spews out daily…but you can be sure that if I were in Russia, I would be doing exactly same vigorous critiquing of their propaganda on some Russian version of TS.
I know that remaining neutral is impossible for you, that is your choice and I respect that, but please respect my position of neutrality.
Sort of why I wanted this sorted out via diplomacy.
But I am not capable of neutrality after one side starts a war – multi-lateral collective security of nations.
That Russia has nukes and a UNSC veto is the only reason there is not a plan for foreign troops to occupy the Kremlin and remove Putin by force.
Just adding more info to balance the page for readers.
I think “Whatever the source, address the content” is a good call.
“Whatever the source, address the content” …I would agree in normal times, however as western MSM have willfully become a propaganda arm of the Ukrainian govt, exactly where does one even start to address the content, when that is the starting point? ….That is the problem, a very serious problem, don't you agree?
Think about it, we have now ended up with not one western MSM source that we can rely on for news of Ukraine, doesn't that bother you?…this is exactly why I so often bang on about 'Fair and Balanced Reporting' in our media as a primary problem in our search for the truth.
You've already decided the western media are propaganda tools so clearly the link wasn't for you.
Maybe leave it to those inclined to seek another perspective and concentrate on the juxtaposition of that rapid decision with the one that wants to wait and see about russian war crimes in Bucha.
So we can assume by your none answers to my questions, that you find MSM content on Ukraine to be, on the whole, fair and balanced then?
“those inclined to seek another perspective”…you see that is the problem…that ‘perspective’ you mention is the main one most people are exposed to…so if it extremely biased as I maintain…then that is a problem..no?
I'm self moderating so need need to wait for a discussion around what you, or I, think constitute balance.
So, as I'm not arguing with you or attempting to change your mind about anything, the best case outcome is people head off down their own rabbit holes and sift the truth out for themselves, with an eye to probability and credibility.
The truth is out there.
Adrian we know you have sympathies for Russia.
But complete destruction of suburbs bodies of civilians bound tortured and shot.
This is Putin our modern day megalomaniac.
Not Russia but a megalomaniac dictator.
You can ignore all the photos,videos etc.
But ever since Zelensky was elected by an overwhelming majority Putin has had it in for him.
Zelensky was a comedian fed up with corruption turned politician as a joke.
Tricledown , did you miss the fact that prior to the invasion Zelensky's pollings were trailing in the 20s and as far as his efforts against corruption go, he's sponsored by the most corrupt oligarch Kolomoisky, and he himself was shown up hiding wealth offshore .
https://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/oct/03/revealed-anti-oligarch-ukrainian-president-offshore-connections-volodymyr-zelenskiy
Truth in language alert, only one party has declared war – Russia, and in invading Ukraine it has in a sense done so against the international regime – the collective security of nations. Because it has nukes and a veto on the UNSC .. it thinks it it can do what it likes.
The idea that the western MSM, not any other MSM such as in China or Russia, cannot be relied on for truth is a definition of partisanship – not truth seeking.
And of course the central "fact" of the sovereign citizen movement and every other social media rabbit warren cult on earth is that it alone has the truth. That form of the force is with us is a secular variant of end of the world uber Zionism and related Christian and Moslem theocracy.
"The idea that the western MSM, not any other MSM such as in China or Russia, cannot be relied on for truth is a definition of partisanship – not truth seeking"…When exactly did I say or imply that?
I am happy use any western MSM and any other MSM sources when I believe they a useful.
BTW, The last part of your comment didn't make any sense…what were trying to say there?
In every comment about western media in 2 above.
What I said, I was not trying, was that many claim to the truth is with them and them alone. A definition of a cult.
" that many claim to the truth is with them and them alone. A definition of a cult"….that sounds a lot like western MSM….link me to one serious debate or discussion on western MSM from someone serious, pushing back against the 'Russiagate' conspiracy during the Trump era.
Note that western MSM only maintained one truth on that issue…I think you find the same 'single truth' narrative around the Douma gas attack incident…I could go on but you get the idea I am sure.
So if I apply your definition, Western MSM is a cult of some sort.
So you define cult as what you are against, rather than note the common characteristics of them …
According to her, the Ukranians are fighting on behalf of Europe, and she wants to make sure that Russia is never again able to attack European countries.
It is much more likely the Ukranians are fighting on behalf of the US. After all, what were McCain, Biden and Nuland doing in Kyev around 2013 or 2014?
Why would Russia, these days, wish to attack European countries anyway?
Funny question, given it's doing exactly that.
But assuming a good faith question, one particular stand-out feature of the vagaries of post-Soviet geography is Kaliningrad. Can you think of any reason some Baltic states lying between Kaliningrad and the rest of Russia might be shitting themselves at the moment, given the current Russian expansionist imperialism? What about Moldova and Transnistria?
And then there are the innumerable opportunities for border expansion, a little piece here or there…
Ukraine is not really part of Europe, though some of its citizens apparently would like it to be. This whole sorry mess grew out of the events in 2014 when Yanukovich, who was at the time the Ukrainian president, failed in his attempt to join Europe. Putin seems to have seen this attempt, after Yanukovich's ousting, together with a desire to join NATO, as an existential threat to Russia. Hence the invasion.
The invasion seems to have been a defensive move on Putin’s part. He ain’t no Napoleon Bonaparte.
Despite the blatant stupidity of that comment, it is however the only thing that bears any relevance to my response to your question as to why some definitely European countries (in addition to the country in eastern Europe called Ukraine) might be worried that the authoritarian kleptocracy controlling Russia might wish to invade their territory, too.
Russia, of course, famously spans two continents. But Ukraine is firmly in Europe, well west of the Urals.
Maybe you should read Chris Trotter's latest article tsmithfield.
https://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/2022/04/forgetting-to-remember-news-coverage-of.html
What worries me is that RadioNZ seems to be cravenly followed the "plucky little Ukraine" line without questioning whether there is a factual basis for the reports coming out of the war. The NZ public deserve better.
Yes, fair points made in that article. That is why I think it is wise to seek sources that don't have a dog in the fight. Though, that is hard to find.
After reading all the stuff on here about the media bias, for one side or the other, maybe RadioNZ should not report anything about what is going on except to say "there is conflict in Ukraine." (Maybe there will be some who say even that is propaganda.)
If they carry a story about a number of deaths I suppose the information has come from someone. Who is to say the information is true? If they carry a story about anything to do with not all the information has come from someone. Who is to say the information is true?
Trotter gets it right on Ukraine again here.
https://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/2022/04/bloody-anniversaries.html
I wonder where these lovely tenants will end up living now? I doubt the landlord will ever see any of the $10k owed. There should be a register of bad tenants and a bad landlords so people can avoid either renting to them or becoming their tenant.
Christchurch tenants ordered to pay landlord $10,000 after damage, meth use, robbery, abandonment – NZ Herald
They will probably end up being State housing tenants for life as no other landlord in their right mind would let them rent their house, and unfortunately you and me will end up paying for them.
Great, more poverty porn from the Herald…yuk.
"There should be a register of bad tenants and a bad landlords so people can avoid either renting to them or becoming their tenant"
Have you, or do you know anyone who has trying getting into a rental lately?….they have to jump through every hoop that the landlord can possibly make up…and then some more for good measure…but what single reference does the landlord have to provide to that hopeful tenant?
And because of tenants like these, that is exactly why there are so many hoops to jump through. Their "CV" would not make good reading and I wouldn't wish them on any landlord. The landlord is the one with a property at risk. The tenant risks nothing.
But I still believe there should also be a register of the bad landlords.
Nonsense. Hoops have existed for years – many of my Maori staff twenty years ago struggled to get rentals. It was called racism.
That they have increased (hoops that is) is not due to bad tenants – it's due to the bull-dozing of state houses, the massive increase in immigration without a building program to go with it, the massive subsidisation of landlords through accommodation supplement and tax breaks, reduced taxation of the wealthy freeing up capital, the realisation after the Canterbury Earthquakes by landlords they could get away with charging a fortune, the lack of rent controls, bloody-mindedness by some landlords like the one who told me he put all his rents up to piss off Jacinda, the loss of other government housing.
In short a deliberate and concerted effort to create a supply and demand shortage by capitalists. Bad tenants are the very least cause in the whole back to slum-lords and homelessness mess.
About those satellite images:
https://southfront.org/more-evidence-more-doubts-about-bucha-massacre/
From the NY Times article:
“The images show dark objects of similar size to a human body appearing on Yablonska Street between March 9 and March 11″
yet:
” However, according to the Institute of War report, the Russians did not control the south of the city from March 9 to 11. Attention should also be drawn to the statement of the General Staff of Ukraine on Facebook on March 10, which reads «the enemy is trying to break through the defenses of Ukraine’s defenders in the areas of Poliske, Kukhari, Zhovtneve, Andriyivka, Kopyliv, Motyzhyn, Buzova, Horenychi, Bucha, Demydiv, and block Kyiv». Next, the Institute of War, in its Facebook post of March 11, states that all attempts by the Russian army to take Bucha have failed.”
https://southfront.org/more-evidence-more-doubts-about-bucha-massacre/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SouthFront
'In 2016, Finnish journalist Jessikka Aro writing in Springer Link described SouthFront as "an allegedly citizen-sourced project that looks more like a suspicious information operation." Describing it as "a fascinating hybrid of revealingly detailed military intelligence and totally bogus stories," she said that the site's content centers on "the success of Russia's armed forces, and showing off Russia's weapons." '
Whatever the source, address the content
Article references the NYTimes article, Facebook entries of Ukrainian military and other verifiable sources.
It’s not an opinion piece
.If you dispute the validity of the references, offer counters to them or prove them to be false
Them thar facebook accounts prompted an FB phishing warning. Went as far as I could without logging in.
But despite that, nothing in your links actually contradicts the possibility that the people were killed in areas controlled by the Russians, or even the progress of events depicted in wikipedia (with considerable more precision than "in the area of [half a dozen major suburbs]").
What you, specifically, are saying is not what the sources for your article state.
Why am I not surprised…..
Zhao Lijian: "….. in a contrasting move to its (the USA) pressuring of European countries to not buy Russian oil, the US increased crude oil supplies from Russia by 43 percent, or 100,000 barrels per day, over the past week and allowed its companies to import mineral fertilizers from Russia. The ongoing war and sanctions have incurred an influx of refugees, capital outflow and energy shortage in Europe, but enabled the US to have profited and made a fortune from that"
Will be interesting if these claims pan out.
https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/PET_MOVE_IMPCUS_D_NUS_NRS_MBBL_M.htm
The US gets about 1 – 3% of its total crude oil from Russia. They get about 60-61% of oil from Canada.
The US public will not stand for gas prices even higher than they are (Witness how fast our own government folded after just 2 weeks).
Oil markets are now so roiled that even a partial oil sanction has driven India into the hands of Russia for perpetual oil supply. You can only mess with energy security so far.
So have they increased their oil imports from Russia by 43% or not…I guess that is the question, regardless of what overall percentage it is?
The sanctions such as they are, are altering Russian export flows. But the trades are going to get very shadowy.
Price-sensitive refiners in India are buying Urals crude at a discount to Brent crude prices of $25 per barrel or more.
In China, both independent refiners and state oil companies are buying ESPO blend and Urals volumes.
Russian off-the-radar transactions will grow and they make it hard to calculate the current market disruption with great precision: the revenue loss for Russia isn't going to be as big as hoped.
The US is generating enough pressure to be noticeable, but not so much that Russian accelerates a full geopolitical re-alignment of India into the Russia-China-Iran-Kazakhstan-Donbas oil power that is emerging.
This world does not need energy markets more destabilised than they are. So the US has smaller oil levers to operate than would be obvious.
Equally, it's very clear that only the US and Europe are really standing up to Russia at all – in energy or anything else.
Oh come on Ad
Putin and Lavrov can forget their holidays in Rotorua, and making supplies of potassium more expensive for NZ agriculturalists is really going to stick it to the Muscovites
Pretty simple Francesca:
United we stand, divided was fall.
Nothing to stop us falling united in a great economic collapse either.
Two comments above you were saying nothing would make a difference.
What makes a difference in this world is courage and planning. That's what unity feels like.
??
Can't recall saying nothing would make a difference
The purpose of Russian propaganda to twofold
1. to demonise Ukrainians as unworthy of life and self-determination
2. to convince us that the cost of upholding international norms – collective security of nations comes at too high a cost.
What's the purpose of western propaganda?
With the Tauranga by-election on May 19th, Climate Change plan coming out a week after that, and the Tauranga by-election on June 18th, government and National get the closest thing possible to a live straw poll.
What can Labour do now to turn their fortunes around?
'Post makes no sense Ad
Budget 2022 will be delivered on 19 May.
Budget policies will feed into the Tauranga election.
Two RBNZ mps statements before the election,lets not forget who really makes economic policy in the real world.
That is an absolutely uncharacteristic post from you it makes no sense please consider immediate medical attention as I am afraid your your blood oxygen may be way too low – this is not an attempt to harass or criticize I am concerned for your well being please seek medical help now
2022 Budget policies will feed into the Tauranga election.
Labour could promise every Tauranga citizen a million dollars each, dropped into their bank account the day after the bi-election – provided that the Labour candidate is elected…
And they would still lose.
This is not a poll on the government's performance. This is a bi-election is a safe blue seat.
The inevitable loss will mean nothing in the greater scheme of things.
The by election is on Saturday June 18. Does that help?
Ad, Labour has zero chance of winning in Tauranga. Why would that prove anything other than the status quo ? Straw poll? for Straw Men?
.
Well, for a start … stop wasting public money on 2 by-elections in the same electorate just a month apart. Seems just a little bit … extravagant … and vaguely indecisive.
Still, each to their own, I spoze.
[To be brutally honest, I’ve long favoured monthly by-elections in every geographical seat as a way of making politics much more interesting … so this would certainly seem to be a move in the right direction by the Govt]
To be brutally honest for someone who follows polls you have a dim view of democracy.
No, big believer in liberal democracy …unlike the affluent & autocratic Woke.
Keep it up Greens! Rent Freeze now, then Rent Control. Stick it up the bludging landlords.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300560111/green-party-pushes-for-rent-controls-hoping-house-and-rental-prices-will-fall?fbclid=IwAR1gQm4G8p8mZk16ojwxmApK2tlZiIO5uhQYy2AW4d4oTpJR1tGgqBjPWPk
And here is one way to deliver homes rather than just more misery.
All a Labour or National government would have to do is get rid of the Bright Line test for all new builds.
Watch the new rentals shoot up.
The new builds in the CBD in CHCH a high proportion already went to investors between 50-90 %,A high proportion went into short term accommodation.
A more sustainable outcome was to make them legalise their activity,change the rating,and increase their opex costs with building act requirements such as WOF.
Only need 10% of inventory to move back into the residential market,and that would increase the listed rental stock in CHCH by 25%.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/128264975/airbnb-slams-christchurchs-new-house-sharing-rules-as-most-restrictive-in-australasia
It might guarantee more new builds, not necessarily new rentals.
I say it might, because it depends on the market.
I will agree in that with a market at a high and interest rates sure to rise (prevent the market rising further) there is less prospect of build and profit. And more of have the equity to build and rent out because there is market demand for a place to live by those who cannot buy at these prices.
In the USA equity firms are buying up houses to rent out for the return. NZ Super Fund and Kiwi Saver may do the same.
Investing in new builds at the peak of the market, when interest rates are rising … is a game for those with equity and who can hold and earn rent income.
I don't know about "bludging landlords". However many seem to have been sucked into unwise investments by the interest deductibility subsidy.
Accommodation Supplements = Billions funneled to landlords
Read Soper's latest out of curiosity:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/barry-soper-why-there-was-no-point-sticking-around-for-ashley-bloomfield/OSLFTGIDSO5WL5VXVO57X6D2BM/
A bitter, bombastic, misogynistic, jealousy ridden racist rant of bile.
Feel free to add any further appropriate adjectives….
It was not as bad as I expected.
I would agree with Soper, it was clearly not a job that Bloomfield would have found tempting enough to stay on for. A year working with Little and then the 2023 election challenge to the administration (political attacks on the Maori Authority etc) and potential of having to work with National (and risk of being removed). So much easier to take a sabbatical, do some advisory/consulting work and wait for post 2023.
Sure the normal – better qualified older white men not having a job and younger women of colour having jobs is par for the course for those of his generation and ambition to remain in control. It's equal part legacy white man privilege and colonialism – no wonder he just loves Winnie, one who knew his place.
Spare me the nonsense. The man is exhausted and so are the other senior health officials. They don't want their lives snuffed out early with exhaustion-induced heart attacks and the like.
You and Soper should team up.
Do you know what sabbatical means?
What a sad reaction – me too tribalism us or them at its worst.
A realistic counter to the twisted conspiracy weaved by Soper:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/464787/ashley-bloomfield-s-resignation-he-felt-the-pressure-along-with-the-rest-of-us
In short, Bloomfield and senior colleagues are burnt out after 2 years of 12 hour days and 7 day working weeks. There is no conspiracy. Nor is there bad blood. He's made up the drivel about Ardern in an attempt to further vilify her.
Imo, he's gone too far this time and the Press Council should take action against him.
"Press Council should take action against him".
If you feel that strongly about it why don't you complain? Or have you already done so? If you aren't willing to go to the trouble of doing so then your statement is merely another of the "Someone outa do something" variety.
It is now (and has been since 2017) the New Zealand Media Council. The things you have to do in making a complaint are described here. I don't believe it costs anything to make a complaint but there are are a number of things you will have to do before they take the complaint up.
https://www.mediacouncil.org.nz/complaints/
Well, are you going to do it , or are you just going to complain here? Let us know how you get on won't you?
Yeah… knew that little line would come up. I know how to make complaints alwyn but it is up to the Press Council to police their own.
If I want to bawl someone out on this site I will do so. After all, you make quite a habit of it.
Now read the RNZ link @ 8.2 and get a handle on the facts of the case (warts n' all) rather than the Soper fiction.
I too agree with a lot of Soper's article. Why would Bloomfield wait around when his job was going to be changing.
Also, the prospect of working with Andrew Little would not be very tempting.
"I too agree with a lot of Soper's article."
You would wouldn't you. 😯
The war in Ukraine is reaching an interesting point.
From a strategic perspective, I think the Russians would be better to regroup, and reinforce the areas they have taken, and ensure they have a good solid foundation to base further attacks on.
However, Putin has put the pressure on his forces by declaring a victory by May 9th.
Therefore, in order to achieve something worth the effort, the Russians will have to go on the offensive again. This is likely to involve attempting to encircle Ukrainian forces in the east which are well dug in, and then try and take the whole Dombas region.
One option is to try and take the strategically important Sloviansk. The problem with that strategy is that Sloviansk is incredibly well defended, from what I have read. And I expect more Ukranian forces and assets no longer required up North will be deployed there. Therefore, as we have seen in Mariupol which is still fighting, this will be an incredibly hard nut to crack.
Another option is for the Russians to avoid Sloviansk by looping around it. But the Spring rains are coming, thus turning fields into a quagmire and confining tanks etc to the roads. Also, this strategy involves the problems of maintaining logistic supplies over a long distance. The problem that has plagued the Russians all along. This is going to allow the Ukrainians to continue to ambush convoys with a similar outcome to what the Russians have been experiencing thus far.
So, I think, rather than going on the offensive too much, at the moment, the Ukranians are best to dig in and let the Russians sustain more losses trying to attack defensive positions as they try and make gains to meet the progress that Putin is expecting.
Should be interesting times ahead. I hope the Ukranians are supplied with more long range missiles and the like that will allow them to target Russian artillary and ships that have been causing so much damage to civilian areas recently. And I hope they are provided with more long-range anti-aircraft capability to take on Russian bombers.
While the Ukranians are calling for more tanks, I am not sure that this is such at necessity at the moment as they will be affected by boggy fields as much as the Russians.
20 days out from ANZAC Day I'd concentrate more on suffering and death from warmongers, rather than abstract lines on a map from afar.
Agreed.
The death and destruction is absolutely appalling and unforgivable. But on another level the strategist in me finds the abstract lines on a map quite interesting.
So far as the death and destruction is concerned, a good thing is that Ukraine is trying to evacuate citizens from population centres in the east that are likely to be in the line of Russian fire. So hopefully there shouldn't be lots of civilian casualties in those areas as we have seen before.
BTW I started watching that series you recommended ÿday "Secret City''. It looks really good and relevant to our strategic situation down here.
I totally agree.
Vietnam war: 2,000,000 civilian deaths
Iraq war: 208,167 civilian deaths
Yemen War: Estimated 111,000, up to a quarter children.
Afghanistan war: 46,319 civilian deaths
Drone strikes since 911: >22,000 at least, possibly as high as 48,000
War is always horrible.
Zelensky is ignorant of history..
https://twitter.com/AP/status/1511365620310364169
It sort of depends whether the May date is real or not. The Russian tanks are viable in the east in the summer. And Ukraine has to prepare for that.
Sure Ukraine can lift siege by bombardment with better artillery and missile capability (range and numbers).
What will be interesting is how soon and where the Russians deploy from Izium. That will give a good idea of their tactics. From sources I have seen, the Russians are heavily bombarding Ukrainian dug in positions in the east which suggests they may be planning to try and break through soon.
I am sure that Putin will declare a win on May 9th regardless. I guess the problem for the Russians is, if they go for the slow build-up option, it gives the Ukranians a lot more time to get tooled up with better equipment and get trained in more modern systems the West can provide.
My take on this now is that the West has changed its perspective a bit. Rather than trying to set up an insurgency after a Russian take over, the strong performance of the Ukranians means the West wants to try and prevent Russia from being able to claim a win in Ukraine as this would just embolden Putin to keep on going.
9 May is the date Russia holds its victory parade ie the date Russia won the 2nd ww. 12000 plus troops and all the modern weapons on show. What's not for Putin to love.
The Ukrainians need more Armour for it's Combined Arms TTP's, yes it's the muddie seasons & once the ground dries out its going to be a fluid Battle Zone.
The Ukranian Armoured Corps has been very quiet so far, but what I've seen so of the Ukrainian Armoured TTP's they are 1k times better than the Russians.
Sloviansk Pocket is going to the next crucial battle for the Ukrainians, if they can hold without only major losses.
Then the Ukranian Military have a chance of doing some serious damage to the Russians especially if the Ukrainian Forces manage to bump the Russians out of the Kherson.
Russians
Yes, Anne, reading Soper's cynical bitter column on Dr Bloomfield makes one almost sorry for his new baby growing up with a parent/parents like that. I can never understand why the Herald has a stable full of columnists like Soper, mostly older males. What joyless, miserable people they all are.
It only took a couple of reads of Soper, to never again bother with Soper. And yes, there's a whole pack of them, and they're not worth the time either. Their task is supplying anger in soundbites, daily ammo to 'own the libs' in the form of some moronic bumper sticker.
Don't feed the professional trolls. What they say isn't controversial, it's horse shit.
Corporate cronies and psychophants.
Getting well paid to spread toxic untruths.
Bloomfield has had to negotiate NZ through the biggest catastrophe since WW2.
The herald stable of treasonous poisonous traitors have no empathy for Ashley Bloomfeild who has had the biggest burden on his shoulders of any single person since WW2.
Soper is our Lord haw haw.
Quite the shit list.
https://twitter.com/ashleygjovik/status/1511588538004873216
[…]
https://twitter.com/ashleygjovik/status/1511812771637194754
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1511588538004873216.html
Regarding the political right's scorn over Ashley Bloomfield's resignation.
They had good reason to hate Bloomfield, because he repeatedly told them what they didn't want to hear, stood by it and resisted all their attempts to undermine his work.
The political right have few principles and don't like it when their opponents stand fast.
Mike t L, Yes and they feel the same about Jacinda!! They have tried all old and new DP.
They hate she is still there, and hate she is leading a business delegation to Asia.
That gets right up their nose.
And as far as Jacinda is concerned there is also a certain amount of misogynistic jealousy too. Some elements hate it that we have a female PM who is a real leader.
The convergence of they stole the election and mistrust of liberal democracy vaccine mandates – the white race Christian identity movement of Putin (eastern Tsar) of the GOP and the crusade for totalitarian kingdom come power.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/06/us/christian-right-wing-politics.html
SPC, it’s the rise of Christian Nationalism, and the splitting of the American church into a militaristic, heretical cult enslaved to Republican propaganda vs the traditional faith and progressive churches who actually know what the Gospel teaches.
The Maga/Q nuts are ideologically similar to Putin’s crazed regime of Russian nationalism, they are spawned from the same toxic brew of paranoia, white supremacy, and personality cult of a dictator supposedly chosen by God. And the enemy is inhuman, satanic, utterly corrupt, and cheating the true believers out of their rightful inheritance. Only a “final solution” can cleanse the earth of this (shadow projection of themselves) great evil
Peak money arises as the Fed reduces QE,and doubles down on signaled rates increases.
A trillion dollars to be removed from US economy this year.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/fed-officials-weigh-shrinking-balance-180243725.html
A trillion plus whatever is removed by defaults.
More likely defaults in the large ne cities or california.Not so much in the Oilbelt with contract driller hands being offered 400k.
https://www.unitedvanlines.com/newsroom/movers-study-2021?#
It matters not where the defaults occur, they destroy liquidity and reduce the propensity for credit creation…..and 400k for drilling hands, really! bloody hell thats ridiculous especially in an industry that has lost billions to date.
Heavy diesel mechanics in mining in WA is offering 200k pa,plus fly in fly out to Perth 14 on 14 off,plus 12% super fully paid,free med etc.
Sustainable too.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/rural-news/2022-04-06/andrew-forrest-buys-cattle-stations-green-energy-production/100966340
True enough…(the numbers are a wee bit bigger now than i recall)….still 400K US and as said the industry has cost investors billions to date.
Thats confidence that sanctions will be effective and enduring…over confidence imo.
As the price rises more fields become economic.Without the transport constraint of of oil from large tankers (freight margin around 13bbl) their is a higher local premium.
Old pricing structure had them unprofitable under 50 USD a barrel….so say 60+ today….price has eased to low/mid 90s even while OPEC stands back.
IEA has announced a further 60 million bbls from strategic reserves,(megan woods to wave our futures contract around soon) ,tends to remove the margin players long positions.
We as part of the IEA are also supposed to have started a conservation campaign,seems to have been overlooked.
https://twitter.com/IEA/status/1511444829712039939?cxt=HHwWhoCyyZHE3fkpAAAA
Maybe the working from home part may be unpalatable to hospitality.
Hospitality has more problems than public servants working from home ….but i guess every little bit helps.
I think hospitality has more problems from landlords wanting market rent increases,when bums on seats are decreasing.
That old real estate bubble causing problems everywhere.
But dog forbid we mock and deride these folk and their economic anxiety.
https://twitter.com/stphnfwlr/status/1510663380314783744
Just say Space Force like Trevor Noah channeling Trump and then consider how children learn to imitate "adult" behaviour …
Anatomically correct puppets …
Timely reminder. Dr Dan Goyal:
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1511590788647604226.html
Jacinda Ardern needs to have a few stern words to Poto Williams after this interview.
"Williams said she was "not over the detail" despite 1News having sent the details to her office, and described it as an "operational matter to the police".
https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/04/06/kiwis-having-to-wait-longer-and-longer-for-police-help/
Luckily for Poto, Helen Clark is not the PM else she would probably be packing up her office today. Poto needs to get over the detail. She's the minister.
It is an operational matter.
That's a Costa issue. Poto can't control that and shouldn't interfere.
Rabid feral at US capitol bites 9
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-04-07/viral-capitol-fox-put-down-biting-nine-people-officials/100973484
I always try to avoid fox news.