Open mike 13/08/2024
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6:00 am, August 13th, 2024 - 56 comments
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- The 1 Good Thing Left In Journalism
Hi,It’s almost Christmas Day which means it is almost my birthday, where you will find me whimpering in the corner clutching a warm bottle of Baileys.If you’re out of ideas for presents (and truly desperate) then it is possible to gift a full Webworm subscription to a friend (or enemy) ...4 hours ago - Bernard’s Picks ‘n’ Mixes for Monday, December 23
This morning’s six standouts for me at 6.30am include:Rachel Helyer Donaldson’s scoop via RNZ last night of cuts to maternity jobs in the health system;Maddy Croad’s scoop via The Press-$ this morning on funding cuts for Christchurch’s biggest food rescue charity;Benedict Collins’ scoop last night via 1News on a last-minute ...4 hours ago - 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #51
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Well, I've been there, sitting in that same chairWhispering that same prayer half a million timesIt's a lie, though buried in disciplesOne page of the Bible isn't worth a lifeThere's nothing wrong with youIt's true, it's trueThere's something wrong with the villageWith the villageSomething wrong with the villageSongwriters: Andrew Jackson ...24 hours ago - Government Forces Universities to Enforce “Free Speech” While Limiting Universities̵...
ACT would like to dictate what universities can and can’t say. We knew it was coming. It was outlined in the coalition agreement and has become part of Seymour’s strategy of “emphasising public funding” to prevent people from opposing him and his views—something he also uses to try and de-platform ...1 day ago - Fact brief – Are we heading into an ‘ice age’?
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- As Our Power Lessens: Published
So the Solstice has arrived – Summer in this part of the world, Winter for the Northern Hemisphere. And with it, the publication my new Norse dark-fantasy piece, As Our Power Lessens at Eternal Haunted Summer: https://eternalhauntedsummer.com/issues/winter-solstice-2024/as-our-power-lessens/ As previously noted, this one is very ‘wyrd’, and Northern Theory of Courage. ...2 days ago - By Any Other Name.
The Natural Choice: As a starter for ten percent of the Party Vote, “saving the planet” is a very respectable objective. Young voters, in particular, raised on the dire (if unheeded) warnings of climate scientists, and the irrefutable evidence of devastating weather events linked to global warming, vote Green. After ...2 days ago - Bernard’s last Saturday Soliloquy for 2024
The Government cancelled 60% of Kāinga Ora’s new builds next year, even though the land for them was already bought, the consents were consented and there are builders unemployed all over the place. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political ...2 days ago - Bernard’s Picks ‘n’ Mixes for Saturday, December 21
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The government published its first Biennial Transparency Report under the Paris Agreement yesterday, and the media has correctly noted that it is missing any plan to actually meet our target. While it hypes domestic emissions reductions so far - which have been good, but will likely get worse thanks to ...3 days ago
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- ZB’s Power Couple
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- Weekly Roundup 20-December-2024
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Open access notables An intensification of surface Earth’s energy imbalance since the late 20th century, Li et al., Communications Earth & Environment: Tracking the energy balance of the Earth system is a key method for studying the contribution of human activities to climate change. However, accurately estimating the surface energy balance ...4 days ago
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- The Wing Parties’ Economic Policies.
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In 1998, in the wake of the Paremoremo Prison riot, the Department of Corrections established the "Behaviour Management Regime". Prisoners were locked in their cells for 22 or 23 hours a day, with no fresh air, no exercise, no social contact, no entertainment, and in some cases no clothes and ...6 days ago
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- Shameless, clueless
AUSTERITYText within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedMy spreadsheet insists This pain leads straight to glory (File not found) Read more ...6 days ago - Minimum wage ‘increase’ is an effective cut
The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi are saying that the Government should do the right thing and deliver minimum wage increases that don’t see workers fall further behind, in response to today’s announcement that the minimum wage will only be increased by 1.5%, well short of forecast inflation. “With inflation forecast ...6 days ago
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And if there is a GodI know he likes to rockHe likes his loud guitarsHis spiders from MarsAnd if there is a GodI know he's watching meHe likes what he seesBut there's trouble on the breezeSongwriter: William Patrick Corgan Read more ...7 days ago - A Lipstick Government
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Iain Rennie, CNZMSecretary and Chief Executive to the TreasuryDear Secretary, Undue restrictions on restricted briefings This week, the Treasury barred representatives from four organisations, including the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi, from attending the restricted briefing for the Half-Year Economic and Fiscal Update. We had been ...7 days ago
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- Thank You
Hi all,I'm pretty overwhelmed by all your messages and emails today; thank you so very much.As much as my newsletter this morning was about money, and we all need to earn money, it was mostly about world domination if I'm honest. 😉I really hate what’s happening to our country, and ...1 week ago - 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #50
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National has only been in power for a year, but everywhere you look, its choices are taking New Zealand a long way backwards. In no particular order, here are the National Government's Top 50 Greatest Misses of its first year in power. ...3 days ago - Release: Minister’s plan for tertiary sector a backwards step
Returning to the model that was failing for most polytechnics and Institutes of Technology is not the answer. ...3 days ago
- Release: National buries 1019 planned homes
It’s been revealed that National has cancelled 60 percent of its housing projects planned before mid-2025 amidst housing woes. ...3 days ago
- Release: Rule-Czar bill a right-wing power grab
The Government is quietly undertaking consultation on the dangerous Regulatory Standards Bill over the Christmas period to avoid too much attention. ...3 days ago
- Release: Why not both? Luxon shuns Waitangi celebrations
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is running away from problems of his own creation, with his decision not to go to Waitangi. ...4 days ago
- Govt’s ‘free speech’ legislation stokes fear, not freedom
The Government’s planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. ...4 days ago - Release: Nicola Willis spirals country deeper into recession
The economy shrank 1% this quarter and New Zealand has tumbled into the depths of a recession of Nicola Willis’ making. ...4 days ago
- Release: Hikes for company directors but not ordinary Kiwis
Working people are going backwards while company directors are being given huge pay hikes. ...5 days ago
- ECE no place to cut corners
The Ministry of Regulation’s report into Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Aotearoa raises serious concerns about the possibility of lowering qualification requirements, undermining quality and risking worse outcomes for tamariki, whānau, and kaiako. ...5 days ago
- Release: Strengthening Justice Services for New Zealanders
A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...5 days ago
- Release: Labour will continue fight against destructive projects
Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...6 days ago
- Green Government will revoke dodgy fast-track projects
The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...6 days ago
- Government for the wealthy keeps pushing austerity
The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. ...6 days ago
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The Government’s latest move to reduce the earnings of migrant workers will not only hurt migrants but it will drive down the wages of Kiwi workers. ...6 days ago
- Release: Nightmare before Christmas for Nicola Willis
With more debt and a larger deficit, Nicola Willis’ reputation is in tatters after her failure to return the Government’s books to surplus. ...6 days ago
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Te Pāti Māori has this morning issued a stern warning to Fast-Track applicants with interests in mining, pledging to hold them accountable through retrospective liability and to immediately revoke Fast-Track consents under a future Te Pāti Māori government. This warning comes ahead of today’s third reading of the Fast-Track Approvals ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt cuts wages for lowest paid NZers… again
For the second year running, the government has effectively cut wages for the lowest paid workers in New Zealand. ...6 days ago
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The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many. ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt shirking responsibility for rate hikes
All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...6 days ago
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The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing. ...7 days ago
- Release: Govt breaks promise on EV chargers
The Government has failed to keep its promise to ‘super charge’ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...7 days ago
- Greens call for end to subsidies for Methanex
The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the country’s gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-national’s disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...7 days ago
- Govt child poverty targets allow for increase in poverty
The Green Party is appalled with the Government’s new child poverty targets that are based on a new ‘persistent poverty’ measure that could be met even with an increase in child poverty. ...1 week ago
- Release: Four weeks annual leave under threat
The Government’s attack on workers continues with news it is scrapping work on the Holidays Act. ...1 week ago
- Govt’s emissions plan for measly 1% reduction
New independent analysis has revealed that the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets. ...1 week ago
- Greens stand in solidarity with Whakaata Māori on sad day
The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata Māori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for Māori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...1 week ago
- Sanctions regime to create more hardship for families
Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...1 week ago
- Govt gifts renters housing anxiety for Christmas
Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill–which allows landlords to end tenancies with no reason–ignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...1 week ago
- Release: National Party urged to support modern slavery legislation
Labour is urging the Prime Minister to walk the talk and support legislation combating modern slavery. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour has lost confidence in the Speaker
The Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament made an unprecedented decision on the government amendment to the Fast Track Approvals Bill last night. ...2 weeks ago
- One year on, still no progress on new ferries
Today’s announcement from the Government on its plan for new ferries throws more uncertainty on the future of the country’s rail network. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Nicola Willis’ smaller ferries will cost more
After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...2 weeks ago
- Bill to sanction unlawful occupation of Palestine
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Only sociopaths can deliberately inflict so much harm on so many people and sleep at night.
Even more terrifying is the large number of NZers who happily vote for them.
Kay, I suppose you are involved with support networks ? All I can say is Strength in numbers.
I hope all the Best for you.
Thanks, and no I'm not. One thing I've learnt about life under this mob- third time now- is to keep a very low profile.
Ah, yea I could understand that. And i would def see how making a noise would draw negative attention from the nasties at winz/msd. I was maybe more meaning support from Help and other groups…although of course they are also getting defunded by aforesaid NACT1 nasties.
Anyway..Look after.
That is correct Kay. This is the worst form of their cruelty since Richardson.
They underfund services to funnel funds to their own, while blaming the unemployed for being a victim of their austerity.
The behaviour is cruel and cavalier. To hear that man say 'You have obligations'.
Where is his obligation to improve people's lives? Where is the "Do least harm?" Where is the job creation? The Nation building? The care?
If we list the things he has "Done" they are all pulling the screws and pins out of our social fabric, and putting costs and rules in place with no consultation.
Further, they "Other" anyone who does anything to try to check or change their plans, so working against them when you are vulnerable is a problem.
The control is fear. Fear of job loss, fear of income loss, fear of crime, fear of culture loss.
When people find their world so shifted from its usual axis, they start protecting their own, losing trust in community solutions sadly.
That is the goal. Be a selfish self interested individual, as Thatcher said "There is no such thing as society, only individual men and women"
Well we need to be there for each other, start supporting groups who display the strength of community and values.
At near 83 years old, when some says they are a Christian…., they are not! Those who are are I have found, live and act by the values. This lot, it is all about sending public money towards their own. They are in the crowd Christ would have thrown out of the temple.
Kay we understand how hard this is going to be for you and Rolling on Gravel, and that it is even harder when they underfund support systems. Keep telling your story. Your story and others like it will bring people to a change of heart. Many good people are swayed by misinformation, and now are questioning the crude ill planned moves as carnage happens.
” ….when some says they are a Christian…., they are not!”
Those characters need calling out like this:
(And, predictably, it doesn’t end well for her …. )
Oh dear, b******d it up again, sorry. Search YT on "Magdalene", "man" and "god".
Some hint of what you're talking about would be helpful?
Sorry. benefit sanctions.
What, you have to sign a NDA now to get your benefit? Jeezu ….
Quoting a “Catch 22” has been out of fashion for a while, but “a no-win or absurd situation full of contradictions” certainly seems to apply to the CoC Govt.’s ever extending war on the poor. Reserve Bank and capitalist economists call for higher unemployment to battle inflation and put downward pressure on wages. Then the state welfare apparatus puts the slipper into unemployed rather than lauding them as inflation busters.
MSD/WINZ run a punitive dehumanising operation. Sanctions for missing a meeting? or even a phone call if you have run out of data? Some of these cruel bureaucrats make the Stasi look caring. I was involved in the unemployed workers rights movement in the 90s and family members have been beneficiary advocates. The WINZ weasels soon pull their heads in and start advising full entitlements when an informed person turns up in support with a Jobseeker.
A high trust model was introduced during COVID particularly for employers and middle class people on the higher second tier benefit (on which a partner could continue to work! try that with MSD/WINZ now…). The current regime is a no trust model, where cards are issued to control spending–no chocolate or lotto for you pal or it is boot camp…
Sometimes you need Martyn “bomber” aka bombastic, Bradbury to cut through…
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2024/08/13/all-louise-upston-needs-after-draconian-welfare-penalty-announcement-is-a-coat-and-101-dalmatians/
Ultimately a Basic Income for all citizens is needed which abates as you start to earn significantly, and MSD/WINZ consigned to the history books.
I feel for anyone that has..or will have, interaction with winz/msd. It will be back to the real bad old days for many. They were bad enough recently, but now they have been given…permission : (
Expect much more of this….
This shit policy comes straight out of the UK government's austerity playbook.
In a 2018 UK government reported on the effects of benefit sanction.
Fewer go off 'universal credit' into PAYE work than just disappear off the radar (ie, they become workers, in the UK's zero hours gig economy, at quantifiably lower weekly income, or become homeless beggars).
I predict next year the repeal of legislation introduced by Labour to regulate ambiguity in the gig economy. Currently employers need to "include the hours of work which have been agreed between you and the employee." LegalVision.
This looks like an agenda to drive down wages at the lowest level of workers.
IMO the NACT1 creeps are waging war on all below the top percentile. NZ incl our Environment is going to be damaged forever after these POS are done. The deluded who voted for them ? They will find out soon enough.
It will get worse.
"It further punishes people for being poor and it will only exacerbate the issues.
Well, yes. That's the idea.
Landlord, Luxury Luxon opines….
What an asshole…
Yes, Baldrick is a prosperity Christian apparently, so Bennie Bashing is as natural as the falling rain for him.
Fark, he basically says when asked what happens to people once they get benefits cut is "dunno, don't care". What an arsehole indeed!
"I don't Kea", is what he says. It's what he said to Heather Duplicity-Allen a couple of months ago when questioned whether the bootcamps would work.
"I don't Kea".
How many is the expected number of job interviews to qualify as enough?
Where the fuck is the money expected to come from to go to all of those job interviews?
How about a carrot such as an additional payment for actually attending .
At what level of sociopathy to psychopathy is the requirement to be a Nact minister?
At what level of sociopathy to psychopathy is the requirement to be a Nact minister?
It's a mandatory requirement.
"Where the fuck is the money expected to come from to go to all of those job interviews?
How about a carrot such as an additional payment for actually attending"
Yep, like something simple such as free Public Transport.
These people do not know what the fuck they are doing.
IMO sadly….they do. Its all part of their Atlas network led MasterPlan. You should read a few of Mountain Tui's posts ( On the Standard . Gives a detailed and awesome cut on them ! )
Luxon doesn't know the jobseeker benefit rates (or won't say it).
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018950903/pm-luxon-on-new-sanctions-to-beneficiaries
See them here.
https://www.moneyhub.co.nz/jobseeker-benefit-rates.html#rates
He knows his own 'entitlements' of course.
https://www.thepaepae.com/what-does-entitlement-look-like-chris-luxon/39308/
aj-I listened to that RNZ Morning Report interview this morning. Luxon had no idea what the jobseeker rates were-it was a really bad look.
Well done Ingrid Hipkiss for asking him the question and then giving him a bit of a hard time when he had no idea. She usually doesn't ask the hard questions or follow up.
On a related note, I'm surprised, I'm enjoying Paddy Gower on Nine to Noon.
Today he gave a senior mandarin a squeeze from the Education Ministry.
Sitting on a report about an earthquake prone building @ Wellington Girls.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2018950920/wellington-girls-college-closes-another-quake-prone-building
Yes, I'm afraid Paddy Gower gave me a bit of a turn. I thought my ancient but trustworthy old radio had lost its marbles and dumped RNZ. I'm still trying to find it again. 😉
Yep, I heard that interview. The "mandie" was repeating the same formulaic, non-self-incriminating statement over and over, doing everything bar actually saying "what I'm telling you is … ".
Yes he gets flustered easily once it goes off script. Also Hipkiss ended the interview by interrupting and talking over his babble, which capped it off quite nicely.
News item: the Environment Court has granted an order sought by a local council that an East Cape forestry company stops discharging forestry debris and sediment and deals with about a lot of woody debris from a forest block.
So the stable door has slammed but the horse bolted long ago.
I wondered yesterday whether this government considers NZ's performance in Paris too good and is using that success to begin a narrative to cover their real agenda; cutting funding and/or partially privatising high performance sport, asking athletes themselves to raise sponsorship and self-fund.
There have been two unattributed articles in the government adjacent NZ Herald yesterday and today framing NZ as overachievers (what business does NZ have at 11 on the medal table), and potentially high earning profit seekers.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/olympics/olympics-2024-new-zealand-labelled-overachievers-of-paris-2024-olympics/7CTQ2ZMUFNEN5GDRQH7KWM3J6I/
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/olympics/olympics-2024-paris-gold-medals-unlock-financial-opportunities-for-new-zealand-athletes/AHR23XFCSNFQBF4FSMDJAU3X3I/
Given the Herald's want to entertain political advertising, can we be sure this isn't an exercise in softening public opinion driven inside or outside the office of Chris Bishop?
Or, given the Herald's want to use AI as a journalist, perhaps no one wrote these articles at all.
I think some ministers need to watch "I, Daniel Blake". He has to go to a job interview in order to receive a benefit but can't accept the job because of doctor's orders. Just a big waste of everyone's time.
Hearing about these proposed
cruel sanctionsTory incentives , I was reminded of the Ashburton WINZ office murders.Peggy Noble and Susan Cleveland were killed by Russell Tully in 2014. Kim Adams and Lindy Curtis were also caught up in the horror.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/work-and-income-shooting-gunman-russell-john-tullys-appeal-under-way-in-christchurch/QLBMRYFTY6F5LLNJKTBZV5ZRMI/
I remember that too well, and my first reactions upon hearing the news. First thoughts were for the victims and their families. Quickly followed by not at all being surprised. The only real surprise was that it hadn't happened sooner.
Followed by how the government will use this as the excuse they need to treat all beneficiaries as potentially violent, which they did ( guards on the doors and checking ID). Even today we're all guilty of something until proven innocent.
I will never forget Paula Bennett on the news that night shedding crocodile tears for the victims. If she was genuinely upset, it was because it happened on her watch.
There's no one I know from that time who condones that action, and jail is appropriate. But we also knew full well how it could've happened.
Sorry, but this guy is definitely a “nut case” his actions are his responsibility. He shot dead two defenceless women pleading for their lives. You can’t defend this guy.
Got to agree with you there David. This guy should be kept locked up. You can't blame National for this.
Not defending him at all, or condoning his actions. He belongs in jail. I'm saying that those of on the receiving end of a highly sadistic winz system can see how that ended up happening. You had to be there.
Exactly.
Where's the defence of 'this guy'?
Tully clearly had some issues and received the third longest sentence handed down.
To suggest this 'just happened' in isolation is turning a blind eye to the vexatious, cruel and dehumanising nature of WINZ under 6 years of Key's government.
Tully was always going to do what he ended up doing. The two women worked for WINZ, they didn’t deserve this.
Although, WINZ is a useless organisation.
Big Hairy News yesterday, from 45 min cover the government's new literacy and maths curricula. Interestingly, no existing Reading Recovery teachers have been approached about retraining, although the current Minister claims they have. Meanwhile, an Aussie private company is looking to bid into becoming providers of RR in NZ.
The clips are from Q+A with Labour’s Education spokesperson.
Listening to Morning Report on RNZ this morning.
Chris Luxon comes on to defend the new punitive measures against beneficiaries who the government deems are not sufficiently motivated to seek work.
He is asked if he knows how much the job seeker benefit is a week.
He doesn't know, not even willing to approximate.
It sums up what we have already found out about our figurehead PM. He is incredibly unprepared and out of touch with what many New Zealanders have to live on per week.
Even Luxon conceded that it was a small proportion of beneficiaries who milk the system, which begs the question why if it is so small, is the government so keen to do it?
The answer has nothing to do with being fair to "ordinary hard working tax paying New Zealanders" a phrase which National uses unceasingly. It is all about playing up to their redneck supporters who think that only people who WANT to be unemployed end up that way and if they can't find a job it is THEIR fault.
Ignores how unemployment has soared in the last year under this government. The hypocrisy of running a government where unemployment is growing, and at the same time telling people they are bucking the system when they can't find a job. An astute listener to Morning Report texted that to the programme.
Luxon is a slave to ACT and NZ First. His government is a thieves guild comprised of rich urban neo-liberals, conservative rural environment plunderers, conspiracy theorists and "squeezed middle class" Ford Ranger enthusiasts. He sits impotently on the top, not seeming to realize what is happening beneath.
'If I don't know about it, I'm not responsible. Lalalala [fingers in ears]'. Except the buck stops with you when you're the leader of the country.
Can’t think of a less effective PM in my lifetime.
The Disinformation Project seems to have gone quiet.
I would have thought the recent Olympic boxing bruhaha was in their purview.
Perhaps they are the victims of recent funding cuts.
Perhaps – the DP's most recent media statement was on 26 March. Maybe there are now better ways (AI?) to address disinformation and associated harms. Our CoC govt appears committed to disinformation resilience and the like, although I do wonder.
According to AP News, Khelif can look after herself: she's filing a complaint in the French legal system regarding the misinformation and hate targeted at her. Kirsty Burrows, an IOC official who had death threats and harassment after speaking on Khelif's behalf at a press conference earlier filed a similar complaint.
This is the way to go, like the Green MP who chased and exposed 2 Young Nats as generators of bulk hate mail a couple of years ago. Can't hide your hate behind a social media mask anymore. Or your state propaganda behind a bot army.
"The Paris prosecutor’s office said it received Burrows’ complaint on Aug. 4 and agents from the National Unit for the Fight against Online Hate are investigating the alleged offenses, including death threats, public provocations aimed at attacking a person and cyberbullying. Under French law, the crimes, if proven, carry prison sentences that range from two to five years and fines ranging from 30,000 to 45,000 euros."
In France's Justice system, it's up to prosecutors to identify miscreants, and whether there's a case against an individual or organisation.
Placed this where I meant it to go.
And of course, the aim of all this blitzing is to shift public opinion in NZ against the trans community, and the positive legal and social advances they have made here in recent years. Demagogues aren't interested in facts, they're interested in feelings: ‘Nasty man hurts poor, whimpering woman. Man in dress is pedophile. Change this now!’
The DP was contracted by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet under the last Labour government, but that ended well before the 2023 election. As did the contract the DP had with the University of Auckland. If they've gone quiet, it's more likely because their at times ridiculous claims have dented their credibility.
Bryce Edwards: The need to take disinformation seriously – Democracy Project
Fully aware of that, I was wondering if funding from the Prime Minister's had stopped.
Not content with wrecking housing and health and education, the NACT1 government is also destroying tourism.
https://archive.md/kKZA2
I think that increasing levies on tourism is a good thing. And people who can afford international airfares, aren't going to be deterred by a fee of $341.
Working holiday visas contribute virtually nothing to the economy (apart from supporting the low-wage economy in tourism industries (think ski instructors in Queenstown, or vineyard temp employees in Marlborough). Again, if they can afford to fly here, they can afford the cost of the visa.
And of course, the aim of all this blitzing is to shift public opinion in NZ against the trans community, and the positive legal and social advances they have made here in recent years. Demagogues aren't interested in facts, they're interested in feelings: ‘Nasty man hurts poor, whimpering woman. Man in dress is pedophile. Change this now!’
To sell more fizz in the Middle East and South Asia, Coca Cola tried to pass off a Coca Cola factory built in an illegal Israeli settlement in the occupied territory of East Jerusalem, as being in Palestine.
Technically this may be correct, but didn't stop the outrage from Coke's intended customers, offended that Coke considered them too ignorant to know the difference between a factory situated in an illegal Israeli only Settlement on Palestinian land, and Palestine.
“Even Palestine has a Coke factory,” Coca Cola advertising claim
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/350376909/how-coca-cola-tried-and-failed-suppress-boycott-over-gaza