“On the ninth of October 2012, the Taliban shot me on the left side of my forehead. They shot my friends too. They thought that the bullet would silence us. But they failed. And out of that silence came thousands of voices. The terrorists thought they would change my aims and stop my ambitions. But nothing changed in my life, except this. Weakness, fear and hopelessness died. Strength, power and courage was born. I’m not against anyone, neither am I here to speak in terms of personal revenge against the Taliban or any other terrorist group. I’m here to speak up for the right of education of every child.”
If you were in any way serious, you would have published something by Afghan women who actually know what they are talking about. I suggest you Google “Malalai Joya”.
it was very moving to watch footage of Pakistani child labourers making mud bricks on the television. Just small children excavating, hauling, forming, trimming bricks all day, everyday to earn the food that sustains them. Their learning- that life is about endurance.
And yes, I know the Americans in Afghanistan and drone attacks in Pakistan are an outrage.
That’s good, because Malala Yousafzei is certainly not allowed to state that truth. If she did, of course, she would be a “terrorist” and certainly not tolerated as a “spokesperson” for anything. It’s telling that one of the other stories on the link you provide is another attack on a democratically elected Arab government, which it calls, obediently, a “ruling faction.”…. http://www.euronews.com/2013/04/02/hamas-criticised-for-school-separation-of-the-sexes
She is stating her own truth and has been doing that for years, which is why she was a target in the first place (imo, of course). Whether that matches your ‘experience’ from afar is neither here nor there, Of course it matches the dominant discourse of the west, but that that is incidental, and yes, it does give her a platform that others who criticise western involvement in Pakistan or Afganistan might not so easily get. But that doesn’t detract from her aim of ensuring educational opportunities for girls. Sometimes even the interests of opposites coincide.
As for Palestine – it’s up to the people and their democratically elected leaders to work out whether separate schools is mainly for recognising cultural and religious norms, or whether it is about marginalising girls’ education. Time will tell, but people who don’t trust the motivations of the elected representatives have a right to voice concern – as in any country (again, imo – I’m strange like that, thinking a electors has a right to disagree with those they elected).
As for ‘ruling faction’ take how you will, but Hamas doesn’t govern Palestine does it? So it can’t be called a government, unless you have somehow converted the Gaza strip into a fully-fledged nation-state. I would have called them the ‘ruling body’ or ‘ruling council’, but that’s just because it sounds better to my English-as-a-first-language ear.
She is delivering a partial, carefully monitored narrative. If you are serious, you will watch Malalai Joya, who is not afraid of speaking the whole truth…. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcZhQLbvgEw
I recommend you watch the whole thing, of course, but if you are pressed for time, you should go straight to 17:34 for images of the fine work on behalf of freedom and democracy in Afghanistan carried out by the US “Kill Team” Task Force 373.
As for ‘ruling faction’ take how you will, but Hamas doesn’t govern Palestine does it?
Your ignorance is astounding. Hamas won the only full and fair democratic election in the whole of the middle east in 2006.
“Your ignorance is astounding. Hamas won the only full and fair democratic election in the whole of the middle east in 2006.”
Your reading skills leave something to be desired as well. You might care to try again and look where I said “As for Palestine – it’s up to the people and their democratically elected leaders”… My point was technical – they are not the government of Palestine – the potential homeland that included Gaza and the West Bank – if the world got it’s act together. That was what they elections were for in 2006. Despite winning the election they do not control the Palestinian Legislative Council, they administer only Gaza.
You know, sometimes you’re so arrogant, so sure of your knowledge and cynical about other people’s knowledge and keen to ‘correct’ them you can’t even be bothered to do more than skim read, it seems. Hence you miss quite a lot from people who might actually agree with some bits that you may present. And then you’re just straight out rude.
Gaza is a locked ghetto, controlled, oppressed and harassed daily by the Israeli regime. The Hamas government, elected by free and fair elections in 2006, has about the same power as the Judenrat had in the Warsaw Ghetto.
You know, sometimes you’re so arrogant, so sure of your knowledge and cynical about other people’s knowledge and keen to ‘correct’ them you can’t even be bothered to do more than skim read, it seems. Hence you miss quite a lot from people who might actually agree with some bits that you may present. And then you’re just straight out rude.
Yes, you’re right, rosy. I recognize you are an intelligent and concerned person, and I do agree with what you say, almost all of the time. There are certainly cynical and nasty people who lurk on this board; I’ll try to save my worst for them, not the good guys.
Malala is a light in a dark world. She inspires and will inspire hope and courage in millions of crushed and misused girls.
She may only inspire cynicism for you though…
What a foolish and obtuse post. The cynicism here is the fact this girl, whose country endures daily terror at the hands of the United States, is speaking at the U.N. and is not allowed to state that truth. This girl is only sixteen, and no doubt she is genuine, but she is being used by people who really are cynical—murderously cynical. I note that one of the people smiling vacantly and indulgently behind her is that corpse Ban Ki Moon.
You need to find out what “cynical” actually means before you spray that word around.
Your mode of dialogue Morrissey is often denigrating or self-congratulatory.
However, i get that you want to debate politics, not the message that Malala, this tough independent thinking young woman was bravely and eloquently communicating in one of the world’s great forums.
You may ‘cynically’ beleive that she is being used, you may ‘cynically’ think that she is ‘not being allowed to speak the truth’ (your opinion of ‘truth’ btw) and you may ‘cynically’ think that others who don’t want to focus on what you are focussing on are foolish or obtuse. That’s your right in a blog. I just don’t like your attitude or style – and that’s my right.
My comment was to respect Malala the individual, who has been through so much over the past 3 years, and who is clearly an inspiration to so many.
Your mode of dialogue Morrissey is often denigrating or self-congratulatory.
There was nothing self-congratulatory in what I wrote; my purpose was to remind you of your profligate and inaccurate use of language.
You may ‘cynically’ beleive that she is being used, you may ‘cynically’ think that she is ‘not being allowed to speak the truth’ (your opinion of ‘truth’ btw)…
I see you are still at it. You obviously did not check what “cynical” means. And you are now trying to say that the truth is something we all make up, as if what is being done in Afghanistan and Pakistan every day is merely in our minds.
My comment was to respect Malala the individual, who has been through so much over the past 3 years, and who is clearly an inspiration to so many.
Nonsense. If you had any respect for Malala Yousafzei, you would acknowledge the constraints she is under, and acknowledge the political uses she is being put to, with the utmost cynicism. (Look it up.)
Your views on how you think Malala is ‘being used’ have crowded out any possible acceptance that Malala deserves respect
But maybe you do respect her courage and her desire to promote the right of education for girls? If you do then it doesn’t reflect in any of your comments.
If you don’t respect her as a human being because you believe that she is ‘being used’ or is insincere, then imo …. you are cynical. I could have used the words heartless, or jaded, or disrespectful, but i thought cynical was a better fit.
Your attempt to impel this discussion towards a debate on what’s going on in Pakistan and Afghanistan is not what this is about.
Your views on how you think Malala is ‘being used’ have crowded out any possible acceptance that Malala deserves respect
Nowhere have I suggested she does not deserve respect. She is a brave girl. But she is being used by brutal and cynical politicians. Either you realize that and are simply pretending to be obtuse, or you approve of their cynical manipulation of her as an exhibit to somehow justify what “our” troops and drones are doing to her country.
I note that you sarcastically place the phrase ‘being used’ in quote marks, as if she is not being used.
I could have used the words heartless, or jaded, or disrespectful, but i thought cynical was a better fit.
You still don’t have a clue about the language you so ineptly use.
Your attempt to impel this discussion towards a debate on what’s going on in Pakistan and Afghanistan is not what this is about.
So it is MY attempt to impel this discussion towards politics, is it? You really are naïve if you think that the British and U.S. regimes parading this girl as an exhibit is anything other than politics of the most shameful, craven and hypocritical stripe.
well, Morrisey you have well and truly made your point that you think ‘cynicism’ is defined by the way in which Malala is, in your word, “being used” by the UN and “British and U.S. regimes”.
furthermore you continue to berate my use of language…. really? Your use of language is imo loaded and emotive – viz: “parading this girl as an exhibit is anything other than politics of the most shameful, craven and hypocritical stripe”
But i’m pleased that this little exchange has resulted in your comment: “Nowhere have I suggested she does not deserve respect. She is a brave girl.”
And with that in mind i’d like to add that nowehere in all my comments on this thread have a denied that there may be people who have engineered the publicity afforded to Malala in order to ‘cynically’ serve their own ends.
You argue your points very well, locus. I concede that my comments about you were overly harsh and, indeed, even unfair. Your reading of Malala is more nuanced than I gave you credit for—and it appears, on further inspection, that you DO know what “cynical” means.
As they say in parliament, I withdraw and apologize.
When Key came to power, he looked over the various proposals and had a word to SkyCity. I don’t care a jot that this is not exactly how things are supposed to be done in public project tenders. It was just the sort of touch I had hoped he would possess.
Right wing commentator coming right out and saying that he likes corruption in his political heroes. Nothing plainer. What is worrisome is that the current moral/political environment means that Roughan feels enabled to say it.
This is in the Herald this morning – Clare Trevett’s column.
” The coverage of the whole “man-ban” issue has exposed the party’s fundamental flaws: its factions, the tensions between the caucus and the party, and the perception that the party is overly concerned with issues of identity.
Amid the leadership issues, there has been a serious debate internally in Labour this week about the wisdom of Maryan Street promoting her euthanasia private members’ bill.
Labour is terrified it will be drawn out of the ballot.
The debate would extend into election year and give the Conservatives another platform to boost its support as a potential partner for a third-term National Government. ”
My Comment : Labour MPs need to concentrate on issues of real importance to its people – the lack of jobs, housing,
the decline in the health of rivers, lakes and beaches, whatever Tony Ryall is doing to undermine our public health system …., the list is endless. And maybe if Labour MPs did that, instead of playing with side issues it would start to get some traction in the polls. Maybe !
All is forgiven Shearer/Goff …. please just keep drifting the Labour Party into sustained decline as you are.
You can always rely on the gloriously loyal Trevett.
The theme I would encourage them to publicize is basic hope to get a better life … because with this degree of inequality, and in such a cold winter, there sure ain’t much, and people need some.
Hope of as better life? Perhaps the euthanasia bill is what is needed with a third Tory term.
Which reminds me: just because a Labour MP is pushing for a euthanasia bill, it doesn’t mean that Labour can’t focus on important issues of income, job and benefit inequity. Its not the euthanasia bill’s fault that Labour can’t get its act together on political economy issues which have more public resonance.
I can’t help but think, CV, that somewhere in NZ there’s a university-educated, lesbian, Māori policy analyst with political ambitions and a partner with a terminal illness, who managed to irk you in some way…
Huh? What and where is the clamour for the euthanasia bill?
This is the euthanasia bill for terminally ill patients, rather than the terminally incompetent current Labour leadership team and their stubborn backers and careerists?
Audrey Young has an interesting take on the issue. She says
“Cunliffe is the candidate that National believes is the greatest threat to John Key. Several ministers have said so privately. By that reasoning he is the candidate that Labour should choose.
He has behaved well for eight months now, with no undermining of the leader. He is a polished performer.
According to DigiPoll he would be the preferred replacement by 31.8 per cent of all voters (against 16.6 for Robertson and 13.5 for Little) and 37.7 per cent of Labour voters (19.1 for Robertson and 14 for Little).
His detractors believe that were he to be elected leader, the wider electorate would tire of him quickly, as many of his colleagues have.
Robertson is a less polarising figure, not tested as a minister, respected in Parliament and in the party but less known by the public.
His backers installed Shearer, the complete novice.”
To my mind if there is to be a new leader (and there can there not be?) let’s not try and predict who ahead of time. That’s why there’s a process. Having said that to my way of thinking its Cunliffe’s time. There is no way to predict the electorate’s reaction until it happens. But it can’t be worse than this. And I believe it will be a whole lot better.
I do not buy the story that Cunliffe is hard to work with – if the people in his electorate do not find him hard to work with and the people who have had him as a consultant to their businesses did not find him hard to work with, I do not see why the Labour caucus are the exception.
Instead I think that in choosing David Shearer Labour made an analogous choice to that of the Maori Party when it chose to go into coalition with National, the justification being that “you can make more gains at the table than you can away from it.” In Labour’s case, the table in question most likely includes lobbyists for the NZ elites as well as defenders of US interests. The problem in both cases is that power is so now concentrated and the demands of the powerful so antithetical to the interests of most citizens that the gains from subservience are no more than fig leaves which are not sufficient to cover a “sold out” status. Meanwhile, it is left to the legal fraternity, the HRC and John Campbell to defend the rights of New Zealanders.
I do not buy the story that Cunliffe is hard to work with…
Agreed. It’s a load of bollocks. It should be remembered that the MSM, almost without exception, pushed the ‘Shearer for leader’ line as hard as they could. Like their political counterparts they can’t admit to being wrong (maybe) so they drop in a supposed Cunliffe negative to save face.
“His (cunliffe’s) detractors believe that were he to be elected leader, the wider electorate would tire of him quickly, as many of his colleagues have………. Robertson is a less polarising figure, not tested as a minister, respected in Parliament and in the party but less known by the public.”
Cunliffe’s caucus detractors just don’t get it ! They installed Shearer, they’ve watched him muck up, and they STILL think they know best as to what the electorate wants. Robertson hasn’t had Cabinet experience – how can they possibly think he (or Little for that matter) could become Prime Minister.
Putting inexperienced people into the leadership position is doing us all a huge disservice.
ps Don’t know what’s happening with the italics – that’s meant to just be for the quoted bit.
Those who screwed up TWICE should not be players in the next step of the Leadership selection.
Shearer is a about to resign. It is weeks away. Goff, King, Mallard and a few more should announce their retirement at the next election at the same time.
Robertson has to stand down as Deputy at the same time.
Naaa Robertson should never be leader. He is one of those people that is destined to stand in the background and work there. Thats where he is good, but if he tried to step up then, Oh dear the Fat Controller has delusions of Grandeur. But who else apart from Cunliffe could lead the party AND unite the voters?
Cunliffe. Articulate, knows policy inside out, is a little arrogant but hell with his credentials he can afford to be.
Robertson?? The Fat Controller destined to be in the Background.
Little?? Has the Personality of an Envelope
Jones?? Porno anyone
\and on it goes ad infinitum. The rest are wanna be’s in comparison!
This is beautiful
Make her Prime Minister of Ireland.
Clare Daly Irish politician calls it out like it is by labeling Obama a hypocrite and a war criminal.
I suspect embarrassing and politically fatal emails or personal details about that MP would be revealed any time it looked like she might actually succeed.
Uncle Bain says nephew did it, not brother.
Nick-picking which family member was the mass
murderer. Oh wait, Uncle Bain speaks with such
authority, would rather his brother son be the
culprit. Something went wrong with that family,
and he can’t say he’s not part of that family and
also be so very much a part of the family.
Sweden to send Judge to London, and will pass
judgment by holding court over Assauge in Ecuadorean? Embassy,
if found guilty Sweden will build a cell in the
embassy for Assuage to serve his sentence.
oh, wait, Sweden is a pragmatic liberal democracy.
Atheist say on National Radio we need the God idea.
oh, wait, like the idea could be ignored and thrown
into the darkness of historical curiosity, I wish.
Claiming the distorting, the early mistakes on the road
to science and morality, ‘God’ was and still is a
necessity is true, but really, isn’t there much better
stuff on our rise to self-awareness, self-reflection.
National party, will grow NZ with gutter capitalism.
Gambling outlet to fund unethical conference centre.
Oh, wait, conference cancelled as big corporation
did not wish to be associated with growth in crime and
gambling harm. Picture of child left in casino car-park
dying of thirst causes conference of water bottlers
to cancel. Oh, wait, CEO of SkyCity, totally aware of
the connection and need to distance itself from unethical
immoral practices in case a backlash occurs against gambling
(harming future profitability). Oops, another Tolkien loving
unionist cancel family trip to hobbit movies.
Crusher “Collins” policy saves cyclist life. Oh, wait,
three injured, one dead die a young driver mows them down
in Hamilton. Hamilton is now notorious for childracers
burning up the tarmac, in a car cult of excessive car rage.
No tolerance for graffiti, massive tolerance for car rage,
as yet another night of roaring cars is heard across the
Hmailton night (and day).
New study on fracking, quoting from Science magazine (can’t find the magazine link just yet) but this needs to be read and understood:
“‘Dynamic triggering’
Quakes with a magnitude of 2 or lower, which can hardly be felt, are routinely produced in fracking, said geologist William Ellsworth of the U.S. Geological Survey, an expert on human-induced earthquakes who was not involved in the study.
The largest fracking-induced earthquake “was magnitude 3.6, which is too small to pose a serious risk,” he wrote in Science.
But van der Elst and colleagues found evidence that injection wells can set the stage for more dangerous quakes. Because pressure from wastewater wells stresses nearby faults, if seismic waves speeding across Earth’s surface hit the fault it can rupture and, months later, produce an earthquake stronger than magnitude 5.
What seems to happen is that wastewater injection leaves local faults “critically loaded,” or on the verge of rupture. Even weak seismic waves from faraway quakes are therefore enough to set off a swarm of small quakes in a process called “dynamic triggering.”
“I have observed remote triggering in Oklahoma,” said seismologist Austin Holland of the Oklahoma Geological Survey, who was not involved in the study. “This has occurred in areas where no injections are going on, but it is more likely to occur in injection areas.”
Once these triggered quakes stop, the danger is not necessarily over. The swarm of quakes, said Heather Savage of Lamont-Doherty and a co-author of the study, “could indicate that faults are becoming critically stressed and might soon host a larger earthquake.”
For instance, seismic waves from an 8.8 quake in Maule, Chile, in February 2010 rippled across the planet and triggered a 4.1 quake in Prague, Oklahoma – site of the Wilzetta oil field – some 16 hours later.
That was followed by months of smaller tremors in Oklahoma, and then the largest quake yet associated with wastewater injection, a 5.7 temblor in Prague on November 6, 2011.
That quake destroyed 14 homes, buckled a highway and injured two people.
The Prague quake is “not only one of the largest earthquakes to be associated with wastewater disposal, but also one of the largest linked to a remote triggering event,” said van der Elst.
The Chile quake also caused a swarm of small temblors in Trinidad, Colorado, near wells where wastewater used to extract methane from coal beds had been injected.
On August 22, 2011, a magnitude 5.3 quake hit Trinidad, damaging dozens of buildings.
The 9.1 earthquake in Japan in March 2011, which caused a devastating tsunami, triggered a swarm of small quakes in Snyder, Texas – site of the Cogdell oil field. That autumn, Snyder experienced a 4.5 quake.
The presence of injection wells does not mean an area is doomed to have a swarm of earthquakes as a result of seismic activity half a world away, and a swarm of induced quakes does not necessarily portend a big one.
Guy, Arkansas; Jones, Oklahoma; and Youngstown, Ohio, have all experienced moderate induced quakes due to fluid injection from oil or gas drilling. But none has had a quake triggered by a distant temblor.
Long-distance triggering is most likely where wastewater wells have been operating for decades and where there is little history of earthquake activity, the researchers write.
“The important thing now is to establish how common this is,” said Oklahoma’s Holland, referring to remotely triggered quakes. “We don’t have a good answer to that question yet.”
Before the advent of injection wells, triggered earthquakes were a purely natural phenomenon. A 7.3 quake in California’s Mojave Desert in 1992 set off a series of tiny quakes north of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, for instance.
Now, according to the Science paper, triggered quakes can occur where human activity has weakened faults.
Current federal and state regulations for wastewater disposal wells focus on protecting drinking water sources from contamination, not on earthquake hazards.
“Injection-induced earthquakes, such as those that struck in 2011, clearly contribute to the seismic hazard. Quantifying their contribution presents difficult challenges that will require new research into the physics of induced earthquakes and the potential for inducing large-magnitude events. The petroleum industry needs clear requirements for operation, regulators must have a solid scientific basis for those requirements, and the public needs assurance that the regulations are sufficient and are being followed. The current regulatory frameworks for wastewater disposal wells were designed to protect potable water sources from contamination and do not address seismic safety. One consequence is that both the quantity and timeliness of information on injection volumes and pressures reported to regulatory agencies are far from ideal for managing earthquake risk from injection activities. In addition, seismic monitoring capabilities in many of the areas in which wastewater injection activities have increased are not capable of detecting small earthquake activity that may presage larger seismic events. “
Well pickle my tit. Audrey Young header “Key defaults to arrogance…..” Connecting dots at last Auds? Finally dawning how certain things happened and why? Better late than never I spose.
The Hatchet Man Speaks
Alex Gibney interviewed by Kim Hill
Radio NZ National, Saturday 13 July 2013, 8:10 a.m.
Fans of Kim Hill’s TV and radio interviews have been treated to some pretty interesting characters over the years. There was JEFFREY ARCHER in 1994, screaming furiously: “I’ve been warned about you!” There have been the slightly sad, unintentionally funny ones, such as the witless, under-prepared U.S. ambassador CHARLES SWINDELLS….
AMBASSADOR SWINDELLS: Errrrrr… Iraq is a terrorist state. HILL:[patiently but insistently] What’s the link?
….[Long, awkward pause]…
AMBASSADOR: We are attacking terrorism on all fronts. HILL: Well, no you’re not. When are you going to attack Saudi Arabia?
…[Long, embarrassing pause]…
AMBASSADOR: Uh…..
Then there are the more malevolent, sinister ones. For some reason, Hill’s most rancorous, rankly hypocritical interviewees have mostly been Englishmen. Who could ever forget the thuggish Blair cabinet minister GEOFF HOON nervelessly insisting that “weapons of mass destruction will be found in Iraq”? And nobody who heard it will ever forget that neo-conservative apologist and pompous blowhard WILLIAM SHAWCROSS frothing with anger after Hill confronted him with his own hypocrisy in 2004….
KIM HILL: As you eloquently say in your book, a lot of Saddam Hussein’s atrocities were committed with the sanction of the United States. SHAWCROSS:[erupting] I DID NOT SAY THAT! HILL:[coolly] No-o-o-o-o-o? SHAWCROSS:[gibbering with fury] This is an ABSURD interview! I did NOT say that! I did NOT say that!
(FACT: He DID say that.)
She also has interviewed, and generally got the better of the slimy careerist PETER HAIN, the hapless former Australian prime minister JOHN HOWARD and the buffoonish, ignorant, malicious restaurant critic-cum-political commentator A.A. GILL.
This morning, however, she interviewed someone who for sheer malice and hypocrisy makes Archer look like Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Hain like Nelson Mandela, Hoon like a choir-boy and Shawcross like Albert Schweitzer. Her guest was the unspeakable ALEX GIBNEY, the director of We Steal Secrets, an Obama-friendly Soviet-style hatchet job on dissenter Julian Assange.
I’ll let Gibney speak for himself now. Unless you are an inveterate worshipper of his heartless documentaries, and a motivated hater of Julian Assange, you will not fail to notice how flippant and cynical–as well as unfunny—so many of his little wisecracks are. Nor will you fail to be shocked by the dark, Swiftian irony of some of his observations—all of it unintended by Gibney, of course….
ALEX GIBNEY: Ahhhhh, if you have a significant amount of street cred, you ahhhhhhm feel entitled to be bad. It’s like going for a jog and then coming back and having fast food!
About Father Murphy, who got away with abusing deaf children until they exposed his crimes….. GIBNEY: People who do nasty stuff like to find rationalizations for their behavior and then that lets them walk round feeling good about themselves.
About the deaf children who exposed Father Murphy…. GIBNEY: What attracted me was their heroism. They showed this was part of a systematic ahhhhhhhhhm… KIM HILL: Cover-up? GIBNEY: Yeah, cover-up.
About Pope Benedict XVI…. GIBNEY: Ratzinger used to be in the Doctrine of the Faith, which used to be the Inquisition. …. A trail of coverups. That is the REAL crime. A systematic program of covering up. The Archbishop turned on the children and told them, “YOU are to blame for bringing shame on the Church!”
KIM HILL: This Kafkaesque nightmare when nobody believed them. GIBNEY: Yes, that’s absolutely true.
KIM HILL: As you say, “Deny, minimize and blame” has been the modus operandi of the Catholic Church. Has it changed? GIBNEY:[gravely, with utmost compassion in voice] I fear not.
….[Long, pregnant pause]….
KIM HILL: Let us turn to Julian Assange. The Assangeists, as you call them, have said it’s a very unfair attack. GIBNEY: Well I think it’s religious. Ahhhh, ha ha ha ha ha ha! The Assangeistas’ have this blind faith. What my film does is to look at the way an individual has become corrupt. It’s this noble cause corruption I was talking about….. Assange was mendacious, fundamentally wrong. He was so rigid and ideological as to endanger people’s lives. His original sin was the Swedish case. He purposely conflated it with Wikileaks, said it was a put-up job by the CIA. Now, I admit that there is no evidence that anyone was hurt by the release of the Afghan war logs. I disagree with the U.S. government on this. He was reckless to publish them without redaction. This separated him from the Guardian and the New York Times. Assange was on the moral low ground just to be “pure” to his “ideals”. KIM HILL: Is it impossible that there was a conspiracy? GIBNEY: Anything is possible! Martians might invade! But it’s quite clear this is a matter between one man and two women. Everybody was saying to him, take care of it. He made a calculated decision. KIM HILL: There’s no hero in this story. Certainly you don’t think Julian Assange is a hero but neither do you believe Bradley Manning was a hero either. GIBNEY: I think he was a kind of hero. He was naive—he didn’t think through what he was doing. Bradley Manning is an “everyday” hero, not someone like Martin Luther King or Nelson Mandela, but an everyday hero. …. Let’s be honest. …[snicker]… I don’t think we’d like to be in a world where soldiers routinely gave up information they had sworn to keep secret.
Re Adrian Lamo, who betrayed Bradley Manning…. GIBNEY: He’s a narcissist, I think that’s clear. Manning had to reach out to someone, and he reached out to someone who turned him in.
KIM HILL: Assange asked you for a million dollars for an interview. GIBNEY: That reveals his character. … He has defiled his own cause… I think the idea of Wikileaks in its purest form is brilliant…. Assange was overcome by narcissism and noble cause corruption. That’s what the U.S. government does: “We stand for democracy and freedom, so shouldn’t we be able to waterboard a few terrorists?” NO! No, we shouldn’t!
The interview finished, thankfully, soon afterward, and the music of the great Richard Thompson soothed the outraged sensibilities of the listeners.
Then, straight after the 9 a.m. news, listeners heard this….
KIM HILL: Lots of responses to the interview with Alex Gibney. Morrissey writes, in an outraged fashion: Alex Gibney called Julian Assange “mendacious, fundamentally wrong”, “rigid” and “ideological.” He sniggered at the “talkshow hosts and senators calling for drone strikes against Assange”; he mocked Assange for thinking “I have terrible enemies and they are coming after me!”, he coldly and calculatedly compared Assange to scientologists.
If he had any integrity, Gibney would have made a documentary in cooperation with the Catholic Church, pouring scorn and heaping abuse on the deaf children who exposed the crimes of Father Murphy.
But that would not have got him lionized in Washington, of course.
Yours in disgust at fawning liberal hypocrites….
Hmmmm…. interesting logic, Morrissey.
RESULT!!!!!
Alex Gibney is the director of Silence in the House of God, a documentary about a priest who abused deaf boys, and We Steal Secrets, a government-approved character assassination of Julian Assange. Both films are showing in New Zealand soon.
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Buzz from the Beehive Melissa Lee – as may be discerned from the screenshot above – has not been demoted for doing something seriously wrong as Minister of ...
Morning in London Mother hugs beloved daughter outside the converted shoe factory in which she is living.Afternoon in London Travelling writer takes himself and his wrist down to A&E, just to be sure. Read more ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – The recent announcement of the University Advisory Group, chaired by Sir Peter Gluckman, makes very clear where the Government’s focus and priorities lie. The remit of the Advisory Group is that Group members will consider challenges and opportunities for improvement in the university sector including: ...
Eric Crampton writes – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand desperately wants to find reasons to have workstreams in climate change. It makes little sense. They’ve run another stress test on the banks looking to see if they could find a prudential regulation case. They couldn’t. They ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Pundits from the left and the right are arguing that National’s Fast Track Bill that is designed to speed up infrastructure decisions could end up becoming mired in a cesspool of corruption. Political commentator ...
Looking at the headlines this morning it’s hard to feel anything other than pessimistic about the future of humanity.Note that I’m not speaking about the future of mankind, but the survival of our humanity. The values that we believe in seem to be ebbing away, by the day.Perhaps every generation ...
Swabbing mixed breed baby chicks to test for avian influenzaUh oh. Bird flu – often deadly to humans – is not only being transmitted from infected birds to dairy cows, but is now travelling between dairy cows. As of last Friday, Bloomberg News reports, there were 32 American dairy herds ...
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 ...
What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
I’m starting to wonder if Anna Burns-Francis might be the best political interviewer we’ve got. That might sound unlikely to you, it came as a bit of a surprise to me.Jack Tame can be excellent, but has some pretty average days. I like Rebecca Wright on Newshub, she asks good ...
Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
“You talking about me?”The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
Roger Partridge writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
“Never again - No AUKUS” was the message of the wreath laid at this morning’s national ANZAC Day commemorative service at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park this morning by the Stop AUKUS group. ...
Until this month, Auckland swimmer Hazel Ouwehand had never met a qualifying time in an Olympic event for a New Zealand team, even as a junior. Now she’s very likely off to the Paris Olympics after swimming well under the qualifying standard in the 100m butterfly twice – both in ...
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Part of the speech to the UN by 16 year-old Malala Yousafzei
Interestingly, nothing about the American forces who kill more people in Afghanistan than anyone.
This girl is being used, unfortunately.
Whoosh, Morrissey. Talk about missing the point completely.
To reiterate –
If you were in any way serious, you would have published something by Afghan women who actually know what they are talking about. I suggest you Google “Malalai Joya”.
If you were in any way serious I suggest you would have looked at the link and seen the first word was ‘Pakistani’.
I’m sorry, but to dismiss someone who survived what she has is pretty callous.
[And yes, I know the Americans in Afghanistan and drone attacks in Pakistan are an outrage].
it was very moving to watch footage of Pakistani child labourers making mud bricks on the television. Just small children excavating, hauling, forming, trimming bricks all day, everyday to earn the food that sustains them. Their learning- that life is about endurance.
And (not infrequently) dying from heat exhaustion on a sun baked hell scape of clay bricks…
No wonder they want to join the Taliban!
And yes, I know the Americans in Afghanistan and drone attacks in Pakistan are an outrage.
That’s good, because Malala Yousafzei is certainly not allowed to state that truth. If she did, of course, she would be a “terrorist” and certainly not tolerated as a “spokesperson” for anything. It’s telling that one of the other stories on the link you provide is another attack on a democratically elected Arab government, which it calls, obediently, a “ruling faction.”….
http://www.euronews.com/2013/04/02/hamas-criticised-for-school-separation-of-the-sexes
She is stating her own truth and has been doing that for years, which is why she was a target in the first place (imo, of course). Whether that matches your ‘experience’ from afar is neither here nor there, Of course it matches the dominant discourse of the west, but that that is incidental, and yes, it does give her a platform that others who criticise western involvement in Pakistan or Afganistan might not so easily get. But that doesn’t detract from her aim of ensuring educational opportunities for girls. Sometimes even the interests of opposites coincide.
As for Palestine – it’s up to the people and their democratically elected leaders to work out whether separate schools is mainly for recognising cultural and religious norms, or whether it is about marginalising girls’ education. Time will tell, but people who don’t trust the motivations of the elected representatives have a right to voice concern – as in any country (again, imo – I’m strange like that, thinking a electors has a right to disagree with those they elected).
As for ‘ruling faction’ take how you will, but Hamas doesn’t govern Palestine does it? So it can’t be called a government, unless you have somehow converted the Gaza strip into a fully-fledged nation-state. I would have called them the ‘ruling body’ or ‘ruling council’, but that’s just because it sounds better to my English-as-a-first-language ear.
She is stating her own truth…
She is delivering a partial, carefully monitored narrative. If you are serious, you will watch Malalai Joya, who is not afraid of speaking the whole truth….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcZhQLbvgEw
I recommend you watch the whole thing, of course, but if you are pressed for time, you should go straight to 17:34 for images of the fine work on behalf of freedom and democracy in Afghanistan carried out by the US “Kill Team” Task Force 373.
As for ‘ruling faction’ take how you will, but Hamas doesn’t govern Palestine does it?
Your ignorance is astounding. Hamas won the only full and fair democratic election in the whole of the middle east in 2006.
“Your ignorance is astounding. Hamas won the only full and fair democratic election in the whole of the middle east in 2006.”
Your reading skills leave something to be desired as well. You might care to try again and look where I said “As for Palestine – it’s up to the people and their democratically elected leaders”… My point was technical – they are not the government of Palestine – the potential homeland that included Gaza and the West Bank – if the world got it’s act together. That was what they elections were for in 2006. Despite winning the election they do not control the Palestinian Legislative Council, they administer only Gaza.
You know, sometimes you’re so arrogant, so sure of your knowledge and cynical about other people’s knowledge and keen to ‘correct’ them you can’t even be bothered to do more than skim read, it seems. Hence you miss quite a lot from people who might actually agree with some bits that you may present. And then you’re just straight out rude.
….they administer only Gaza.
Gaza is a locked ghetto, controlled, oppressed and harassed daily by the Israeli regime. The Hamas government, elected by free and fair elections in 2006, has about the same power as the Judenrat had in the Warsaw Ghetto.
You know, sometimes you’re so arrogant, so sure of your knowledge and cynical about other people’s knowledge and keen to ‘correct’ them you can’t even be bothered to do more than skim read, it seems. Hence you miss quite a lot from people who might actually agree with some bits that you may present. And then you’re just straight out rude.
Yes, you’re right, rosy. I recognize you are an intelligent and concerned person, and I do agree with what you say, almost all of the time. There are certainly cynical and nasty people who lurk on this board; I’ll try to save my worst for them, not the good guys.
http://m.spiegel.de/international/world/a-910587.html
Malala is a light in a dark world. She inspires and will inspire hope and courage in millions of crushed and misused girls.
She may only inspire cynicism for you though…
Malala is a light in a dark world. She inspires and will inspire hope and courage in millions of crushed and misused girls.
She may only inspire cynicism for you though…
What a foolish and obtuse post. The cynicism here is the fact this girl, whose country endures daily terror at the hands of the United States, is speaking at the U.N. and is not allowed to state that truth. This girl is only sixteen, and no doubt she is genuine, but she is being used by people who really are cynical—murderously cynical. I note that one of the people smiling vacantly and indulgently behind her is that corpse Ban Ki Moon.
You need to find out what “cynical” actually means before you spray that word around.
Have to agree with Mozza – Unfortunately the reaction here, is exactly what the UN speech, was designed to do !
Cynical, hypocritical propaganda, at its purist, which is terribly sad.
Your mode of dialogue Morrissey is often denigrating or self-congratulatory.
However, i get that you want to debate politics, not the message that Malala, this tough independent thinking young woman was bravely and eloquently communicating in one of the world’s great forums.
You may ‘cynically’ beleive that she is being used, you may ‘cynically’ think that she is ‘not being allowed to speak the truth’ (your opinion of ‘truth’ btw) and you may ‘cynically’ think that others who don’t want to focus on what you are focussing on are foolish or obtuse. That’s your right in a blog. I just don’t like your attitude or style – and that’s my right.
My comment was to respect Malala the individual, who has been through so much over the past 3 years, and who is clearly an inspiration to so many.
Your mode of dialogue Morrissey is often denigrating or self-congratulatory.
There was nothing self-congratulatory in what I wrote; my purpose was to remind you of your profligate and inaccurate use of language.
You may ‘cynically’ beleive that she is being used, you may ‘cynically’ think that she is ‘not being allowed to speak the truth’ (your opinion of ‘truth’ btw)…
I see you are still at it. You obviously did not check what “cynical” means. And you are now trying to say that the truth is something we all make up, as if what is being done in Afghanistan and Pakistan every day is merely in our minds.
My comment was to respect Malala the individual, who has been through so much over the past 3 years, and who is clearly an inspiration to so many.
Nonsense. If you had any respect for Malala Yousafzei, you would acknowledge the constraints she is under, and acknowledge the political uses she is being put to, with the utmost cynicism. (Look it up.)
Morrissey, you really don’t get it do you.
Your views on how you think Malala is ‘being used’ have crowded out any possible acceptance that Malala deserves respect
But maybe you do respect her courage and her desire to promote the right of education for girls? If you do then it doesn’t reflect in any of your comments.
If you don’t respect her as a human being because you believe that she is ‘being used’ or is insincere, then imo …. you are cynical. I could have used the words heartless, or jaded, or disrespectful, but i thought cynical was a better fit.
Your attempt to impel this discussion towards a debate on what’s going on in Pakistan and Afghanistan is not what this is about.
Your views on how you think Malala is ‘being used’ have crowded out any possible acceptance that Malala deserves respect
Nowhere have I suggested she does not deserve respect. She is a brave girl. But she is being used by brutal and cynical politicians. Either you realize that and are simply pretending to be obtuse, or you approve of their cynical manipulation of her as an exhibit to somehow justify what “our” troops and drones are doing to her country.
I note that you sarcastically place the phrase ‘being used’ in quote marks, as if she is not being used.
I could have used the words heartless, or jaded, or disrespectful, but i thought cynical was a better fit.
You still don’t have a clue about the language you so ineptly use.
Your attempt to impel this discussion towards a debate on what’s going on in Pakistan and Afghanistan is not what this is about.
So it is MY attempt to impel this discussion towards politics, is it? You really are naïve if you think that the British and U.S. regimes parading this girl as an exhibit is anything other than politics of the most shameful, craven and hypocritical stripe.
well, Morrisey you have well and truly made your point that you think ‘cynicism’ is defined by the way in which Malala is, in your word, “being used” by the UN and “British and U.S. regimes”.
furthermore you continue to berate my use of language…. really? Your use of language is imo loaded and emotive – viz: “parading this girl as an exhibit is anything other than politics of the most shameful, craven and hypocritical stripe”
But i’m pleased that this little exchange has resulted in your comment: “Nowhere have I suggested she does not deserve respect. She is a brave girl.”
And with that in mind i’d like to add that nowehere in all my comments on this thread have a denied that there may be people who have engineered the publicity afforded to Malala in order to ‘cynically’ serve their own ends.
You argue your points very well, locus. I concede that my comments about you were overly harsh and, indeed, even unfair. Your reading of Malala is more nuanced than I gave you credit for—and it appears, on further inspection, that you DO know what “cynical” means.
As they say in parliament, I withdraw and apologize.
thanks for your civil apology Morrissey… i recognise we were talking at cross purposes
Why don’t you write your own fucking article instead of hijacking somebody else’s then you can say what you like.
Why don’t you write your own fucking article instead of hijacking somebody else’s then you can say what you like.
I often do. Have you not noticed?
Sure have. I’ve also noticed how much is cut paste and copy V’s original work. Keep it up, it gives me something else to read.
Sure have. I’ve also noticed how much is cut paste and copy V’s original work.
There’s a quota, is there? Anyway, a great deal of my stuff on this site is composed by me.
Keep it up, it gives me something else to read.
I don’t believe you read a great deal.
Love that girl!
This should be promoted to a guest post.
Who pays this prick Roughan ?
Conscience ???
Nought but a cheerleeader for foreigner ShonKey Python’s dream of New Zealand as a global financial outpost for the already obscenely wealthy.
Mums and Dads ? Kiwis ? Bah !
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10897465
I read the first sentence which was all I needed to know that it was a PR piece for SkyCity. Pure propaganda and nothing else.
I loved this bit:
Right wing commentator coming right out and saying that he likes corruption in his political heroes. Nothing plainer. What is worrisome is that the current moral/political environment means that Roughan feels enabled to say it.
Yep, MSM commenter coming straight out and saying that they like corruption as if it’s normal. This is how NZ has become corrupt.
The Old Board Room Trout Fran – at it again – with a tone of complaint – distract distract.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10897515
This is in the Herald this morning – Clare Trevett’s column.
” The coverage of the whole “man-ban” issue has exposed the party’s fundamental flaws: its factions, the tensions between the caucus and the party, and the perception that the party is overly concerned with issues of identity.
Amid the leadership issues, there has been a serious debate internally in Labour this week about the wisdom of Maryan Street promoting her euthanasia private members’ bill.
Labour is terrified it will be drawn out of the ballot.
The debate would extend into election year and give the Conservatives another platform to boost its support as a potential partner for a third-term National Government. ”
My Comment : Labour MPs need to concentrate on issues of real importance to its people – the lack of jobs, housing,
the decline in the health of rivers, lakes and beaches, whatever Tony Ryall is doing to undermine our public health system …., the list is endless. And maybe if Labour MPs did that, instead of playing with side issues it would start to get some traction in the polls. Maybe !
All is forgiven Shearer/Goff …. please just keep drifting the Labour Party into sustained decline as you are.
You can always rely on the gloriously loyal Trevett.
The theme I would encourage them to publicize is basic hope to get a better life … because with this degree of inequality, and in such a cold winter, there sure ain’t much, and people need some.
optimistic Ad
Hope of as better life? Perhaps the euthanasia bill is what is needed with a third Tory term.
Which reminds me: just because a Labour MP is pushing for a euthanasia bill, it doesn’t mean that Labour can’t focus on important issues of income, job and benefit inequity. Its not the euthanasia bill’s fault that Labour can’t get its act together on political economy issues which have more public resonance.
/sarc
I can’t help but think, CV, that somewhere in NZ there’s a university-educated, lesbian, Māori policy analyst with political ambitions and a partner with a terminal illness, who managed to irk you in some way…
Huh? What and where is the clamour for the euthanasia bill?
This is the euthanasia bill for terminally ill patients, rather than the terminally incompetent current Labour leadership team and their stubborn backers and careerists?
Audrey Young has an interesting take on the issue. She says
“Cunliffe is the candidate that National believes is the greatest threat to John Key. Several ministers have said so privately. By that reasoning he is the candidate that Labour should choose.
He has behaved well for eight months now, with no undermining of the leader. He is a polished performer.
According to DigiPoll he would be the preferred replacement by 31.8 per cent of all voters (against 16.6 for Robertson and 13.5 for Little) and 37.7 per cent of Labour voters (19.1 for Robertson and 14 for Little).
His detractors believe that were he to be elected leader, the wider electorate would tire of him quickly, as many of his colleagues have.
Robertson is a less polarising figure, not tested as a minister, respected in Parliament and in the party but less known by the public.
His backers installed Shearer, the complete novice.”
The article is at http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10897462
To my mind if there is to be a new leader (and there can there not be?) let’s not try and predict who ahead of time. That’s why there’s a process. Having said that to my way of thinking its Cunliffe’s time. There is no way to predict the electorate’s reaction until it happens. But it can’t be worse than this. And I believe it will be a whole lot better.
I do not buy the story that Cunliffe is hard to work with – if the people in his electorate do not find him hard to work with and the people who have had him as a consultant to their businesses did not find him hard to work with, I do not see why the Labour caucus are the exception.
Instead I think that in choosing David Shearer Labour made an analogous choice to that of the Maori Party when it chose to go into coalition with National, the justification being that “you can make more gains at the table than you can away from it.” In Labour’s case, the table in question most likely includes lobbyists for the NZ elites as well as defenders of US interests. The problem in both cases is that power is so now concentrated and the demands of the powerful so antithetical to the interests of most citizens that the gains from subservience are no more than fig leaves which are not sufficient to cover a “sold out” status. Meanwhile, it is left to the legal fraternity, the HRC and John Campbell to defend the rights of New Zealanders.
Agreed. It’s a load of bollocks. It should be remembered that the MSM, almost without exception, pushed the ‘Shearer for leader’ line as hard as they could. Like their political counterparts they can’t admit to being wrong (maybe) so they drop in a supposed Cunliffe negative to save face.
“His (cunliffe’s) detractors believe that were he to be elected leader, the wider electorate would tire of him quickly, as many of his colleagues have………. Robertson is a less polarising figure, not tested as a minister, respected in Parliament and in the party but less known by the public.”
Cunliffe’s caucus detractors just don’t get it ! They installed Shearer, they’ve watched him muck up, and they STILL think they know best as to what the electorate wants. Robertson hasn’t had Cabinet experience – how can they possibly think he (or Little for that matter) could become Prime Minister.
Putting inexperienced people into the leadership position is doing us all a huge disservice.
ps Don’t know what’s happening with the italics – that’s meant to just be for the quoted bit.
Its also destroying what could be promising Labour political careers early on.
Those who screwed up TWICE should not be players in the next step of the Leadership selection.
Shearer is a about to resign. It is weeks away. Goff, King, Mallard and a few more should announce their retirement at the next election at the same time.
Robertson has to stand down as Deputy at the same time.
Naaa Robertson should never be leader. He is one of those people that is destined to stand in the background and work there. Thats where he is good, but if he tried to step up then, Oh dear the Fat Controller has delusions of Grandeur. But who else apart from Cunliffe could lead the party AND unite the voters?
Cunliffe. Articulate, knows policy inside out, is a little arrogant but hell with his credentials he can afford to be.
Robertson?? The Fat Controller destined to be in the Background.
Little?? Has the Personality of an Envelope
Jones?? Porno anyone
\and on it goes ad infinitum. The rest are wanna be’s in comparison!
This is beautiful
Make her Prime Minister of Ireland.
Clare Daly Irish politician calls it out like it is by labeling Obama a hypocrite and a war criminal.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhUUScVZ5Hc
I suspect embarrassing and politically fatal emails or personal details about that MP would be revealed any time it looked like she might actually succeed.
Uncle Bain says nephew did it, not brother.
Nick-picking which family member was the mass
murderer. Oh wait, Uncle Bain speaks with such
authority, would rather his brother son be the
culprit. Something went wrong with that family,
and he can’t say he’s not part of that family and
also be so very much a part of the family.
Sweden to send Judge to London, and will pass
judgment by holding court over Assauge in Ecuadorean? Embassy,
if found guilty Sweden will build a cell in the
embassy for Assuage to serve his sentence.
oh, wait, Sweden is a pragmatic liberal democracy.
Atheist say on National Radio we need the God idea.
oh, wait, like the idea could be ignored and thrown
into the darkness of historical curiosity, I wish.
Claiming the distorting, the early mistakes on the road
to science and morality, ‘God’ was and still is a
necessity is true, but really, isn’t there much better
stuff on our rise to self-awareness, self-reflection.
National party, will grow NZ with gutter capitalism.
Gambling outlet to fund unethical conference centre.
Oh, wait, conference cancelled as big corporation
did not wish to be associated with growth in crime and
gambling harm. Picture of child left in casino car-park
dying of thirst causes conference of water bottlers
to cancel. Oh, wait, CEO of SkyCity, totally aware of
the connection and need to distance itself from unethical
immoral practices in case a backlash occurs against gambling
(harming future profitability). Oops, another Tolkien loving
unionist cancel family trip to hobbit movies.
Crusher “Collins” policy saves cyclist life. Oh, wait,
three injured, one dead die a young driver mows them down
in Hamilton. Hamilton is now notorious for childracers
burning up the tarmac, in a car cult of excessive car rage.
No tolerance for graffiti, massive tolerance for car rage,
as yet another night of roaring cars is heard across the
Hmailton night (and day).
New study on fracking, quoting from Science magazine (can’t find the magazine link just yet) but this needs to be read and understood:
“‘Dynamic triggering’
Quakes with a magnitude of 2 or lower, which can hardly be felt, are routinely produced in fracking, said geologist William Ellsworth of the U.S. Geological Survey, an expert on human-induced earthquakes who was not involved in the study.
The largest fracking-induced earthquake “was magnitude 3.6, which is too small to pose a serious risk,” he wrote in Science.
But van der Elst and colleagues found evidence that injection wells can set the stage for more dangerous quakes. Because pressure from wastewater wells stresses nearby faults, if seismic waves speeding across Earth’s surface hit the fault it can rupture and, months later, produce an earthquake stronger than magnitude 5.
What seems to happen is that wastewater injection leaves local faults “critically loaded,” or on the verge of rupture. Even weak seismic waves from faraway quakes are therefore enough to set off a swarm of small quakes in a process called “dynamic triggering.”
“I have observed remote triggering in Oklahoma,” said seismologist Austin Holland of the Oklahoma Geological Survey, who was not involved in the study. “This has occurred in areas where no injections are going on, but it is more likely to occur in injection areas.”
Once these triggered quakes stop, the danger is not necessarily over. The swarm of quakes, said Heather Savage of Lamont-Doherty and a co-author of the study, “could indicate that faults are becoming critically stressed and might soon host a larger earthquake.”
For instance, seismic waves from an 8.8 quake in Maule, Chile, in February 2010 rippled across the planet and triggered a 4.1 quake in Prague, Oklahoma – site of the Wilzetta oil field – some 16 hours later.
That was followed by months of smaller tremors in Oklahoma, and then the largest quake yet associated with wastewater injection, a 5.7 temblor in Prague on November 6, 2011.
That quake destroyed 14 homes, buckled a highway and injured two people.
The Prague quake is “not only one of the largest earthquakes to be associated with wastewater disposal, but also one of the largest linked to a remote triggering event,” said van der Elst.
The Chile quake also caused a swarm of small temblors in Trinidad, Colorado, near wells where wastewater used to extract methane from coal beds had been injected.
On August 22, 2011, a magnitude 5.3 quake hit Trinidad, damaging dozens of buildings.
The 9.1 earthquake in Japan in March 2011, which caused a devastating tsunami, triggered a swarm of small quakes in Snyder, Texas – site of the Cogdell oil field. That autumn, Snyder experienced a 4.5 quake.
The presence of injection wells does not mean an area is doomed to have a swarm of earthquakes as a result of seismic activity half a world away, and a swarm of induced quakes does not necessarily portend a big one.
Guy, Arkansas; Jones, Oklahoma; and Youngstown, Ohio, have all experienced moderate induced quakes due to fluid injection from oil or gas drilling. But none has had a quake triggered by a distant temblor.
Long-distance triggering is most likely where wastewater wells have been operating for decades and where there is little history of earthquake activity, the researchers write.
“The important thing now is to establish how common this is,” said Oklahoma’s Holland, referring to remotely triggered quakes. “We don’t have a good answer to that question yet.”
Before the advent of injection wells, triggered earthquakes were a purely natural phenomenon. A 7.3 quake in California’s Mojave Desert in 1992 set off a series of tiny quakes north of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, for instance.
Now, according to the Science paper, triggered quakes can occur where human activity has weakened faults.
Current federal and state regulations for wastewater disposal wells focus on protecting drinking water sources from contamination, not on earthquake hazards.
– See more at: http://www.prairiebizmag.com/event/article/id/15229/#sthash.mfbyYJOH.dpuf
http://www.prairiebizmag.com/event/article/id/15229/
This?
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/341/6142/1225942.abstract
“Injection-induced earthquakes, such as those that struck in 2011, clearly contribute to the seismic hazard. Quantifying their contribution presents difficult challenges that will require new research into the physics of induced earthquakes and the potential for inducing large-magnitude events. The petroleum industry needs clear requirements for operation, regulators must have a solid scientific basis for those requirements, and the public needs assurance that the regulations are sufficient and are being followed. The current regulatory frameworks for wastewater disposal wells were designed to protect potable water sources from contamination and do not address seismic safety. One consequence is that both the quantity and timeliness of information on injection volumes and pressures reported to regulatory agencies are far from ideal for managing earthquake risk from injection activities. In addition, seismic monitoring capabilities in many of the areas in which wastewater injection activities have increased are not capable of detecting small earthquake activity that may presage larger seismic events. “
From the truth is stranger then fiction department tampons are more dangerous then guns in Texas.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/12/tampons-confiscated-texas_n_3588177.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular
Well pickle my tit. Audrey Young header “Key defaults to arrogance…..” Connecting dots at last Auds? Finally dawning how certain things happened and why? Better late than never I spose.
The Hatchet Man Speaks
Alex Gibney interviewed by Kim Hill
Radio NZ National, Saturday 13 July 2013, 8:10 a.m.
Fans of Kim Hill’s TV and radio interviews have been treated to some pretty interesting characters over the years. There was JEFFREY ARCHER in 1994, screaming furiously: “I’ve been warned about you!” There have been the slightly sad, unintentionally funny ones, such as the witless, under-prepared U.S. ambassador CHARLES SWINDELLS….
AMBASSADOR SWINDELLS: Errrrrr… Iraq is a terrorist state.
HILL: [patiently but insistently] What’s the link?
….[Long, awkward pause]…
AMBASSADOR: We are attacking terrorism on all fronts.
HILL: Well, no you’re not. When are you going to attack Saudi Arabia?
…[Long, embarrassing pause]…
AMBASSADOR: Uh…..
Then there are the more malevolent, sinister ones. For some reason, Hill’s most rancorous, rankly hypocritical interviewees have mostly been Englishmen. Who could ever forget the thuggish Blair cabinet minister GEOFF HOON nervelessly insisting that “weapons of mass destruction will be found in Iraq”? And nobody who heard it will ever forget that neo-conservative apologist and pompous blowhard WILLIAM SHAWCROSS frothing with anger after Hill confronted him with his own hypocrisy in 2004….
KIM HILL: As you eloquently say in your book, a lot of Saddam Hussein’s atrocities were committed with the sanction of the United States.
SHAWCROSS: [erupting] I DID NOT SAY THAT!
HILL: [coolly] No-o-o-o-o-o?
SHAWCROSS: [gibbering with fury] This is an ABSURD interview! I did NOT say that! I did NOT say that!
(FACT: He DID say that.)
She also has interviewed, and generally got the better of the slimy careerist PETER HAIN, the hapless former Australian prime minister JOHN HOWARD and the buffoonish, ignorant, malicious restaurant critic-cum-political commentator A.A. GILL.
This morning, however, she interviewed someone who for sheer malice and hypocrisy makes Archer look like Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Hain like Nelson Mandela, Hoon like a choir-boy and Shawcross like Albert Schweitzer. Her guest was the unspeakable ALEX GIBNEY, the director of We Steal Secrets, an Obama-friendly Soviet-style hatchet job on dissenter Julian Assange.
I’ll let Gibney speak for himself now. Unless you are an inveterate worshipper of his heartless documentaries, and a motivated hater of Julian Assange, you will not fail to notice how flippant and cynical–as well as unfunny—so many of his little wisecracks are. Nor will you fail to be shocked by the dark, Swiftian irony of some of his observations—all of it unintended by Gibney, of course….
ALEX GIBNEY: Ahhhhh, if you have a significant amount of street cred, you ahhhhhhm feel entitled to be bad. It’s like going for a jog and then coming back and having fast food!
About Father Murphy, who got away with abusing deaf children until they exposed his crimes…..
GIBNEY: People who do nasty stuff like to find rationalizations for their behavior and then that lets them walk round feeling good about themselves.
About the deaf children who exposed Father Murphy….
GIBNEY: What attracted me was their heroism. They showed this was part of a systematic ahhhhhhhhhm…
KIM HILL: Cover-up?
GIBNEY: Yeah, cover-up.
About Pope Benedict XVI….
GIBNEY: Ratzinger used to be in the Doctrine of the Faith, which used to be the Inquisition. …. A trail of coverups. That is the REAL crime. A systematic program of covering up. The Archbishop turned on the children and told them, “YOU are to blame for bringing shame on the Church!”
KIM HILL: This Kafkaesque nightmare when nobody believed them.
GIBNEY: Yes, that’s absolutely true.
KIM HILL: As you say, “Deny, minimize and blame” has been the modus operandi of the Catholic Church. Has it changed?
GIBNEY: [gravely, with utmost compassion in voice] I fear not.
….[Long, pregnant pause]….
KIM HILL: Let us turn to Julian Assange. The Assangeists, as you call them, have said it’s a very unfair attack.
GIBNEY: Well I think it’s religious. Ahhhh, ha ha ha ha ha ha! The Assangeistas’ have this blind faith. What my film does is to look at the way an individual has become corrupt. It’s this noble cause corruption I was talking about….. Assange was mendacious, fundamentally wrong. He was so rigid and ideological as to endanger people’s lives. His original sin was the Swedish case. He purposely conflated it with Wikileaks, said it was a put-up job by the CIA. Now, I admit that there is no evidence that anyone was hurt by the release of the Afghan war logs. I disagree with the U.S. government on this. He was reckless to publish them without redaction. This separated him from the Guardian and the New York Times. Assange was on the moral low ground just to be “pure” to his “ideals”.
KIM HILL: Is it impossible that there was a conspiracy?
GIBNEY: Anything is possible! Martians might invade! But it’s quite clear this is a matter between one man and two women. Everybody was saying to him, take care of it. He made a calculated decision.
KIM HILL: There’s no hero in this story. Certainly you don’t think Julian Assange is a hero but neither do you believe Bradley Manning was a hero either.
GIBNEY: I think he was a kind of hero. He was naive—he didn’t think through what he was doing. Bradley Manning is an “everyday” hero, not someone like Martin Luther King or Nelson Mandela, but an everyday hero. …. Let’s be honest. …[snicker]… I don’t think we’d like to be in a world where soldiers routinely gave up information they had sworn to keep secret.
Re Adrian Lamo, who betrayed Bradley Manning….
GIBNEY: He’s a narcissist, I think that’s clear. Manning had to reach out to someone, and he reached out to someone who turned him in.
KIM HILL: Assange asked you for a million dollars for an interview.
GIBNEY: That reveals his character. … He has defiled his own cause… I think the idea of Wikileaks in its purest form is brilliant…. Assange was overcome by narcissism and noble cause corruption. That’s what the U.S. government does: “We stand for democracy and freedom, so shouldn’t we be able to waterboard a few terrorists?” NO! No, we shouldn’t!
The interview finished, thankfully, soon afterward, and the music of the great Richard Thompson soothed the outraged sensibilities of the listeners.
Then, straight after the 9 a.m. news, listeners heard this….
KIM HILL: Lots of responses to the interview with Alex Gibney. Morrissey writes, in an outraged fashion: Alex Gibney called Julian Assange “mendacious, fundamentally wrong”, “rigid” and “ideological.” He sniggered at the “talkshow hosts and senators calling for drone strikes against Assange”; he mocked Assange for thinking “I have terrible enemies and they are coming after me!”, he coldly and calculatedly compared Assange to scientologists.
If he had any integrity, Gibney would have made a documentary in cooperation with the Catholic Church, pouring scorn and heaping abuse on the deaf children who exposed the crimes of Father Murphy.
But that would not have got him lionized in Washington, of course.
Yours in disgust at fawning liberal hypocrites….
Hmmmm…. interesting logic, Morrissey.
RESULT!!!!!
Alex Gibney is the director of Silence in the House of God, a documentary about a priest who abused deaf boys, and We Steal Secrets, a government-approved character assassination of Julian Assange. Both films are showing in New Zealand soon.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10897071
Juror sentenced to 10 days, for contempt!
Seems reasonable.
Except allegedly he was told by court staff that he wouldn’t be needed so didn’t make arrangements with his work.
Wouldn’t it be really, really great if the, ah, ‘inert’ Labour Party signed up to this, and meant it:
http://econ4.org/statement-on-building-the-new-economy
But, alas , I fear it is frighten the horses territory.