“The leak shows our government demanding rules that would lead to preventable suffering and death in Pacific Rim countries, while eliminating opportunities to ease financial hardship on American families and our health programs at home,” said Peter Maybarduk, director of Public Citizen’s Global Access to Medicines Program.
Prolonging suffering just so a few people can be richer.
I had a quick read Draco, I have to say, and I am a legal layman but it seemed there were clauses in their that allowed any country to protect it’s health and citizens concerning medications, as a get out clause to allow meds, IDNK but reading the pdf it looked like a load of complicated clauses that could employ some hard up legal beagles struggling to survive on a low income many years of high earnings in the name of clarifying a paragraph or ten.
Why do they make this crap so flaming unintelligible. I mean seriously heard of English?
Everything is copyrighted, unless it’s a life or death matter. Pretty simple stuff really.
They should get me to do it. I’d be freaking brilliant.
Remember, none of this is written up for the sake of clarity or ‘free markets.’ It is there to generate a lot of grey areas for corporations to move in, and to obscure any possibility of moral or ethical discussions under a tonne of technicalities.
Just take a look at the language: ‘Free trade’ or ‘Free Markets’
Trade is something that involves exchange and, in this day and age, involves money. i.e there is nothing ‘free’ about trade.
The use of the word ‘free’ is a contradictory term. It is contradictory to the nature of the subject, and this contradiction indicates propaganda is involved i.e. manipulation of people’s attitudes on the subject is present.
Plus, why would a free trade agreement require anything more than a few A4 sheets of paper? I agree that you can sell your stuff in my country and vice versa. What requires thousands of pages of documents?
Arranging a free-for-all for those who already have plenty, involves complexity due to having to work out how to by-pass any sound and principled protections built into a given country’s laws, is my guess. 🙂
That and making sure that the power elite in each country are treated fairly and equitably by the power elite in other countries. For ordinary people – sorry.
We won a seat at the UN, Is that good or bad? IDNK, however I expect we will create more deaths under John Key than ever before. What will our contribution be? To side with the USA as puppies of Obama or to stand tall and make the right calls independent of other countries interests time will tell I suppose.
But if Key starts chasing and killing for oil, Keys days will be numbered, I and the rest of the country will be kicking him to the kerb if we are grouped responsible for innocent deaths in the name of oil flow by a psychopathic liar.
Be aware Key, be very fucking aware.
PS…. 2017, if you don’t vote National we will lose the UN seat, wait for it folks wait for the media bias.
The bitter irony, NZ is being sold on what we used to be (fairness, egalitarianism, a fair go) before the same people now selling it off began destroying those very qualities. Similarly for our Independence.
What a load of rubbish. Vernon may very well be right. He has at least 25% chance of that. And Little is indeed a popular candidate.
But lets face it, this is just another example of lazy journalism. And we should pull the media up on these lazy stories, even if Little happens to be the candidate you are supporting. (Next time, there is as much chance that their lazy idle speculations will pick somebody you don’t support).
I want to see the evidence for Small’s assertions. It’s not written as an opinion: eg “I think Little has the greatest chance of winning” It’s stated that “Little noses ahead” Oh really? How exactly was this measured? By how many percentage points Vernon?
When you read Small’s article, I have a strong suspicion that Small has simply fished comments from the Standard. It’s a compliment to the Standard if that is true, but still not a process that I support, unless the source for what he says is specified.
Otherwise I could suggest, with the same level of accuracy: “Vernon Small produces worst political report for 17 October by 7.85%”
We have to remember that most journos don’t want to suicide their careers, and also that it is the editors and subs who come up with the actual headlines etc.
Yes, and this leads back to the issue over government policies that create joblessness. It makes people much more compliant when they know they will have difficulty replacing their job.
I really do view wealth disparity and joblessness as the biggest issues that need addressing – nothing else is able to change, or function heathily, until there is less concentration of power.
And this is the nub, isn’t it. Why would people who have the power and leverage today, allow that power to be distributed? They wouldn’t, of course. If anything, they want it further concentrated, into fewer and fewer hands: theirs.
This also speaks directly to issues of underemployment and low pay. Encouraging masses of working class and under class to be more engaged in society, and giving them adequate financial resources to do it with, goes right against the principle of concentrating power.
+1 I don’t suppose you saw that program on Prime about British Manor Houses last night?
It was rather a surprise because it didn’t solely focus on mansions, it went through a quick history of the state of Britain leading up to World War I, and, oh boy, were there very pointed comments about the effects of concentration of wealth.
I don’t even know if it is a series or not (tend to randomly switch on & watch stuff)- it was on after ‘Downton Abbey’
One thing I didn’t know was that the British Parliament, when trying to bring in policies to address the serious wealth disparity, kept being blocked by the House of Lords and that the King/Queen of the time ended up allowing them to be by-passed.
It is so interesting that those in privilege will actively block others’ from even semi-decent improvement in their conditions.
I view this is what is happening in NZ. There are many people that are comfortable and they are refusing to allow even small gains for those who are not comfortable.
I am so ashamed and disgusted by my fellow NZers at the moment.
One could even go so far as saying ‘I’m sorry for being a New Zealander’. 😉
I view this is what is happening in NZ. There are many people that are comfortable and they are refusing to allow even small gains for those who are not comfortable.
I am so ashamed and disgusted by my fellow NZers at the moment.
if many more people got to own houses, what will happen to my rental property portfolio! no!!! i worked hard and i take responsibility for my hard earned wealth. those other people should take responsibility for their miserable state.
At least Vernon signed it. Puts him streets ahead of the “anonymous editorial” crowd.
He includes this comment/ quote:
Parker said it would be a competitive race. ‘‘You can’t have a competition without competition, but that’s not to say that it has to be war without guns.’’
Conversely, the threat of capital flight gets strengthened in the face of any policy being proposed that does not privilege the speculators and super rich.
Note that in the US, investment banks and billion dollar hedge funds have already become slum lords, buying up masses of distressed and abandoned properties, turning themselves into a corporate landlord class.
Well Joseph Parkers boxing career has limitations .That is quite clear after his points decision against a short,old journeyman.Hate to see him against a real international pro.
We should definitely head into Iraq again with the USA, this time they’ve got the Iraq plan properly sorted out. Rly.
(Unfortunately I think we’re going to be on the Security Council pushing a purely US agenda…I see McCully is already pushing for “reform” of the security council)
I see McCully is already pushing for “reform” of the security council
When I see McCully saying “reform”, we know that his idea of reform would be directly in contrast to ours and that the interests he would further would be quite opposite to what we would consider.
Reform has been a real problem for the UN for years.
The reform issue is a compounded problem because resolution has been stymied for decades
The initial problem was that the UN was not reflecting the changing world; neither the increasing diversity (due to increased membership) nor the changing powers. i.e it was set up when Russia and the US were the main powers, China is on the main body now, but places like India, Brazil or Japan are not. (Also places like Africa & Muslim countries?
The reforms require a profoundly thoughtful, principled and wide perspective and also an ability for those that are currently on the Security Council to be inclusive i.e. release their grip and share their power with the new powers.
I am not holding my breath that the type of intelligence that is required for resolution, will be provided by NZ’s actors because our government continually display a lapdog type attitude toward the US and show a distinct tendency to be sellouts.
In short, they are acting like mindless lunatics in their own country, so why should they be any different on the world stage. All that will be achieved is they will disgrace NZ on the world stage even more than they have already done.
“Reform has been a real problem for the UN for years.”
The UN was the pet project of an American aristocrat president (Roosevelt) built on land donated by what was at the time the wealthiest family in the world (Rockefeller).
Its purpose was and always has been defensive: to protect and defend the interests of the wealthiest American imperialists. There will never be any “reforms” at the UN which do not serve their interests.
Did I correctly hear today that we are so lucky to get Security Council position as it will help us when we have Trade talks. Isn’t that slightly obscene using Security Council post to talk trade?
Not really connected to intensive dairy farming contamination of water supplies but????
“He said investigating the outbreak was complex – the yersinia pathogen could spread from animal waste into water supplies, then into a vegetable growing area.”
I wonder where the quarantined paddock is in relation to water source?
Flogging off our state housing stock, falling dollar making our houses and land even more of a bargain for overseas speculators, cynically gaming the OIA, etc etc, t’would be enough to make one quite worried were it not for the prospect of a BRIGHT SHINEY NEW FLAG!!!!
I’d say he’ll be gone sooner than later, if the right job emerges.
You get the feeling his heart really isn’t in it anymore, which isn’t really surprising.
“I’d say he’ll be gone sooner than later, if the right job emerges.
You get the feeling his heart really isn’t in it anymore, which isn’t really surprising.”
You get the feeling you just made shit up. There’s nothing in that article to support what you just said.
The odds of Parker leaving before DC would be far greater. I just heard Mike Williams labeling DP as his pick as the winner in the leadership contest. A certain kiss of death. Parker will be extremely lucky if he gets 3rd, even that looks remote from what I’m observing.
The only setting up done to Parker is self inflicted. He is setting himself up to fail miserably and is totally delusional calling for a referendum on the raising of the retirement age. This guy is going to self distruct something shocking at the end of the hustings I kid you not.
bm doesnt actually read the links he posts. it happened only last week when he posted something to do with hager and then asked a question answered in his link. i think he is one of the unpaid tr**olls
Asked about former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s comment that failed leaders should leave politics, Mr Cunliffe said if people were calling for that from him “perhaps they ought to do that in order of succession … there are two others ahead of me”.
Nice sharp retort. This is why Labour members are going to miss Cunliffe at the helm.
+1 listening to Robertson on Jackson’s show now. May call him to raise the deadwood issue. Skirting the issue and saying the new blood comes thru raising the party vote is true. However getting back to reality of today Grant ‘the party vote dropped.’ What we want to hear is there will be a clean out, no if no buts Grant.
My point is he won’t speak out because his support base within caucus is ‘mostly’ deadwood, therefore his campaign is not in the interest of the party but him self. If he believes running with Ardern is the answer it is not. She will roll him and the division continues pretty much spelling the demise of the party as being able to be relevant.
The Herald sure know how to spin stuff. The printed version has this headline on the front page:
“Cunliffe: I’ll never stand again”
Then the article contains this:
“While he intended to stay in Parliament this term, he was (sic) yet to decide whether to stand again in 2017.”
Yet to decide =/= never stand again.
So the headline is clearly wrong. It seems the MSM’s levels of comprehension leave a great deal to be desired.
There is nothing wrong with Cunliffe reviewing things. I would expect all MPs to review their position and decide if they are bringing something to politics and if not then they should consider alternative career options.
I don’t have access to the printed version but the on-line version referenced does quote him directly as saying “I am not intending to run for the leadership again.”
A headline really does have to be brief and the one you quote does seem to be accurate as far as the leadership goes, which is the primary news in the story.
To give a headline which tells the full story would mean one that was as long as the full story.
Would you really want a headline that said something like
“Cunliffe: At his point in time my intention is that I’ll never stand for the leadership of the Labour Party again, although I will remain in Parliament as an MP until at least 2017 when I may, or may not, stand as an MP again, depending on what I think of my prospects of being able to get a reasonably senior role in the shadow cabinet and whether any other options might be available”
That would be a reasonable summary of the story but a bit much to put in large type don’t you think?
Oh hell. It was meant to be “at THIS point”
Although I guess that “HIS point in time” makes a certain amount of warped sense doesn’t it? DCs view of things always seemed a bit askew from most peoples.
MS
In politics ‘never say never’. I suspect that David Cunliffe will be forced back again by popular demand probably after his successors make a mess of it and that he will eventually take over as Prime Minister from John Key.
Anything’s possible.
The Intercept reported today that for months before his house was raided, Hager had also been working with Glenn Greenwald and The Intercept, preparing to report stories based on the Snowden documents.
Hager doesn’t know if this contributed to the decision to raid his house, but the fact that the raid happened so shortly afterwards is disturbing to say the least. According to Hager, the New Zealand government has been nervous about the publication of New Zealand-related Snowden revelations and has made various moves, publicly and privately, to prepare for their eventual publication.
Great that those outside NZ can see the significance of the Hager raid. Even if the police find nothing about the “hacker”, the collateral damage to Nicky’s reputation and the loss of privacy over other research that he is doing, and the chilling effect on others who would wish to come forward in confidence, those are the worries.
Of course there will be no direct link from politicians to police but given the reluctance of the police to act on other complaints, you would wonder if Mr Key’s government would have any motive to “get” Nicky and send a warning to others.
Yes, and even if that’s not true, that it’s a coincidence, the fact remains that many people have now lost confidence in the government because of Dirty Politics and how they handled it (Key’s casualness esp).
edit, afaik the police don’t have the seized material. It got sealed and sent to the courts until the hearing to decide if the police can look at it. What I want to know now is if the police can use or share information not related to the warrant used to do the raid.
I think Nicky’s lawyer (Mr Price?) insisted that every item be sealed and labelled and receipted by the police. Good thinking pending the court challenge to the confiscation.
Of course losing all your tools and resources for the foreseeable future must be a curse.
So if that’s true, and the police didn’t look at anything during the search, then it makes the theory that the govt is fishing less likely. But it doesn’t lessen the probability that the govt knew of his connections with the Snowden team and were monkey wrenching.
From that FirstLook link: the ability of New Zealand police officers to cavalierly raid the home of a reporter who has criticized the government in power threatens to establish a dangerous precedent everywhere reporters operate.
If we learned anything from the M.o.T. it is surely that the NZ gov provides an entry-point for the Spymaster powers that be. Glenn’s work would likely be so securely encrypted as to evade the usual metadata mop-ups on the net, which would necessitate a hands on approach to securing it, by those international surveillance chiefs. And, they took discs, documents, camera and “dozens of other items”. (Why anyone would believe for a millisecond that they were merely after “the hacker” – evades me.)
It is similar to the KDC raid. Our overlords, the international spymasters, have long arms indeed. In a year of depressing news-events, this is one of the most sobering.
Today, Thursday 16 October 2014, WikiLeaks released a second updated version of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Intellectual Property Rights Chapter. The TPP is the world’s largest economic trade agreement that will, if it comes into force, encompass more than 40 per cent of the world’s GDP. The IP Chapter covers topics from pharmaceuticals, patent registrations and copyright issues to digital rights. Experts say it will affect freedom of information, civil liberties and access to medicines globally. The WikiLeaks release comes ahead of a Chief Negotiators’ meeting in Canberra on 19 October 2014, which is followed by what is meant to be a decisive Ministerial meeting in Sydney on 25–27 October.
I guess the last 6 years fronting the media every week defending Goff and then Shearer would have exhausted any sense of humour by the time Culiffe came and went. I can not see it returning being the butt of Robo’s jokes. With Mallard being mooted as assistant speaker of the house, perhaps he will get a few laughs when Mallard kicks Little out for dancing during readings.
And who needs State Housing?
“Finance Minister Bill English says the proceeds from selling state houses are unlikely to be spent on new state houses and may go into the Consolidated Account.
“I mean, if we want less stock, there’s not much point in rebuilding stock with it.”
Because Robertson knows his chances of winning the leadership contest on his own is about zero. So he’s rolling out Ardern to stand beside him in the hope her presence will attract more votes for him.
With Adern he should win, remember this is still the 2 groups within caucus fighting for the leadership and shadow cabinet positions. The result will be very tight, however Grant does fancy he has the edge. More caucus votes and a reasonable amount of second votes from the Afiliates. The membership vote he will benefit from the popularity of Ardern.
It effect the deadwood are sticking it to the membership by declaring their vote in advance. This makes a mockery of a leaders contest when one side is campaigning on 2 tickets. While Mahuta may want the deputy role, the DW can install Robertson, Parker, Adern or the likes of King, Goff, Shearer or who ever takes their fancy. Good for them the joke will be short lived. A licence for the membership to turn up with knives at conference.
Two things
1) Ardern is not particularly popular with the membership.
2) Grant demonstrated that he couldn’t count last year, and he still can’t count.
Their pretty much in death rattle mode. Myself and others are thinking of starting a party and would stand a better chance of getting over 5% than they do of winning in 2017.
Your correct with the name bang on actually however the old social credit party have that name covered. Social Democrats for Change I think they go by.
CPA-Communities Protecting Animals.
Designed to be a voice solely for animals. You can judge a society on how many pets are being mistreated, putdown etc. Trim up the Tory vote and sit on the cross benches. Something like that would be a go. Register the dog owner. Far too many Pitbull’s get the automatic death penalty if they end up at the SPCA, they won’t re house just put em down. There are enough humans that rightly don’t give a damn about politics but do about animals. So worth a crack. Of course any Bill that is going to impact on the welfare of poorer citizens pets gets rejected of course lol. There is a lawyers group that have formed to lobby and write legislation framework too. Hmm wonder is bent Bankie can be an advisor from jail?
Yes I think it is a go afterall if the God Botherers can pull 4% the chances are it would get across the line. The threshold should be lower but the elite will defend 5% tooth and nail. A animal welfare party has the advantage of willing cashed up donators, and the ability to have committees and candidates in probably every electorate in NZ canvassing the party vote.
Stand alone party and it would pull a cross section of votes but within out getting a polling survey done by some snake oil outfit like Hooton’s, I would say 60% of the centre upwards vote in reality. On the cross benches you have the ability to deal if it’s a tight margin. And of course cross party support on animal welfare is a populistic. Just look at the drug testing U turn that only Banks championed till the issue become main stream popular in an election year.
Grant Robertson is in Willie Jackson’s show on Radio Live.
He says there is no such thing as an ABC faction.
I turned off the radio in case he stated discussing the moon landing and Chem Trails.
Perhaps Labour need to get more litigious toward the media, (or at least make public statements about errors of fact), because as far as I know, there have been substantially more public complaints from Labour MPs about what is discussed here on The Standard than what Vance wrote in her article.
ianmac: the evidence of the ABC group is there for all to see, including Shearer’s recent orchestrated media campaign (5-6 separate media appearances/interviews) putting the knife between departing Leader David Cunliffe’s shoulder blades.
Shearer didn’t confidently step up and organise all this just on his lonesome, he was part of a group of MPs.
An active, outspoken and articulate left wing membership is a real threat to right wing corporate policies, and not a threat to left wing principles or sound democracy, at all – in fact the above qualities strengthen left wing principles & democracy – so I can only conclude that the MPs in Labour and others, that are criticising the left wing blogs, have an agenda that is incompatible with left wing and democratic principles.
blue leopard, I suspect that half the bullshit about Labour and the supposed ABC lot came from the Right and created and fueled by Whaleoil. Certain journalist kept on repeating it but without anything better than “Party Insiders tell me” stuff. Where-ever it was sourced it did a great job of creating a massive loss of confidence in the Party.
Wonder if a Labour Review would test the existence of the ABCs?
I hope Olwyn doesn’t mind, but I think her comment on yesterdays ‘Open Mike’ is appropriate for this discussion. I still don’t know how to link to a comment so here is a cut and paste:
16 October 2014 at 8:30 pm
Today on the bus, I think I suddenly grasped the perspective of Labour’s right wingers. I was thinking about Shearer’s recent claim that the LP had been hijacked. Then I remembered Puddleglum quoting Shane Jones as saying, ““I’ve never said this on the record, but I was deeply influenced in a positive way by the figures of the Lange Government. I didn’t do my due diligence to discover how much the Labour Party had changed.”
It seems to me that these people think that the neo-liberal, globalist faction wrested the LP off the old fashioned, unenlightened socialists and that it is now theirs: that the Clark years were merely a transition, allowing people a period of acclimatisation to the new system. Where I see a need to “get the party back” they see the threat of counter-revolution. If I am right then it is very unfortunate that they hold this view at a time when the people who think they are Labour’s constituency desperately need allies in the public sphere.
(my bold).
In my response I gave her a relatively recent personal example which I believe bears out the point she is making.
When certain members of the caucus claim there is no ABC club then they are officially correct. There was/is no club of people called the “ABC Club” in Labour. But in practical terms it exists as a group of people consisting of Labour parliamentarians – and a coterie of supporters outside of parliament – who think pretty much as Olwyn has described in the section which I have highlighted.
@ Anne
Linking to and placing comment address. Try this – you call up the actual comment, you go to the writer’s name and date in blue and click on that so it shows up in the address line at the top of the screen.
Point and right click on that address and choose select, then point and right click again and press copy, transfer to where you want to place link.
That’s the dummies way (mine) but works. You might select this and copy and put it in your notes for when you need it.
Yes, I just read the email through from Grant Robertson to labour members and it is similar. On the e-mail Robertson highlights that he will “listen to all New Zealanders”, well I suggest for starters he listen to New Zealanders talking about the out of control rabble who are the labour Party caucus. He along with the other contenders need to be clear how they are going to deal with the caucus issue…for him to deny there is an ABC faction: unbelievable.
Willie Jackson: “Were you the captain of the Anyone But Cunliffe Club?”
Grant Robertson: “There is no such club.”
Mmm, there is no such club just like there was no Cabinet Club.
Oh, towards the end of that clip – “massively talented guy” Kelvin Davis will be “given an appropriate role” if Grant is leader. Stuart Nash also will have important role to play.
Mr Ure: your lamentations and questions are in vain. Grant Robertson is a very strong candidate with a very good change of winning the leadership challenge.
Kelvin Kelvin Kelvin……find a ladder……climb it……pull it up……not so far that look like Bennet. Gonna be PM one day. Hopes. Fuck the people. All about Kelvin. No respect. Sorry.
Yes it probably isn’t (yet) – but psychologically if the Greens ever overtake Labour in an opinion poll then Labour really will be in trouble.
Once that barrier is breached people will begin to see the Greens not just as a “protest vote” (leaving aside the core Green vote which seems to be sitting at 10%) – it will then start to genuinely attract even more of the left. The next hammering blow would probably if the Unions start to de-affiliate (does such a word exist?). A killing blow would be if any Unions affiliate with the Greens.
Labour have got a long way before they hit bottom. A smart Green Party would presume to assume the mantle “leader of the Opposition”.
The NZ public will continue to punish Labour’s apparent disunity – neither the broader public, nor the media, nor the caucus have the maturity to deal with primary runoffs. And there will be more of them before 2020.
The post-leadership vote caucus will know that anyone who wins will struggle to displace those fault lines of loyalty displayed in the leadership vote. There is no real secrecy to the vote. The factions, I believe, are permanent. This unintended consequence of the constitutional reforms will keep Labour in the 20’s.
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The exploration lays bare the terrifying science, the shattered political process, the unrelenting industry special interests and the civic stasis that have brought us to this social, moral and ecological crossroads.The film also takes us behind-the-scenes of the efforts to organize the largest climate rally in the history of the planet during the UN world climate summit.
This is the story of our unique moment in history. We are living through an age of tipping points and rapid social and planetary change. We’re the first generation to feel the impacts of climate disruption, and the last generation that can do something about it. The film enlarges the issue beyond climate impacts and makes a compelling call for bold action that is strong enough to tip the balance to build a clean energy future.”
Andrew Little’s AMA on NBR. I’ve got mixed feelings about him. Like DC, he won’t talk about welfare, but leaves us to read between the lines. Unfortunately they could be read either way.
Wekarawshark 5.56
If welfare is a dirty word, what hope for those relying on the left to return to a
reciprocal, interactive community-type of society?
I won’t find out what he says because a subscription is required and the NBR – National Business Review minimum for an individual is $130 for 6 months.
@ wekawarshark
I’ve been hearing about these paywalls and hadn’t run into one just when I wanted to read about something. Ouch. It doesn’t do much for me, I wouldn’t get my moneysworth out of it and anyway I like to keep my money for the big bills I need to pay. NBR is a nice to have.
I find that there are so many requests for money from genuine organisations doing genuinely good things that I have to think twice about extra spending.
I’ll try and remember that they put the page up for free for a time (24hrs? Just that business day?). There’s a few here with NBR subs, but most won’t.
well no ones interested in boxing here then!Obviously this site is infected with pacifists,lesbians and wimps that have no time for the merits of manly pugilistic endeavour.They don’t know,dont care,-how far removed from the noble kiwi ideals of rugby,racing and beer has this pale imitation of kiwi heritage called the Labour Party travelled?;)
Revealed: The woman who triggered Shearer’s downfall
Friday Aug 23, 2013 by Claire Trevett, the New Zealand Herald’s deputy political editor
I’m putting this up given the recent statements/melt down by David Shearer in which he accused David Cunliffe of the GFC, the bombing of Hiroshima and the high price of coffee.
“But the Herald has learned MP Maryan Street was preparing a motion of no confidence in Mr Shearer for Tuesday’s meeting.
Plans were also being made to send a delegation to him before that to ask him to stand down rather than force the confidence vote.
The MPs involved were certain the motion would have succeeded if it had been required.
Ms Street would not comment yesterday, but it is understood she decided to front the motion because of growing concerns among MPs over Mr Shearer’s inability to fire as leader and his poor poll ratings.
A source said there had been discussions for months, but nobody was willing to force the issue until Ms Street stepped up.”
“The resignation will trigger Labour’s new leadership selection rules for the first time, giving votes to party members and affiliated unions, as well as MPs.
Gallery The most likely contenders are David Cunliffe and Grant Robertson; both have said they will decide over the next few days whether to run.
Mr Cunliffe said Mr Shearer’s decision had come as a surprise and he did not know what had prompted him to believe he had lost the confidence of his caucus. “We respect he has come to a decision he believes is in the best interests of the Labour Party.”
Mr Robertson said he had been a loyal deputy to Mr Shearer, and had supported him throughout his 20 months as leader. “Everybody in the caucus, as everybody in the wider Labour Party, would like to see us doing better in the polls and David has obviously reflected on that. He made his own decision.”
Andrew Little would not rule out seeking the leadership, but because he is a first-term MP he may be wary of making the run before he is ready. Shane Jones is also unlikely to contest it because he believes he would not get the support. David Parker and Phil Goff both ruled it out.
Labour MPs yesterday said they were saddened by Mr Shearer’s decision, and described him as a man of integrity who had done his best. But none said he had made the wrong decision.”
I really should not go read the herald. Big story about the number of women on the DPB(now called something else) dropping and somehow we should thank Nact? Reprinted press release by the look of it. Do they have to be so uncritical?
Could it perhaps have something to do with the demographics of an aging population meaning fewer people in that age group?
Or possibly women(who are much more likely to be on the DPB) no longer attempting to look after the kids because its nearly impossible at the current levels of harassment.
And more boasting about fewer teen parents on benefits- no mention of whether the birthrate for this category has fallen or whether they are simply not receiving any money- which should be a huge concern for everyone.
This film presents a huge social problem called technological unemployment. Whilst doing so, the film also presents two potential solutions to this major social issue. The transitional path described in the film concerns a transition towards a job guarantee program of environmentally sustainable, socially and scientifically beneficial jobs through a public service program organised by the government, coupled with an eventual transition towards an Unconditional Basic Income.
Happens I’m sort of watching The Graham Norton Show right now. TV3. 9.10 pm Thursday. Hugh Grant and two other very appealing guests.
Does this resonate with anyone ? Paul Henry, world famous in New Zealand apparently, is a MUCH less entertaining, MUCH less bright, MUCH more viperish, Graham Norton rip-off.
Yeah. And Henry’s what we’ve gotta be satisfied with. Yeah ? Really ?
Oh this is fucked, pretensious, Auckland New Zealand then. Snotty wee narcissist Henry. The self proclaimed Prince of the Media. Jeez-uz !
PS – Graham Norton has a considerable and oft-paraded distaste for Hoorah Henry David Cameron. Which is excellent.
Speed learning on today’s economics with Mark Blyth – The Austerity Delusion – in an attractive Scottish brogue.
And it’s condensed so there is more economics and wall charts than from your average lecturer in only 22 minutes. You will be surprised and amazed and you will almost understand what Treasury is thinking, and you may be able to replace one of those useless theories of a human being who if they were truly competitive and efficient, would have tenders for their jobs and therefore cost us half the salary burden.
And you will love him if you are a leftie. He was brought up in Dundee, Scotland by his grandmother and went to school there when schools still worked, and there were opportunities for work also in those days. And so welfare made this guy, plus mothering skills, and now he is an Ivy-league professor in the USA. That’s how the system was supposed to work with social mobility, he says, but now it doesn’t – it’s broken.
Health authorities in Norway are reporting some concerns about deaths in frail elderly after receiving their COVID-19 vaccine. Is this causally related to the vaccine? Probably not but here are the things to consider. According to the news there have been 23 deaths in Norway shortly after vaccine administration and ...
Happy New Year! No, experts are not concerned that “…one of New Zealand’s COIVD-1( vaccines will fail to protect the country” Here is why. But first I wish to issue an expletive about this journalism (First in Australia and then in NZ). It exhibits utter failure to actually truly consult ...
All nations have shadows; some acknowledge them. For others they shape their image in uncomfortable ways.The staunch Labour supporter was in despair at what her Rogernomics Government was doing. But she finished ‘at least, we got rid of Muldoon’, a response which tells us that then, and today, one’s views ...
Grigori GuitchountsIn November, Springer Nature, one of the world’s largest publishers of scientific journals, made an attention-grabbing announcement: More than 30 of its most prestigious journals, including the flagship Nature, will now allow authors to pay a fee of US$11,390 to make their papers freely available for anyone to read ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Gary Yohe, Henry Jacoby, Richard Richels, and Benjamin Santer Imagine a major climate change law passing the U.S. Congress unanimously? Don’t bother. It turns out that you don’t need to imagine it. Get this: The Global Change Research Act of 1990 was passed ...
“They’re here already! You’re next! You’re next! You’re next!”WHO CAN FORGET the penultimate scene of the 1956 movie classic, Invasion of the Body Snatchers? The wild-eyed doctor, stumbling down the highway, trying desperately to warn his fellow citizens: “They’re here already! You’re next! You’re next! You’re next!”Ostensibly science-fiction, the movie ...
TheOneRing.Net has got its paws on the official synopsis of the upcoming Amazon Tolkien TV series. It’s a development that brings to mind the line about Sauron deliberately releasing Gollum from the dungeons of Barad-dûr. Amazon knew exactly what they were doing here, in terms of drumming up publicity: ...
Since Dwight Eisenhower’s inauguration in 1953, US presidents have joined an informal club intended to provide support - and occasionally rivalry - between those few who have been ‘leaders of the free world’. Donald Trump, elected on a promise to ‘drain the swamp’ and a constant mocker of his predecessors, ...
For over a decade commentators have noted the rise of a new brand of explicitly ideological politics throughout the world. By this they usually refer to the re-emergence of national populism and avowedly illiberal approaches to governance throughout the “advanced” democratic community, but they also extend the thought to the ...
The US House of Representatives has just impeached Donald Trump, giving him the dubious honour of being the only US President to be impeached twice. Ten Republicans voted for impeachement, making it the most bipartisan impeachment ever. The question now is whether the Senate will rise to the occasion, and ...
Kieren Mitchell; Alice Mouton, Université de Liège; Angela Perri, Durham University, and Laurent Frantz, Ludwig Maximilian University of MunichThanks to the hit television series Game of Thrones, the dire wolf has gained a near-mythical status. But it was a real animal that roamed the Americas for at least 250,000 ...
Tide of tidal data rises Having cast our own fate to include rising sea level, there's a degree of urgency in learning the history of mean sea level in any given spot, beyond idle curiosity. Sea level rise (SLR) isn't equal from one place to another and even at a particular ...
Well, some of those chickens sure came home bigly, didn’t they… and proceeded to shit all over the nice carpet in the Capitol. What we were seeing here are societal forces that have long had difficulty trying to reconcile people to the “idea” of America and the reality of ...
In the wake of Donald Trump's incitement of an assault on the US capitol, Twitter finally enforced its terms of service and suspended his account. They've since followed that up with action against prominent QAnon accounts and Trumpers, including in New Zealand. I'm not unhappy with this: Trump regularly violated ...
Peter S. Ross, University of British ColumbiaThe Arctic has long proven to be a barometer of the health of our planet. This remote part of the world faces unprecedented environmental assaults, as climate change and industrial chemicals threaten a way of life for Inuit and other Indigenous and northern ...
Susan St John makes the case for taxing a deemed rate of return on excessive real estate holdings (after a family home exemption), to redirect scarce housing resources to where they are needed most. Read the full article here ...
I’m less than convinced by arguments that platforms like Twitter should be subject to common carrier regulation preventing them from being able to decide who to keep on as clients of their free services, and who they would not like to serve. It’s much easier to create competition for the ...
The hypocritical actions of political leaders throughout the global Covid pandemic have damaged public faith in institutions and governance. Liam Hehir chronicles the way in which contemporary politicians have let down the public, and explains how real leadership means walking the talk. During the Blitz, when German bombs were ...
Over the years, we've published many rebuttals, blog posts and graphics which came about due to direct interactions with the scientists actually carrying out the underlying research or being knowledgable about a topic in general. We'll highlight some of these interactions in this blog post. We'll start with two memorable ...
Yesterday we had the unseemly sight of a landleech threatening to keep his houses empty in response to better tenancy laws. Meanwhile in Catalonia they have a solution for that: nationalisation: Barcelona is deploying a new weapon in its quest to increase the city’s available rental housing: the power ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters, PhD The 2020 global wildfire season brought extreme fire activity to the western U.S., Australia, the Arctic, and Brazil, making it the fifth most expensive year for wildfire losses on record. The year began with an unprecedented fire event ...
NOTE: This is an excerpt from a digital story – read the full story here.Tess TuxfordKo te Kauri Ko Au, Ko te Au ko Kauri I am the kauri, the kauri is me Te Roroa proverb In Waipoua Forest, at the top of the North Island, New ...
Story of the Week... Toon of the Week... Coming Soon on SkS... Poster of the Week... SkS Week in Review... Story of the Week... Coming attraction: IPCC's upcoming major climate assessmentLook for more emphasis on 'solutions,' efforts by cities, climate equity ... and outlook for emissions cuts in ...
Ringing A Clear Historical Bell: The extraordinary images captured in and around the US Capitol Building on 6 January 2021 mirror some of the worst images of America's past.THERE IS A SCENE in the 1982 movie Missing which has remained with me for nearly 40 years. Directed by the Greek-French ...
To impact or not to impeach? I understand why some of those who are justifiably aghast at Trump’s behaviour over recent days might still counsel against impeaching him for a second time. To impeach him, they argue, would run the risk of making him a martyr in the eyes of ...
The Capitol Building, Washington DC, Wednesday, 6 January 2021. Oh come, my little one, come.The day is almost done.Be at my side, behold the sightOf evening on the land.The life, my love, is hardAnd heavy is my heart.How should I live if you should leaveAnd we should be apart?Come, let me ...
A chronological listing of news articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Jan 3, 2021 through Sat, Jan 9, 2021Editor's ChoiceAfter the Insurrection: Accountability, Reform, and the Science of Democracy The poisonous lies and enablers of sedition--including Senator Hawley, pictured ...
This article, guest authored by Prof. Angela Gallego-Sala & Dr. Julie Loisel, was originally published on the Carbon Brief website on Dec 21, 2020. It is reposted below in its entirety. Click here to access the original article and comments. Peatlands Peatlands are ecosystems unlike any other. Perpetually saturated, their ...
The assault on the US Capitol and constitutional crisis that it has caused was telegraphed, predictable and yet unexpected and confusing. There are several subplots involved: whether the occupation of the Michigan State House in May was a trial run for the attacks on Congress; whether people involved in the ...
On Christmas Eve, child number 1 spotted a crack in a window. It’s a double-glazed window, and inspection showed that the small, horizontal crack was in the outermost pane. It was perpendicular to the frame, about three-quarters of the way up one side. The origins are a mystery. It MIGHT ...
Anne-Marie Broudehoux, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)Will the COVID-19 pandemic prompt a shift to healthier cities that focus on wellness rather than functional and economic concerns? This is a hypothesis that seems to be supported by several researchers around the world. In many ways, containment and physical distancing ...
Does the US need to strike a grand bargain with like-minded countries to pool their efforts? What does this tell us about today’s global politics? Perhaps the most remarkable editorial of last year was the cover leader of the London Economist on 19 November 2020. Shortly after Joe Biden was ...
Alexander Gillespie, University of Waikato and Valmaine Toki, University of WaikatoAotearoa New Zealand likes to think it punches above its weight internationally, but there is one area where we are conspicuously falling behind — the number of sites recognised by the UNESCO World Heritage Convention. Globally, there are 1,121 ...
An event organised by the Auckland PhilippinesSolidarity group Have a three-course lunch at Nanam Eatery with us! Help support the organic farming of our Lumad communities through the Mindanao Community School Agricultural Foundation. Each ticket is $50. Food will be served on shared plates. To purchase, please email phsolidarity@gmail.com or ...
"Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here." Prisons are places of unceasing emotional and physical violence, unrelieved despair and unforgivable human waste.IT WAS NATIONAL’S Bill English who accurately described New Zealand’s prisons as “fiscal and moral failures”. On the same subject, Labour’s Dr Martyn Findlay memorably suggested that no prison ...
This is a re-post from Inside Climate News by Ilana Cohen. Inside Climate News is a nonprofit, independent news organization that covers climate, energy and the environment. Sign up for the ICN newsletter here. Whether or not people accept the science on Covid-19 and climate change, both global crises will have lasting impacts on health and ...
. . American Burlesque As I write this (Wednesday evening, 6 January), the US Presidential election is all but resolved, confirming Joe Biden as the next President of the (Dis-)United State of America. Trump’s turbulent political career has lasted just four years – one of the few single-term US presidents ...
The session started off so well. Annalax – suitably chastised – spent a pleasant morning with his new girlfriend (he would say paramour, of course, but for our purposes, girlfriend is easier*). He told her about Waking World Drow, and their worship of Her Ladyship. And he started ...
In a recent column I wrote for local newspapers, I ventured to suggest that Donald Trump – in addition to being a liar and a cheat, and sexist and racist – was a fascist in the making and would probably try, if he were to lose the election, to defy ...
When I was preparing for my School C English exam I knew I needed some quotes to splash through my essays. But remembering lines was never my strong point, so I tended to look for the low-hanging fruit. We’d studied Shakespeare’s King Lear that year and perhaps the lowest hanging ...
When I went to bed last night, I was expecting today to be eventful. A lot of pouting in Congress as last-ditch Trumpers staged bad-faith "objections" to a democratic election, maybe some rioting on the streets of Washington DC from angry Trump supporters. But I wasn't expecting anything like an ...
Melted ice of the past answers question today? Kate Ashley and a large crew of coauthors wind back the clock to look at Antarctic sea ice behavior in times gone by, in Mid-Holocene Antarctic sea-ice increase driven by marine ice sheet retreat. For armchair scientists following the Antarctic sea ice situation, something jumps out in ...
Christina SzalinskiWhen Martha Field became pregnant in 2005, a singular fear weighed on her mind. Not long before, as a Cornell University graduate student researching how genes and nutrients interact to cause disease, she had seen images of unborn mouse pups smaller than her pinkie nail, some with ...
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidates for President and Vice President respectively for the US 2020 Election, may have dispensed with the erstwhile nemesis, Trump the candidate – but there are numerous critical openings through which much, much worse many out there may yet see fit to ...
I don’t know Taupō well. Even though I stop off there from time to time, I’m always on the way to somewhere else. Usually Taupō means making a hot water puddle in the gritty sand followed by a swim in the lake, noticing with bemusement and resignation the traffic, the ...
Frances Williams, King’s College LondonFor most people, infection with SARS-CoV-2 – the virus that causes COVID-19 – leads to mild, short-term symptoms, acute respiratory illness, or possibly no symptoms at all. But some people have long-lasting symptoms after their infection – this has been dubbed “long COVID”. Scientists are ...
Last night, a British court ruled that Julian Assange cannot be extradited to the US. Unfortunately, its not because all he is "guilty" of is journalism, or because the offence the US wants to charge him with - espionage - is of an inherently political nature; instead the judge accepted ...
Is the Gender Identity Movement a movement for human liberation, or is it a regressive movement which undermines women’s liberation and promotes sexist stereotypes? Should biological males be allowed to play in women’s sport, use women-only spaces (public toilets, changing rooms, other facilities), be able to have access to everything ...
Ian Whittaker, Nottingham Trent University and Gareth Dorrian, University of BirminghamSpace exploration achieved several notable firsts in 2020 despite the COVID-19 pandemic, including commercial human spaceflight and returning samples of an asteroid to Earth. The coming year is shaping up to be just as interesting. Here are some of ...
Michael Head, University of SouthamptonThe UK has become the first country to authorise the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for public use, with roll-out to start in the first week of 2021. This vaccine is the second to be authorised in the UK – following the Pfizer vaccine. The British government ...
So, Boris Johnson has been footering about in hospitals again. We should be grateful, perhaps, that on this occasion the Clown-in-Chief is only (probably) getting in the way and causing distractions, rather than taking up a bed, vital equipment and resources and adding more strain and danger to exhausted staff.Look at ...
Story of the Week... Toon of the Week... SkS in the News... Coming Soon on SkS... Poster of the Week... SkS Week in Review... Story of the Week... Many Scientists Now Say Global Warming Could Stop Relatively Quickly After Emissions Go to ZeroThat’s one of several recent ...
The situation in the UK is looking catastrophic.Cases: over *70,000* people who were tested in England on 29th December tested positive. This is *not* because there were more tests on that day. It *is* 4 days after Christmas though, around when people who caught Covid on Christmas Day might start ...
by Don Franks For five days over New Year weekend, sixteen prisoners in the archaic pre WW1 block of Waikeria Prison defied authorities by setting fires and occupying the building’s roof. They eventually agreed to surrender after intervention from Maori party co-leader Rawiri Waititi. A message from the protesting men had stated: ...
Lost Opportunity: The powerful political metaphor of the Maori Party leading the despised and marginalised from danger to safety, is one Labour could have pre-empted by taking the uprising at Waikeria Prison much more seriously. AS WORD OF Rawiri Waititi’s successful intervention in the Waikeria Prison stand-off spreads, the Maori ...
Dear friends, it’s been a covidious year,A testing time for all of us here—Citizens of an island nationIn a state of managed isolation,A team (someone said) five million strong,Making it up as we went along:Somehow in typical Kiwi fashion,Without any wild excess ...
A chronological listing of news articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Dec 27, 2020 through Sat, Jan 2, 2021Editor's Choice7 Graphics That Show Why the Arctic Is in Trouble Arctic Sea Ice: NSIDC It’s no secret that the Arctic is ...
One of the books I read in 2020 was She, by H. Rider Haggard (1887). I thoroughly enjoyed it, as being an exemplar of a good old-fashioned adventure story. I also noted with amusement ...
Scottish doctor Malcolm Kendrick looks at the pandemic and the responses to it 30th December 2020 I have not written much about COVID19 recently. What can be said? In my opinion the world has simply gone bonkers. The best description can be found in Dante’s Inferno, written many hundreds of ...
I notice a few regulars no longer allow public access to the site counters. This may happen accidentally when the blog format is altered. If your blog is unexpectedly missing or the numbers seem very low please check this out. After correcting send me the URL for your ...
The deed is done, the doers undoneHad I been a Brit, I would have voted ‘Remain’ rather than Brexit (or ‘Leave’). Instead, I have been bemused by the comic theatre of British politics, fascinated by what the Brits actual think and professionally interested by the revelations of the complexity of ...
As we welcome in the new year, our focus is on continuing to keep New Zealanders safe and moving forward with our economic recovery. There’s a lot to get on with, but before we say a final goodbye to 2020, here’s a quick look back at some of the milestones ...
The Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern and the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands Mark Brown have announced passengers from the Cook Islands can resume quarantine-free travel into New Zealand from 21 January, enabling access to essential services such as health. “Following confirmation of the Cook Islands’ COVID ...
Jobs for Nature funding is being made available to conservation groups and landowners to employ staff and contractors in a move aimed at boosting local biodiversity-focused projects, Conservation Minister Kiritapu Allan has announced. It is estimated some 400-plus jobs will be created with employment opportunities in ecology, restoration, trapping, ...
The Government has approved an exception class for 1000 international tertiary students, degree level and above, who began their study in New Zealand but were caught offshore when border restrictions began. The exception will allow students to return to New Zealand in stages from April 2021. “Our top priority continues ...
Today’s deal between Meridian and Rio Tinto for the Tiwai smelter to remain open another four years provides time for a managed transition for Southland. “The deal provides welcome certainty to the Southland community by protecting jobs and incomes as the region plans for the future. The Government is committed ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has appointed Anna Curzon to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). The leader of each APEC economy appoints three private sector representatives to ABAC. ABAC provides advice to leaders annually on business priorities. “ABAC helps ensure that APEC’s work programme is informed by business community perspectives ...
The Government’s prudent fiscal management and strong policy programme in the face of the COVID-19 global pandemic have been acknowledged by the credit rating agency Fitch. Fitch has today affirmed New Zealand’s local currency rating at AA+ with a stable outlook and foreign currency rating at AA with a positive ...
The Government is putting in place a suite of additional actions to protect New Zealand from COVID-19, including new emerging variants, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “Given the high rates of infection in many countries and evidence of the global spread of more transmissible variants, it’s clear that ...
$36 million of Government funding alongside councils and others for 19 projects Investment will clean up and protect waterways and create local jobs Boots on the ground expected in Q2 of 2021 Funding part of the Jobs for Nature policy package A package of 19 projects will help clean up ...
The commemoration of the 175th anniversary of the Battle of Ruapekapeka represents an opportunity for all New Zealanders to reflect on the role these conflicts have had in creating our modern nation, says Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Kiri Allan. “The Battle at Te Ruapekapeka Pā, which took ...
Babies born with tongue-tie will be assessed and treated consistently under new guidelines released by the Ministry of Health, Associate Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. Around 5% to 10% of babies are born with a tongue-tie, or ankyloglossia, in New Zealand each year. At least half can ...
The prisoner disorder event at Waikeria Prison is over, with all remaining prisoners now safely and securely detained, Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis says. The majority of those involved in the event are members of the Mongols and Comancheros. Five of the men are deportees from Australia, with three subject to ...
Travellers from the United Kingdom or the United States bound for New Zealand will be required to get a negative test result for COVID-19 before departing, and work is underway to extend the requirement to other long haul flights to New Zealand, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed today. “The new PCR test requirement, foreshadowed last ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has added her warm congratulations to the New Zealanders recognised for their contributions to their communities and the country in the New Year 2021 Honours List. “The past year has been one that few of us could have imagined. In spite of all the things that ...
Attorney-General and Minister for the Environment David Parker has congratulated two retired judges who have had their contributions to the country and their communities recognised in the New Year 2021 Honours list. The Hon Tony Randerson QC has been appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for ...
Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio says the New Year’s Honours List 2021 highlights again the outstanding contribution made by Pacific people across Aotearoa. “We are acknowledging the work of 13 Pacific leaders in the New Year’s Honours, representing a number of sectors including health, education, community, sports, the ...
The Government’s investment in digital literacy training for seniors has led to more than 250 people participating so far, helping them stay connected. “COVID-19 has meant older New Zealanders are showing more interest in learning how to use technology like Zoom and Skype so they can to keep in touch ...
New virus variants and ongoing high rates of diseases in some countries prompt additional border protections Extra (day zero or day one) test to be in place this week New ways of reducing risk before people embark on travel being investigated, including pre-departure testing for people leaving the United Kingdom ...
Lucy Revill’s The Residents is a blog about daily life in Wellington that has morphed into a stylish, low-key coffee-table book featuring interviews and photographic portraits of 38 Wellingtonians. In this extract, Revill profiles Eboni Waitere, owner and executive director of Huia Publishers. The Residents features names like Monique Fiso ...
Pacific Media Watch correspondent The pro-independence conflict in West Papua with a missionary plane reportedly being shot down at Intan Jaya has stirred contrasting responses from the TNI/POLRI state sources, church leaders and an independence leader. A shooting caused a plane to catch fire on 6 January 2021 in the ...
“Last year ACT warned that rewarding protestors at Ihumātao with taxpayer money would promote further squatting. We just didn’t think it would happen as quickly as it is in Shelly Bay” says ACT Leader David Seymour. “The prosperity of all ...
Our kindly PM registered her return to work as leader of the nation with yet another statement on the Beehive website, the second in two days (following her appointment of Anna Curzon to the APEC Business Advisory Council on Wednesday). It’s great to know we don’t have to check with ...
A Pūhoi pub is refusing to remove a piece of memorabilia bearing the n-word from its walls. Dr Lachy Paterson looks at the history of the word here, and New Zealand’s complicity in Britain’s shameful slave trading past.Content warning: This article contains racist language and images.On a pub wall in ...
Supermarket shoppers looking for citrus are seeing a sour trend at the moment – some stores are entirely tapped out of lemons. But why? Batches of homemade lemonade will be taking a hit this summer, with life not giving New Zealand shoppers lemons. Prices are high at supermarkets and grocers that ...
You’re born either a cheery soul or a gloomy one, reckons Linda Burgess – but what happens when gene pools from opposite ends of the spectrum collide?In our shoeboxes of photos that we have to sort out before we die or get demented – because who IS that kid on ...
Summer reissue: Prisoner voting rights are something that few in government seem particularly motivated to do anything about. Could a catchy charity single help draw attention to the issue?First published September 1, 2020.Independent journalism depends on you. Help us stay curious in 2021. The Spinoff’s journalism is funded by its ...
Hundreds more Cook Islanders are expected to begin criss-crossing the Pacific, Air NZ will triple the number of flights to Rarotonga next week, and about 300 managed isolation places will be freed up for Kiwis returning from other parts of the world. When Thomas Tarurongo Wynne took a job in Wellington at ...
SPECIAL REPORT:By Ena Manuireva in Auckland It seems a long time ago – some 124 days – since Mā’ohi Nui deplored its first covid-19 related deaths of an elderly woman on 11 September 2020 followed by her husband just hours later, both over the age of 80. The local ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Turnbull, Postdoctoral research associate, UNSW A global coalition of more than 50 countries have this week pledged to protect over 30% of the planet’s lands and seas by the end of this decade. Their reasoning is clear: we need greater protection ...
The Reserve Bank Governor’s apology and claim he will ‘own the issue’ is laughable given the lack of answers and timing of its release. Jordan Williams, a spokesman for the Taxpayers’ Union said: “It’s been five days since they came clean, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Olga Kokshagina, Researcher – Innovation & Entrepreneurship, RMIT University Are too many online meetings and notifications getting you down? Online communication tools – from email to virtual chat and video-conferencing – have transformed the way we work. In many respects they’ve made ...
The Reserve Bank acknowledges information about some of its stakeholders may have been breached in a malicious data hack. The Governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand has commissioned an independent inquiry into how stakeholders' information was compromised when hackers breached a file sharing service used by the bank. “We ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Caitlin Syme, PhD in Vertebrate Palaeontology, The University of Queensland This story contains spoilers for Ammonite Palaeontologist Mary Anning is known for discovering a multitude of Jurassic fossils from Lyme Regis on England’s Dorset Coast from the age of ten in 1809. ...
A tribute to the sitcoms of old? In the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Yup. Sam Brooks reviews the audacious WandaVision.Nothing sends a chill up my spine like the phrase “Marvel Cinematic Universe”. Since launching in 2008 with Iron Man, the MCU has become a shambling behemoth, with over 23 films (not ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Corbould, Associate Professor, Contemporary Histories Research Group, Deakin University The alt-right, QAnon, paramilitary and Donald Trump-supporting mob that stormed the US Capitol on January 6 claimed they were only doing what the so-called “founding fathers” of the US had done in ...
The Point of Order Ministerial Workload Watchdog and our ever-vigilant Trough Monitor were both triggered yesterday by an item of news from the office of Conservation Minister Kititapu Allan. The minister was drawing attention to new opportunities to dip into the Jobs for Nature programme (and her statement was the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andreas Kupz, Senior Research Fellow, James Cook University In July 1921, a French infant became the first person to receive an experimental vaccine against tuberculosis (TB), after the mother had died from the disease. The vaccine, known as Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG), is ...
The first Friday Poem for 2021 is by Wellington poet Rebecca Hawkes.While you were partying I studied the bladeI your ever-loving edgelord God-emperorof the bot army & bitcoin mine subsistingon an IV drip of gamer girl bathwaterfinally my lonelinessis your responsibility………. you seeI need a girlfriend assigned to me by the ...
The arming of police officers in Canterbury was inevitable with the growing numbers and brazenness of the gangs across the country – this should be a permanent step, says Sensible Sentencing Trust. “It is unfortunate that we have come to the point ...
Celebrations in Aotearoa New Zealand to mark the entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) will begin on Thursday 21 January with ICAN Aotearoa New Zealand’s Wellington and online event, and continue on Friday ...
Hardly anyone is using their Covid Tracer app. Something needs to change.As the mercury approaches 30°C in Aotearoa, there is a good deal of slipping and slopping, but, let’s face it, piss-all scanning. As few as around 500,000 QR codes are being scanned by users of the NZ Covid Tracer ...
On the East Coast, a group of Māori-owned enterprises is innovating to create new revenue streams while doing what they love.New Zealand’s remote and sparsely populated regions are typically not the best places to create thriving brick-and-mortar businesses. In small communities miles away from any major centres, there are so ...
As we reach the height of summer, it’s not too late to do a safety check on your gas bottle. The Environmental Protection Authority’s Safer Homes programme has some tips and tricks to keep in mind before you fire up the grill. "If you’ve ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1Troy: The Siege of Troy Retold by Stephen Fry (Michael Joseph, $37)If you’re in any way unsure about ...
“We may as well knock on the gang headquarters around this country and tell them we all give up," says Darroch Ball co-leader of Sensible Sentencing Trust. “It is simply outrageous that violent offender, James Tuwhangai, has been released from ...
Analysis by Keith Rankin. Ireland, Israel, and Lebanon. Chart by Keith Rankin. The countries with the most recent large outbreaks of Covid19 are those with large numbers of recent recorded cases, but yet to record the deaths that most likely will result. In this camp, this time, are Ireland, Israel ...
RuPaul is in Aotearoa, kicking back in managed isolation to await the filming of an Australasian version of her hugely popular reality show Drag Race. But not everyone is happy about, explains Eli Matthewson. The world’s most famous drag queen, RuPaul, is in New Zealand, the government confirmed earlier this week ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Melleuish, Professor, School of Humanities and Social Inquiry, University of Wollongong What can we make of Clive Palmer? This week, he announced his United Australia Party (UAP) would not contest the upcoming West Australian state election on March 13. After a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gisela Kaplan, Emeritus Professor in Animal Behaviour, University of New England Have you ever seenmagpies play-fighting with one another, or rolling around in high spirits? Or an apostlebird running at full speed with a stick in its beak, chased by a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jen Jackson, Program Director, Centre for Policy Development, and Associate Professor of Education, Mitchell Institute, Victoria University Childcare centres across Australia are suffering staff shortages, which have been exacerbated by the COVID crisis. Many childcare workers across Australia left when parents started ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonathan Barrett, Senior Lecturer in Taxation, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Rhetoric plays an important role in tax debate and therefore tax policy. If your side manages to gain traction in the public imagination with labels such as “death ...
*This article was first published on The Conversation and is republished with permission* Whoever leads the Republican Party post-Trump will need to consider how they will maintain the rabid support of his “base”, while working to regain more moderate voters who defected from the party in the 2020 election. In a historic ...
Covid-19 fears accelerated banks’ moves towards cashless transactions. But the Reserve Bank is fighting to protect cash, and those who still use it. ...
Good morning and welcome to this one-off edition of The Bulletin, covering major stories from the last few weeks.A quick preamble to this: Today’s special edition of The Bulletin is all about filling you in on some of the stories you might have missed over the summer period. Perhaps you had ...
Summer reissue: In this episode of Bad News, Alice Snedden is forced to confront her own mortality before hosting a very special dinner party to get to grips with the euthanasia debate.First published August 27, 2020.Independent journalism depends on you. Help us stay curious in 2021. The Spinoff’s journalism is ...
The contrast between the words of John F Kennedy and today’s anti-democratic demagogue is inescapable, writes Dolores Janiewski I still remember three eloquent speeches by an American president. One happened in January 1961 and spoke about a “torch being passed to a new generation”. Two years later and one day apart, ...
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WikiLeaks Publishes TPP Intellectual Property Chapter
Prolonging suffering just so a few people can be richer.
I had a quick read Draco, I have to say, and I am a legal layman but it seemed there were clauses in their that allowed any country to protect it’s health and citizens concerning medications, as a get out clause to allow meds, IDNK but reading the pdf it looked like a load of complicated clauses that could employ some hard up legal beagles struggling to survive on a low income many years of high earnings in the name of clarifying a paragraph or ten.
Why do they make this crap so flaming unintelligible. I mean seriously heard of English?
Everything is copyrighted, unless it’s a life or death matter. Pretty simple stuff really.
They should get me to do it. I’d be freaking brilliant.
Remember, none of this is written up for the sake of clarity or ‘free markets.’ It is there to generate a lot of grey areas for corporations to move in, and to obscure any possibility of moral or ethical discussions under a tonne of technicalities.
plus one…
Just take a look at the language: ‘Free trade’ or ‘Free Markets’
Trade is something that involves exchange and, in this day and age, involves money. i.e there is nothing ‘free’ about trade.
The use of the word ‘free’ is a contradictory term. It is contradictory to the nature of the subject, and this contradiction indicates propaganda is involved i.e. manipulation of people’s attitudes on the subject is present.
Plus, why would a free trade agreement require anything more than a few A4 sheets of paper? I agree that you can sell your stuff in my country and vice versa. What requires thousands of pages of documents?
Not even a pretence of true free trade, actually.
Arranging a free-for-all for those who already have plenty, involves complexity due to having to work out how to by-pass any sound and principled protections built into a given country’s laws, is my guess. 🙂
That and making sure that the power elite in each country are treated fairly and equitably by the power elite in other countries. For ordinary people – sorry.
just like the word “aspiration” being manipulated by RWNJs
+1 Yes, surely what they really should be saying is ‘exasperation’ 🙂
Go on, say “big pharma”. You know you want to. You antivaxxers can’t resist it.
is that another of those ‘labels’..that isn’t really true..?
..what wd u prefer in its’ place..?
..how about ‘blood-sucking-vampires’..?
We won a seat at the UN, Is that good or bad? IDNK, however I expect we will create more deaths under John Key than ever before. What will our contribution be? To side with the USA as puppies of Obama or to stand tall and make the right calls independent of other countries interests time will tell I suppose.
But if Key starts chasing and killing for oil, Keys days will be numbered, I and the rest of the country will be kicking him to the kerb if we are grouped responsible for innocent deaths in the name of oil flow by a psychopathic liar.
Be aware Key, be very fucking aware.
PS…. 2017, if you don’t vote National we will lose the UN seat, wait for it folks wait for the media bias.
It’s a two year term
Yay we won but colour me cynical.
A good reason to check out The Herald every now and then … Dita De Boni on NZ’s independence.
Dita is right on the mark, on all points.
The bitter irony, NZ is being sold on what we used to be (fairness, egalitarianism, a fair go) before the same people now selling it off began destroying those very qualities. Similarly for our Independence.
Dita de Boni
A rare independent voice
.
Stuff: Little noses ahead (by Vernon Small)
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10627075/Little-noses-ahead-in-Labour-race
What a load of rubbish. Vernon may very well be right. He has at least 25% chance of that. And Little is indeed a popular candidate.
But lets face it, this is just another example of lazy journalism. And we should pull the media up on these lazy stories, even if Little happens to be the candidate you are supporting. (Next time, there is as much chance that their lazy idle speculations will pick somebody you don’t support).
I want to see the evidence for Small’s assertions. It’s not written as an opinion: eg “I think Little has the greatest chance of winning” It’s stated that “Little noses ahead” Oh really? How exactly was this measured? By how many percentage points Vernon?
When you read Small’s article, I have a strong suspicion that Small has simply fished comments from the Standard. It’s a compliment to the Standard if that is true, but still not a process that I support, unless the source for what he says is specified.
Otherwise I could suggest, with the same level of accuracy: “Vernon Small produces worst political report for 17 October by 7.85%”
Journalism is dead in the MSM in this country.
Some journos are getting it right.
We have to remember that most journos don’t want to suicide their careers, and also that it is the editors and subs who come up with the actual headlines etc.
Yes, and this leads back to the issue over government policies that create joblessness. It makes people much more compliant when they know they will have difficulty replacing their job.
I really do view wealth disparity and joblessness as the biggest issues that need addressing – nothing else is able to change, or function heathily, until there is less concentration of power.
And this is the nub, isn’t it. Why would people who have the power and leverage today, allow that power to be distributed? They wouldn’t, of course. If anything, they want it further concentrated, into fewer and fewer hands: theirs.
This also speaks directly to issues of underemployment and low pay. Encouraging masses of working class and under class to be more engaged in society, and giving them adequate financial resources to do it with, goes right against the principle of concentrating power.
+1 I don’t suppose you saw that program on Prime about British Manor Houses last night?
It was rather a surprise because it didn’t solely focus on mansions, it went through a quick history of the state of Britain leading up to World War I, and, oh boy, were there very pointed comments about the effects of concentration of wealth.
Was a very good program. Well worth the watch.
Ahhh missed that one will have to keep an eye out for it.
I don’t even know if it is a series or not (tend to randomly switch on & watch stuff)- it was on after ‘Downton Abbey’
One thing I didn’t know was that the British Parliament, when trying to bring in policies to address the serious wealth disparity, kept being blocked by the House of Lords and that the King/Queen of the time ended up allowing them to be by-passed.
It is so interesting that those in privilege will actively block others’ from even semi-decent improvement in their conditions.
I view this is what is happening in NZ. There are many people that are comfortable and they are refusing to allow even small gains for those who are not comfortable.
I am so ashamed and disgusted by my fellow NZers at the moment.
One could even go so far as saying ‘I’m sorry for being a New Zealander’. 😉
Haha you so crack me up 😀
🙂
I view this is what is happening in NZ. There are many people that are comfortable and they are refusing to allow even small gains for those who are not comfortable.
I am so ashamed and disgusted by my fellow NZers at the moment.
if many more people got to own houses, what will happen to my rental property portfolio! no!!! i worked hard and i take responsibility for my hard earned wealth. those other people should take responsibility for their miserable state.
+1 Kiwiri Exactly [& yuck!]
@ melancholy large-cat..
i thought it was a ripper of a doco..
..one of those ones where you walk away with a more nuanced/complete view..the mark of a good doco..
..it told you more than multi-boxed sets of that soap that preceeded it ever could..
..and wasn’t that soap so fucken boring..?
..i reached the stage where i welcomed the fire..
..hoping it wd burn the whole turgid mess to the ground..
..alas..no..
lol!
Secrets of the Manor House
This one?
Yes, that looks like it! Wow it is on youtube – I recommend watching it!
At least Vernon signed it. Puts him streets ahead of the “anonymous editorial” crowd.
He includes this comment/ quote:
Parker said it would be a competitive race. ‘‘You can’t have a competition without competition, but that’s not to say that it has to be war without guns.’’
no one can possibly know who is ahead, except if they have polled caucus, and then they can ONLY claim to know how caucus will go.
exactly
New Zealand.
For sale.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11343693
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11343791
Oh great, NZers to become even worse off as international money flows even faster into NZ.
Conversely, the threat of capital flight gets strengthened in the face of any policy being proposed that does not privilege the speculators and super rich.
Kiwiri Raided 11.42
Good point. Easy in , easy out. GIGO.
Also open season on state housing
Probably not as bad as this lot …no?
“We can sell to anybody,” Mr English said
It’s what they do best.
Not “Working for NZ”. Rather, “Selling Out NZ” !
Are State houses not classified as assets?
Prior to the election Key categorically stated that there would be ‘no more asset sales’ in his third term.
Just another untruth ?
@ wyndham…
..yes..
..you can put that one on the shelf next to his pre-election promises not to take us into yet another long-war in the middle east..
Or his promise not to raise GST.
if we do last term..we will have to call in blip…
Note that in the US, investment banks and billion dollar hedge funds have already become slum lords, buying up masses of distressed and abandoned properties, turning themselves into a corporate landlord class.
Well Joseph Parkers boxing career has limitations .That is quite clear after his points decision against a short,old journeyman.Hate to see him against a real international pro.
And the scaremongering begins….
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11343734
Now did NZ get the seat for being good a good little puppy, By just sitting there and getting it’s head patted by it’s master?
Oh, FFS, now ISIS has chemical weapons left over from Iraq that the US conveniently forgot to remove after not finding any?
+1 DTB The lunatics have well and truly taken over the asylum.
We should definitely head into Iraq again with the USA, this time they’ve got the Iraq plan properly sorted out. Rly.
(Unfortunately I think we’re going to be on the Security Council pushing a purely US agenda…I see McCully is already pushing for “reform” of the security council)
I see McCully is already pushing for “reform” of the security council
When I see McCully saying “reform”, we know that his idea of reform would be directly in contrast to ours and that the interests he would further would be quite opposite to what we would consider.
Reform has been a real problem for the UN for years.
The reform issue is a compounded problem because resolution has been stymied for decades
The initial problem was that the UN was not reflecting the changing world; neither the increasing diversity (due to increased membership) nor the changing powers. i.e it was set up when Russia and the US were the main powers, China is on the main body now, but places like India, Brazil or Japan are not. (Also places like Africa & Muslim countries?
The reforms require a profoundly thoughtful, principled and wide perspective and also an ability for those that are currently on the Security Council to be inclusive i.e. release their grip and share their power with the new powers.
I am not holding my breath that the type of intelligence that is required for resolution, will be provided by NZ’s actors because our government continually display a lapdog type attitude toward the US and show a distinct tendency to be sellouts.
In short, they are acting like mindless lunatics in their own country, so why should they be any different on the world stage. All that will be achieved is they will disgrace NZ on the world stage even more than they have already done.
I sincerely hope I am incorrect over this.
@ blue leopard
“Reform has been a real problem for the UN for years.”
The UN was the pet project of an American aristocrat president (Roosevelt) built on land donated by what was at the time the wealthiest family in the world (Rockefeller).
Its purpose was and always has been defensive: to protect and defend the interests of the wealthiest American imperialists. There will never be any “reforms” at the UN which do not serve their interests.
Did I correctly hear today that we are so lucky to get Security Council position as it will help us when we have Trade talks. Isn’t that slightly obscene using Security Council post to talk trade?
DTB
Duh??
Well Grant Robertson says this is a great thing, and we all know Grant Robertson wouldn’t lie.
Wow! My opinion of Grant has just skyrocketed . . . not.
Not really connected to intensive dairy farming contamination of water supplies but????
“He said investigating the outbreak was complex – the yersinia pathogen could spread from animal waste into water supplies, then into a vegetable growing area.”
I wonder where the quarantined paddock is in relation to water source?
Flogging off our state housing stock, falling dollar making our houses and land even more of a bargain for overseas speculators, cynically gaming the OIA, etc etc, t’would be enough to make one quite worried were it not for the prospect of a BRIGHT SHINEY NEW FLAG!!!!
and we get to have two flag referendums..(!)
..aren’t we spoilt for diversions..?
Looks like Cunnliffe’s calling it a day.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11343759
I’d say he’ll be gone sooner than later, if the right job emerges.
You get the feeling his heart really isn’t in it anymore, which isn’t really surprising.
“I’d say he’ll be gone sooner than later, if the right job emerges.
You get the feeling his heart really isn’t in it anymore, which isn’t really surprising.”
You get the feeling you just made shit up. There’s nothing in that article to support what you just said.
The odds of Parker leaving before DC would be far greater. I just heard Mike Williams labeling DP as his pick as the winner in the leadership contest. A certain kiss of death. Parker will be extremely lucky if he gets 3rd, even that looks remote from what I’m observing.
Well, this time, if someone like Parker ends up getting set up like Shearer, let’s hope Cunliffe doesn’t get scapegoated again.
The only setting up done to Parker is self inflicted. He is setting himself up to fail miserably and is totally delusional calling for a referendum on the raising of the retirement age. This guy is going to self distruct something shocking at the end of the hustings I kid you not.
bm doesnt actually read the links he posts. it happened only last week when he posted something to do with hager and then asked a question answered in his link. i think he is one of the unpaid tr**olls
or lowly paid 😉 (hence his sloppiness).
Nice sharp retort. This is why Labour members are going to miss Cunliffe at the helm.
clever…. needed more of that during the debates…
that is a keyesque retort, after 24 hours of practice
+1 listening to Robertson on Jackson’s show now. May call him to raise the deadwood issue. Skirting the issue and saying the new blood comes thru raising the party vote is true. However getting back to reality of today Grant ‘the party vote dropped.’ What we want to hear is there will be a clean out, no if no buts Grant.
Going by the poor attempt in his electorate and his party vote, the new blood coming through is more likely green.
My point is he won’t speak out because his support base within caucus is ‘mostly’ deadwood, therefore his campaign is not in the interest of the party but him self. If he believes running with Ardern is the answer it is not. She will roll him and the division continues pretty much spelling the demise of the party as being able to be relevant.
Not true in terms of clearing out the deadwood though, esp if the deadwood holds on to the higher list positions or hold on to safe electorate seats.
The Herald sure know how to spin stuff. The printed version has this headline on the front page:
“Cunliffe: I’ll never stand again”
Then the article contains this:
“While he intended to stay in Parliament this term, he was (sic) yet to decide whether to stand again in 2017.”
Yet to decide =/= never stand again.
So the headline is clearly wrong. It seems the MSM’s levels of comprehension leave a great deal to be desired.
There is nothing wrong with Cunliffe reviewing things. I would expect all MPs to review their position and decide if they are bringing something to politics and if not then they should consider alternative career options.
I don’t have access to the printed version but the on-line version referenced does quote him directly as saying “I am not intending to run for the leadership again.”
A headline really does have to be brief and the one you quote does seem to be accurate as far as the leadership goes, which is the primary news in the story.
To give a headline which tells the full story would mean one that was as long as the full story.
Would you really want a headline that said something like
“Cunliffe: At his point in time my intention is that I’ll never stand for the leadership of the Labour Party again, although I will remain in Parliament as an MP until at least 2017 when I may, or may not, stand as an MP again, depending on what I think of my prospects of being able to get a reasonably senior role in the shadow cabinet and whether any other options might be available”
That would be a reasonable summary of the story but a bit much to put in large type don’t you think?
“at this point in time”, lol
Oh hell. It was meant to be “at THIS point”
Although I guess that “HIS point in time” makes a certain amount of warped sense doesn’t it? DCs view of things always seemed a bit askew from most peoples.
That front page of today’s Herald is a shocker! Not the look of a newspaper to be taken seriously.
I thought it was quite clearly talking about Cunliffe’s intention to never stand for leader again.
They have the quote in the article that he’ll never stand again for leader, the headline is “I’ll never stand again”.
MS
In politics ‘never say never’. I suspect that David Cunliffe will be forced back again by popular demand probably after his successors make a mess of it and that he will eventually take over as Prime Minister from John Key.
Anything’s possible.
International fundraiser for Hager at $6,000 after a day.
https://freedom.press/bundle/nicky-hager-legal-defense
https://freedom.press/blog/2014/10/help-support-new-zealand-investigative-reporter-nicky-hagers-legal-defense-fund
Then there is this (from second link),
The Intercept reported today that for months before his house was raided, Hager had also been working with Glenn Greenwald and The Intercept, preparing to report stories based on the Snowden documents.
Hager doesn’t know if this contributed to the decision to raid his house, but the fact that the raid happened so shortly afterwards is disturbing to say the least. According to Hager, the New Zealand government has been nervous about the publication of New Zealand-related Snowden revelations and has made various moves, publicly and privately, to prepare for their eventual publication.
More on the raid, and Hager’s relationship with the Snowden crew – https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2014/10/16/nicky-hager-raid/
Great that those outside NZ can see the significance of the Hager raid. Even if the police find nothing about the “hacker”, the collateral damage to Nicky’s reputation and the loss of privacy over other research that he is doing, and the chilling effect on others who would wish to come forward in confidence, those are the worries.
Of course there will be no direct link from politicians to police but given the reluctance of the police to act on other complaints, you would wonder if Mr Key’s government would have any motive to “get” Nicky and send a warning to others.
There’s a worrying angle that the police (under whose orders?) were also scooping up info about Hager’s work on the Snowden documents.
Yes, and even if that’s not true, that it’s a coincidence, the fact remains that many people have now lost confidence in the government because of Dirty Politics and how they handled it (Key’s casualness esp).
edit, afaik the police don’t have the seized material. It got sealed and sent to the courts until the hearing to decide if the police can look at it. What I want to know now is if the police can use or share information not related to the warrant used to do the raid.
I think Nicky’s lawyer (Mr Price?) insisted that every item be sealed and labelled and receipted by the police. Good thinking pending the court challenge to the confiscation.
Of course losing all your tools and resources for the foreseeable future must be a curse.
So if that’s true, and the police didn’t look at anything during the search, then it makes the theory that the govt is fishing less likely. But it doesn’t lessen the probability that the govt knew of his connections with the Snowden team and were monkey wrenching.
Gov monkey wrenching, yes.
From that FirstLook link:
the ability of New Zealand police officers to cavalierly raid the home of a reporter who has criticized the government in power threatens to establish a dangerous precedent everywhere reporters operate.
(under whose orders?)
If we learned anything from the M.o.T. it is surely that the NZ gov provides an entry-point for the Spymaster powers that be. Glenn’s work would likely be so securely encrypted as to evade the usual metadata mop-ups on the net, which would necessitate a hands on approach to securing it, by those international surveillance chiefs. And, they took discs, documents, camera and “dozens of other items”. (Why anyone would believe for a millisecond that they were merely after “the hacker” – evades me.)
no direct link from politicians to police
It is similar to the KDC raid. Our overlords, the international spymasters, have long arms indeed. In a year of depressing news-events, this is one of the most sobering.
thanks for this weka
fbi is trying to stop new smartphones being encrypted
Today, Thursday 16 October 2014, WikiLeaks released a second updated version of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Intellectual Property Rights Chapter. The TPP is the world’s largest economic trade agreement that will, if it comes into force, encompass more than 40 per cent of the world’s GDP. The IP Chapter covers topics from pharmaceuticals, patent registrations and copyright issues to digital rights. Experts say it will affect freedom of information, civil liberties and access to medicines globally. The WikiLeaks release comes ahead of a Chief Negotiators’ meeting in Canberra on 19 October 2014, which is followed by what is meant to be a decisive Ministerial meeting in Sydney on 25–27 October.
https://wikileaks.org/tpp-ip2/pressrelease/
“..Afroman’s Positive ‘Because I Got High’ Remix Should Be The New Stoner Anthem..
..Rapper Afroman has joined the fight to legalize marijuana –
– with a new iteration of the 2000 stoner anthem –
– ‘Because I Got High’..”
(cont..)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/16/afroman-positive-because-i-got-high-remix_n_5995992.html
Phil was Mike Williams with you prior to going on the panel with Plunket this morning? I suspect he has been on the Bob Hope.
i think williams is too much of a miserablist to be a pothead…
..he does not seem to be one – who has ever had much of a grip on fun…
..(he puts the ‘lug’ in ‘lugubrious..)
..and he picked parker..?
..hilarious..!
..i have an (obvious) suggestion for his campaign-song..?
..some ditty about something being handed over in a heavy manner..?
..and/but on a serious note..
..labour need to get its’ head around shit like this..eh..?
“..Labour must redefine what it means to be modern – check Facebook for clues..
…All game-changing governments have presented a new vision of modernity.
The left should be ready..”
(cont..)
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/oct/16/labour-modern-facebook-governments
now..i dunno how strong parker is on ‘visions of modernity’..eh..?
..but i don’t have a lot of faith..
I guess the last 6 years fronting the media every week defending Goff and then Shearer would have exhausted any sense of humour by the time Culiffe came and went. I can not see it returning being the butt of Robo’s jokes. With Mallard being mooted as assistant speaker of the house, perhaps he will get a few laughs when Mallard kicks Little out for dancing during readings.
williams always looks like he is waiting for something really really bad to happen..
..and it’s going to be soon..
rents will be going up soon in many parts of Auckland…
http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/home-property/10629716/New-CVs-for-Auckland-property
as john key indicated, it is an economy increasingly more attractive for rock stars
And who needs State Housing?
“Finance Minister Bill English says the proceeds from selling state houses are unlikely to be spent on new state houses and may go into the Consolidated Account.
“I mean, if we want less stock, there’s not much point in rebuilding stock with it.”
Asset sales by any other name?”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11344052
I don’t get this. Can someone explain to me the convoluted game involved?
It was damning and utterly, completely and totally bad that, once upon a long time ago, Cunliffe had picked a deputy.
But this weekend at his launch, Grant will have a “running mate”:
http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/can-jacinda-ardern-become-labour-s-youngest-ever-deputy-leader-6109910
?
Because Robertson knows his chances of winning the leadership contest on his own is about zero. So he’s rolling out Ardern to stand beside him in the hope her presence will attract more votes for him.
With Adern he should win, remember this is still the 2 groups within caucus fighting for the leadership and shadow cabinet positions. The result will be very tight, however Grant does fancy he has the edge. More caucus votes and a reasonable amount of second votes from the Afiliates. The membership vote he will benefit from the popularity of Ardern.
It effect the deadwood are sticking it to the membership by declaring their vote in advance. This makes a mockery of a leaders contest when one side is campaigning on 2 tickets. While Mahuta may want the deputy role, the DW can install Robertson, Parker, Adern or the likes of King, Goff, Shearer or who ever takes their fancy. Good for them the joke will be short lived. A licence for the membership to turn up with knives at conference.
Two things
1) Ardern is not particularly popular with the membership.
2) Grant demonstrated that he couldn’t count last year, and he still can’t count.
Interesting the media label Nanaia as a Cunliffe stand-in but never mention Robertson (and Jacinda) as part of the ABC gang, which they clearly are.
According to Grant Robertson (speaking to Willy Jackson on Radio Live) there is no such thing as the ABC Club. Srsly.
if the ‘deadwood’ win this one…
..they will set a new benchmark in winning-battle/losing-war..
..labour will slump to the high teens..(they are nearly there anyway..)
..and labour cd well enter the next election about equal with the greens..
..it is like watching a car-crash in slow-motion…
..the possible sidelining of a once great political party..
.i repeat..just more of the same-old/same-old from labour..
..will guarantee not only defeat in 2017..
..but also the possible death-throes of labour itself..
..how neo-liberalism ate labour…
also..i had a look back at the 2011 results for wellington central..
..the result was pretty much the same as this time..
..and my takeaway from that wd be how robertson must have put a lot of time/energy into fixing that obvious/glaring-problem between ’11 and ’14..
..and how well it worked…how successful he was at that task..eh..?
Their pretty much in death rattle mode. Myself and others are thinking of starting a party and would stand a better chance of getting over 5% than they do of winning in 2017.
can i suggest social democrats as a name..
..then you have the definitions of social democracy in other countries..
..that will be easy to reference/inform the public what you are about..
.it will be a branding shortcut..
Your correct with the name bang on actually however the old social credit party have that name covered. Social Democrats for Change I think they go by.
CPA-Communities Protecting Animals.
Designed to be a voice solely for animals. You can judge a society on how many pets are being mistreated, putdown etc. Trim up the Tory vote and sit on the cross benches. Something like that would be a go. Register the dog owner. Far too many Pitbull’s get the automatic death penalty if they end up at the SPCA, they won’t re house just put em down. There are enough humans that rightly don’t give a damn about politics but do about animals. So worth a crack. Of course any Bill that is going to impact on the welfare of poorer citizens pets gets rejected of course lol. There is a lawyers group that have formed to lobby and write legislation framework too. Hmm wonder is bent Bankie can be an advisor from jail?
If the leadership race goes the wrong way why don’t the true left labour people defect to the greens. . just a thought
many already have…and many will … for some it was Cunliffe as Leader or leave Labour and vote Green next time!..
…could explain the latest polls
I was meaning standing members up and jump wakas in to a existing party rather than start agian
i was thinking about flying the idea of an animal welfare party..
..(if the threshold dropped to 3%..but that ain’t gonna happen..)
..and i was trying to keep it non-ideological in other ways..
..but that cd be complicated..(as eventually questions like ‘who wd u support?’ come up..)
..but i was thinking that campaigning/exposing the horrors out there as the main focus wd work most of the time..
..and you still come back to that ‘who wd u support?’-question..
..and no..i couldn’t see a way thru that..
..other possible areas of dissension are the likes of me..vegan..
..and fighting for those reasons..
..and those who will care for some animals..
..yet/but happily eat others…
..it’s complicated..
..and yeah..you have to give banks his dues for his work/support of animal welfare issues..
..and of course all the dog-parks in ak are down to him..
..which is more of a heritage than many pollies can claim..
Yes I think it is a go afterall if the God Botherers can pull 4% the chances are it would get across the line. The threshold should be lower but the elite will defend 5% tooth and nail. A animal welfare party has the advantage of willing cashed up donators, and the ability to have committees and candidates in probably every electorate in NZ canvassing the party vote.
There buy splitting the left vote further . Key will love it
no waghorn..
..you just run a party vote..
..and of course the actions of the vivisectors are just screaming out to be exposed/publicised…
..(you wd probably get unanimity on that one..
..a quarter of a million animals a year..tortured and killed..
..it is a vile self-perpetuating industry of death..)
Would the greens not all ready be anti vivisection. There is already enough wasted vote
nah..!..the greens have animal-welfare up on that same dusty shelf in the corner as cannabis legalisation..
..so far down their list of priorities..
..to be not there at all..
Stand alone party and it would pull a cross section of votes but within out getting a polling survey done by some snake oil outfit like Hooton’s, I would say 60% of the centre upwards vote in reality. On the cross benches you have the ability to deal if it’s a tight margin. And of course cross party support on animal welfare is a populistic. Just look at the drug testing U turn that only Banks championed till the issue become main stream popular in an election year.
i agree about the potency of the messages..
..and as not using dogs to test legal highs show..
..the capacity for wide revulsion at what is done in our name..
..is there to be tapped..
..(especially what the fucken vivisectors do..)
and i agree..swearing to stay on the cross-benches..and to vote issue by issue..
…wd be the best way to go..
..were that to come about..
Grant Robertson is in Willie Jackson’s show on Radio Live.
He says there is no such thing as an ABC faction.
I turned off the radio in case he stated discussing the moon landing and Chem Trails.
lol. Ok, there’s not such thing as neoliberalism either. Or Deadwood. Or Rogernomes. It’s bad to call people names based on their actions.
(am I the only one whose mind keeps flicking to Swearengen, Bullock and co? Not that the Labour caucus is in that league)
Every time I ask for evidence of this ABC group I have yet to receive a credible answer. It may just be a figment of Whaleoil mischief making.
I was wondering about that, too, Ianmac, until I discovered this article which, among other things, contained the following:
Perhaps Labour need to get more litigious toward the media, (or at least make public statements about errors of fact), because as far as I know, there have been substantially more public complaints from Labour MPs about what is discussed here on The Standard than what Vance wrote in her article.
ianmac: the evidence of the ABC group is there for all to see, including Shearer’s recent orchestrated media campaign (5-6 separate media appearances/interviews) putting the knife between departing Leader David Cunliffe’s shoulder blades.
Shearer didn’t confidently step up and organise all this just on his lonesome, he was part of a group of MPs.
The interim leader calls these left blogs venomous with their nasty attacks. I assume she is referring to us lol.
When lies are preferred and truth considered poison, we know that the body politic must be cleaned out and renewed.
The Labour MPs have had more criticism of The Standard/Left wing blogs than they have of the volumes of bullshit the msm spun all year about Labour.
There is something very wrong with this equation.
Remember, they know that National supporters are not the real threat. But an active, outspoken and articulate left wing membership is.
An active, outspoken and articulate left wing membership is a real threat to right wing corporate policies, and not a threat to left wing principles or sound democracy, at all – in fact the above qualities strengthen left wing principles & democracy – so I can only conclude that the MPs in Labour and others, that are criticising the left wing blogs, have an agenda that is incompatible with left wing and democratic principles.
#JustThortI’dSpellitOut
Less ability to backscratch with leaks?
I’m beginning to be of the opinion that half of the bullshit the media spouted about Labour came from inside Labour.
Please, someone, give me some information that helps me rid myself of that awful opinion! 🙁
blue leopard, I suspect that half the bullshit about Labour and the supposed ABC lot came from the Right and created and fueled by Whaleoil. Certain journalist kept on repeating it but without anything better than “Party Insiders tell me” stuff. Where-ever it was sourced it did a great job of creating a massive loss of confidence in the Party.
Wonder if a Labour Review would test the existence of the ABCs?
You’re still looking for objective, empirical evidence when there is none. Your gut instinct will give you the answer required.
I hope Olwyn doesn’t mind, but I think her comment on yesterdays ‘Open Mike’ is appropriate for this discussion. I still don’t know how to link to a comment so here is a cut and paste:
(my bold).
In my response I gave her a relatively recent personal example which I believe bears out the point she is making.
When certain members of the caucus claim there is no ABC club then they are officially correct. There was/is no club of people called the “ABC Club” in Labour. But in practical terms it exists as a group of people consisting of Labour parliamentarians – and a coterie of supporters outside of parliament – who think pretty much as Olwyn has described in the section which I have highlighted.
@ Anne
Linking to and placing comment address. Try this – you call up the actual comment, you go to the writer’s name and date in blue and click on that so it shows up in the address line at the top of the screen.
Point and right click on that address and choose select, then point and right click again and press copy, transfer to where you want to place link.
That’s the dummies way (mine) but works. You might select this and copy and put it in your notes for when you need it.
Got it. I was clicking on to name and address and then trying to copy and paste. 🙁
Thanks greywarshark.
Yes, I just read the email through from Grant Robertson to labour members and it is similar. On the e-mail Robertson highlights that he will “listen to all New Zealanders”, well I suggest for starters he listen to New Zealanders talking about the out of control rabble who are the labour Party caucus. He along with the other contenders need to be clear how they are going to deal with the caucus issue…for him to deny there is an ABC faction: unbelievable.
BD, what was his actual wording, if you can remember?
Have a listen:
http://www.radiolive.co.nz/Grant-Robertson-Im-never-going-to-apologise-for-being-who-I-am/tabid/506/articleID/57436/Default.aspx
It is 11 mins and 59 secs though.
Thank you muchly
I had to get up and grab a coffee, twice, to hear through to the end of the piece. All the best.
worth listening to to see/hear what a reactionary dickwad jackson is…
..(..’you people..’…f.f.s..!..)
..hard for robertson not to look good up against that..
..(and i only lasted ’till 3 min-something..)
From 10:00
Willie Jackson: “Were you the captain of the Anyone But Cunliffe Club?”
Grant Robertson: “There is no such club.”
Mmm, there is no such club just like there was no Cabinet Club.
Oh, towards the end of that clip – “massively talented guy” Kelvin Davis will be “given an appropriate role” if Grant is leader. Stuart Nash also will have important role to play.
‘nash’..?..f.f.s..!
..doesn’t that tell you all you need to know about neo-lib-grant..?
Mr Ure: your lamentations and questions are in vain. Grant Robertson is a very strong candidate with a very good change of winning the leadership challenge.
as i said below..i don’t really fucken care who wins this race to the bottom…
Well said PU. After a lifetime I can’t actually say I’m Labour anymore. Those boys and girls don’t give a fuck for anything but their ‘Careers’.
The first rule of ABC Club: there is no ABC Club
Second rule of ……
Kelvin Kelvin Kelvin……find a ladder……climb it……pull it up……not so far that look like Bennet. Gonna be PM one day. Hopes. Fuck the people. All about Kelvin. No respect. Sorry.
(need a laff..?..)
“..Guy Meets Bird – Bird Drops F-Bomb..
..This guy was sitting on a bench when a bird –
– described as a black crow –
– apparently decided to stop by and say –
– “hey” ‘fuck you’..”
(cont..)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/16/bird-says-fuck-you_n_5998446.html
The latest Roy Morgan puts the Greens and Labour only 5 points apart:
September 29-October 12, 2014 Nat43.5 Lab22.5 Green17.5 NZF7 Maori2 Act0.5 UNF0.5 Con5 Mana1 Int^ Other0.5
Im surprised: That Labour actually got over 20%.
I doubt the GP is really that high.
Yes it probably isn’t (yet) – but psychologically if the Greens ever overtake Labour in an opinion poll then Labour really will be in trouble.
Once that barrier is breached people will begin to see the Greens not just as a “protest vote” (leaving aside the core Green vote which seems to be sitting at 10%) – it will then start to genuinely attract even more of the left. The next hammering blow would probably if the Unions start to de-affiliate (does such a word exist?). A killing blow would be if any Unions affiliate with the Greens.
It may take some time – but the risk is there.
Very good points.
But Lab+Green= 40% Almost a Govt but the Conservative nutters have a rather healthy looking 5%.
Labour have got a long way before they hit bottom. A smart Green Party would presume to assume the mantle “leader of the Opposition”.
The NZ public will continue to punish Labour’s apparent disunity – neither the broader public, nor the media, nor the caucus have the maturity to deal with primary runoffs. And there will be more of them before 2020.
The post-leadership vote caucus will know that anyone who wins will struggle to displace those fault lines of loyalty displayed in the leadership vote. There is no real secrecy to the vote. The factions, I believe, are permanent. This unintended consequence of the constitutional reforms will keep Labour in the 20’s.
It’s the trajectory of the NZ Liberal Party. The Labour Party risks ongoing decline and eventual split up.
on the money..no one will take any notice..unfortunately.
Appears the leader wasn’t the problem with the slight drop.
Exactly. If DC was the problem then the support would have risen.
Naomi Klein says climate activists need to get comfortable attacking capitalism
Disruption: A Call To Act On Climate Change
“When it comes to climate change, why do we do so little when we know so much?’
Through a relentless investigation to find the answer, Disruption takes an unflinching look at the devastating consequences of our inaction.
The exploration lays bare the terrifying science, the shattered political process, the unrelenting industry special interests and the civic stasis that have brought us to this social, moral and ecological crossroads.The film also takes us behind-the-scenes of the efforts to organize the largest climate rally in the history of the planet during the UN world climate summit.
This is the story of our unique moment in history. We are living through an age of tipping points and rapid social and planetary change. We’re the first generation to feel the impacts of climate disruption, and the last generation that can do something about it. The film enlarges the issue beyond climate impacts and makes a compelling call for bold action that is strong enough to tip the balance to build a clean energy future.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQsIErJ7-yk
Andrew Little’s AMA on NBR. I’ve got mixed feelings about him. Like DC, he won’t talk about welfare, but leaves us to read between the lines. Unfortunately they could be read either way.
some good questions asked.
http://www.nbr.co.nz/ask-andrew-little#comment-673014
that is because he has absolutely no plans to do anything at all for the poorest..
..that is why he/they won’t talk about it..
..and of course cunliffe confirmed this..with his refusal to answer poverty-questions..
..and then coming out with a policy to raise benefits by inflation-rates..(!)..(that’d be parker..again..eh..?..)
..and that was it..
..and that was why he wd not answer those poverty-questions..
..it is not much of a leap to surmise the same about little..
..about all of them really..
..(except mahuta..maybe..but she has no show..)
..labour 2017 will be offering what labour 2014 did..(probably less..)
..and that means for the poorest..s.f.a…
..it is just incrementalist shades of difference in neo-lib labour..
..some not quite as bad as others..
..but no real fucken difference..in real terms..
..which is why i have no skin in the game..
..i couldn’t really give a fuck who wins..
..because whoever wins..nothing will change…
Wekarawshark 5.56
If welfare is a dirty word, what hope for those relying on the left to return to a
reciprocal, interactive community-type of society?
I won’t find out what he says because a subscription is required and the NBR – National Business Review minimum for an individual is $130 for 6 months.
Damn, didn’t realise that they would paywall that, should have taken a cut and paste 🙁
@ wekawarshark
I’ve been hearing about these paywalls and hadn’t run into one just when I wanted to read about something. Ouch. It doesn’t do much for me, I wouldn’t get my moneysworth out of it and anyway I like to keep my money for the big bills I need to pay. NBR is a nice to have.
I find that there are so many requests for money from genuine organisations doing genuinely good things that I have to think twice about extra spending.
I’ll try and remember that they put the page up for free for a time (24hrs? Just that business day?). There’s a few here with NBR subs, but most won’t.
Crazy price.
People here keen to go to Robertson’s campaign launch – if they are in Auckland?
i might go and ask some awkward questions..
Politicians? Don’t encourage them..
No.
well no ones interested in boxing here then!Obviously this site is infected with pacifists,lesbians and wimps that have no time for the merits of manly pugilistic endeavour.They don’t know,dont care,-how far removed from the noble kiwi ideals of rugby,racing and beer has this pale imitation of kiwi heritage called the Labour Party travelled?;)
Boxing? UFC and MMA mate 😛
Parker looks a bit scrawny, good hand speed though.
how wd u know..?
Just basing my onions on my observations of current and previous heavyweights.
Parker needs a bit more muscle.
oh..i thought you were talking about his ‘hand-speed’…
He’s pretty fast with his punches, but I don’t think there’s enough behind them to make him champ.
you and bob jones shd get together..
..both being boxing-fans..as you are..
Oh such a fucked old expert on everything there BM. I bow. To your big mouth.
Revealed: The woman who triggered Shearer’s downfall
Friday Aug 23, 2013 by Claire Trevett, the New Zealand Herald’s deputy political editor
I’m putting this up given the recent statements/melt down by David Shearer in which he accused David Cunliffe of the GFC, the bombing of Hiroshima and the high price of coffee.
“But the Herald has learned MP Maryan Street was preparing a motion of no confidence in Mr Shearer for Tuesday’s meeting.
Plans were also being made to send a delegation to him before that to ask him to stand down rather than force the confidence vote.
The MPs involved were certain the motion would have succeeded if it had been required.
Ms Street would not comment yesterday, but it is understood she decided to front the motion because of growing concerns among MPs over Mr Shearer’s inability to fire as leader and his poor poll ratings.
A source said there had been discussions for months, but nobody was willing to force the issue until Ms Street stepped up.”
Read the whole story here.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11112967
“The resignation will trigger Labour’s new leadership selection rules for the first time, giving votes to party members and affiliated unions, as well as MPs.
Gallery The most likely contenders are David Cunliffe and Grant Robertson; both have said they will decide over the next few days whether to run.
Mr Cunliffe said Mr Shearer’s decision had come as a surprise and he did not know what had prompted him to believe he had lost the confidence of his caucus. “We respect he has come to a decision he believes is in the best interests of the Labour Party.”
Mr Robertson said he had been a loyal deputy to Mr Shearer, and had supported him throughout his 20 months as leader. “Everybody in the caucus, as everybody in the wider Labour Party, would like to see us doing better in the polls and David has obviously reflected on that. He made his own decision.”
Andrew Little would not rule out seeking the leadership, but because he is a first-term MP he may be wary of making the run before he is ready. Shane Jones is also unlikely to contest it because he believes he would not get the support. David Parker and Phil Goff both ruled it out.
Labour MPs yesterday said they were saddened by Mr Shearer’s decision, and described him as a man of integrity who had done his best. But none said he had made the wrong decision.”
I really should not go read the herald. Big story about the number of women on the DPB(now called something else) dropping and somehow we should thank Nact? Reprinted press release by the look of it. Do they have to be so uncritical?
Could it perhaps have something to do with the demographics of an aging population meaning fewer people in that age group?
Or possibly women(who are much more likely to be on the DPB) no longer attempting to look after the kids because its nearly impossible at the current levels of harassment.
And more boasting about fewer teen parents on benefits- no mention of whether the birthrate for this category has fallen or whether they are simply not receiving any money- which should be a huge concern for everyone.
TRANSITIONS FOR SOCIETY: JOB GUARANTEE AND BASIC INCOME
Happens I’m sort of watching The Graham Norton Show right now. TV3. 9.10 pm Thursday. Hugh Grant and two other very appealing guests.
Does this resonate with anyone ? Paul Henry, world famous in New Zealand apparently, is a MUCH less entertaining, MUCH less bright, MUCH more viperish, Graham Norton rip-off.
Yeah. And Henry’s what we’ve gotta be satisfied with. Yeah ? Really ?
Oh this is fucked, pretensious, Auckland New Zealand then. Snotty wee narcissist Henry. The self proclaimed Prince of the Media. Jeez-uz !
PS – Graham Norton has a considerable and oft-paraded distaste for Hoorah Henry David Cameron. Which is excellent.
Speed learning on today’s economics with Mark Blyth – The Austerity Delusion – in an attractive Scottish brogue.
And it’s condensed so there is more economics and wall charts than from your average lecturer in only 22 minutes. You will be surprised and amazed and you will almost understand what Treasury is thinking, and you may be able to replace one of those useless theories of a human being who if they were truly competitive and efficient, would have tenders for their jobs and therefore cost us half the salary burden.
And you will love him if you are a leftie. He was brought up in Dundee, Scotland by his grandmother and went to school there when schools still worked, and there were opportunities for work also in those days. And so welfare made this guy, plus mothering skills, and now he is an Ivy-league professor in the USA. That’s how the system was supposed to work with social mobility, he says, but now it doesn’t – it’s broken.
Do listen.
http://www.pri.org/stories/2014-10-16/no-time-find-cure-ebola-could-be-contained-faster-quicker-test