In his latest speech, Putin declares Europe to be a colony of the US imperialists.
That this old world order is now over.
Personally I think Putin is overstating the case of Europe's subservience to US imperialism. Putin is overstating the power and influence of US imperialism for his own imperialist motives.
In my opinion this is a declaration of war of one imperialist bloc against another.
Putin thinks the US is in decline and that it is Russia's turn to be the global hegemonic power.
Putin may be right about the first part, but wrong about the second. In my opinion; The world does not need another hegemonic power. The age of imperialism and war needs to come to an end.
With his speech Vladimir Putin has announced that WWIII for a new imperial redivision of the world has started.
The new leader of the British armed forces, General Sir Patrick Sanders, who assumed command of the British army last Monday, yesterday ordered the British army to prepare to fight in Europe in what he called WWIII.
What leaves me most concerned is not so much the assorted tankies and traitors who cheer on on the fascists and autocrats – but that the west is far too complacent and to a degree socially degenerate. In this Putin has a point – and he has judged his moment well.
Sanders is correct in his appraisal, that this is round one of a much tougher contest than most people imagine just yet.
As Britain (and presumably other European military forces), prepare for a wider war in Europe. To become a truly global conflict between the super powers, Just as Imperial Japan did when the European powers were last engaged in war in Europe, China may take the opportunity to advance its imperial interests. The known flashpoints where this conflict will break out are the LAC and Taiwan.
NATO member state Lithuania is now effectively engaged in “direct aggression” against Russia, senator Andrey Klimov argued in his Telegram post on Monday,…..
…. the Russian politician, who heads a commission for the defense of state sovereignty….
….The senator stressed that in this case, Moscow would have a free hand to “solve the problem of the Kaliningrad transit created by Lithuania by ANY means chosen by us.”
Every week there are multiple important issues being reported about gender identity ideology and its impact on society. Almost none of it is being discussed in NZ except occasionally in MSM, or in antagonistic exchanges online. Most of what I am reading comes from feminists in the UK, predominantly left wing or centre left. I’ve been told I shouldn’t be talking about this on TS because this is a labour movement aligned blog, but these are fundamental issues that are part of class analysis. Sex sits alongside ethnicity and socioeconomics as the three great axes of class oppression and resistance and liberation.
One of the most serious aspects is the huge rise in the number of girls seeking to transition in the UK. Gender ideology applauded this, feminists are saying wtaf, girls hate their sexed bodies so much they’d rather have radical surgery and lifetime hormonal treatment than be a gender non conforming girl or lesbian.
NZ Labour just increased funding for transition. This wouldn’t be a problem except for the No Debate and affirmation only political positions that mean medical and psychological services are under pressure to not provide alternative care for distressed youth. If you want to see how badly this can go, read this.
Id suggest the overwhelming majority of people dont consider it is or will be an issue for them and if it ever was they would deal with it in their own manner, if they ever consider it at all……meanwhile there is a roof to put over the head and mouths to feed.
maybe people should consider for the following reasons
a. this is tax payer funded surgery – no matter if it goes well or not
b. the issues stemming from these tax payer funded surgeries and the need for further medical intervention will and is already paid for by the tax payer
c. these surgeries are coming with a hefty carbon foot print
d. these children will be the adults of tomorrow – but then why would anyone alive today complain about that, right it does not affect us here today.
e. like with Contergan in Germany it took a while for the medical establishment to understand and accept the side effects of Contergan – the children with no arms. legs and hands protruding from their shoulders, deformed feet etc etc etc, but eventually it got to much, these kids were suddenly everywhere, and people could see the harm and were rightfully shocked by deformities these children were born with due to a pill that should have been taken of the shelf much earlier. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thalidomide_scandal
f. some – quite a few actually, detransition later in life to find themselves 'nullified' if their genital surgery went fucked beyond believe (i.e. no gentials at all just a urethra), or in need of revisions to keep depth (neo vagina) or in need for a liposuction (if the fake penis is made of upper leg skin/tissues as that is where women (the born ones) typically grow fat – this is for the ones that value girth over length or something, or with life time issues in their arm that provided the tissue/skin/nerve material for a fake penis . Never mind the infections, sepsis etc etc etc. All tax payer funded, and every revision and fixings of another medical problem is too.
I get it, no one cares about males in female prisons, no one cares about males in female sport, or males in female changing rooms. After all this benefits males at the expense of woman (born women) . Something the left and some on the right are quite happy about this. Born women are just low testosterone men, and thus are exactly! (TM) the same as men. No difference between Mum n Dad, no siree, and all that is tax payer funded.
In the meantime we warehouse our homeless who have no roof over their heads to the cost of a million a day in rundown motels. We hand out 300.000 + food grants for people who can’t feed their families and so on and so forth.
So while you don't mind getting kids castrated and sterilised before they even have a notion of sex, lust, orgasm, and maybe reproduction, you might mind the cost that is carried by you, and everyone else around you.
When it touches peoples lives they will devote attention to it…as with everything…until then it remains an academic exercise with no expectation of personal impact.
How many devote their time and energy to researching/discussing/advocating on rare cancers?….those that do have personal experience or academic interest….the wider public dont.
The impact on the ongoing health budget, and the consequential reduction in other areas should be discussed more.
Life time hormonal supplements and dealing with the resultant side effects comes at a high cost.
NZ state provision of trans affirming surgeries is either:
1. Cosmetic surgery (Why?)
2. Life-saving surgery (How?)
This is a huge medical intervention budget, that will result in burgeoning future healthcare requirements for those 'treated'. And declining budgets for others relying on the system for treatment.
One is that any topic or issue ranks somewhere on a ladder of priorities and importance & relevance. It is a personal and political choice to devote attention to it and ‘the cause’. This is often seen as a zero-sum game because of our limited attention spans and time constraints, et cetera.
The other one is that arguably this specific topic area links directly with even bigger and longstanding issue that ought to pique the attention and interest of many more progressively minded people, e.g. here on TS. In other words, it is not mutually exclusive and not a zero-sum game, but rather quite the opposite.
It seems to me that the division seemingly into two camps is artificial, unnecessary, and possibly even deliberate, i.e. divide and conquer. The latter raises the question of cui bono?
Didn't really understand what you are meaning. If you mean there are two sides in the gender/sex wars, then yes, broadly there are. On TS isn't not necessary, people can argue whatever they want. Thing that I find surprising is people going 'oh I tried to say something and got knocked back, so I won't bother again'. I've seen that before but it does seem to be a feature of this debate, as if suddenly people don't want to debate.
And who are they? People of flesh & blood or figments of the imagination?
Didn't really understand what you are meaning.
It’s slightly concerning that you of all people here seem to struggle with understanding what others are saying in this space. So, let me try again, because it was my direct response to what pat and you had said.
As I see it, some view the “gender/sex wars” through a reductionist lens as an isolated issue. As such, one can fairly easily choose to take or leave (dismiss) it. I think this represents pat’s view.
Others may view these wars through a holistic lens as (directly or inextricably) linked to larger issues such as class war, as you pointed out @ 2. As such, one cannot easily ignore and dismiss “gender/sex wars”. I believe this represents your view.
HTH
As an aside, I read of No Debate, women-only spaces, and some perceptions of people not feeling welcome to join the debate (e.g. STFU or scroll on) and it is clear that nothing is clear, that confusion is ubiquitous, and mixed messages are the rule rather than the exception. I’ll leave it for others to judge whether this is an accurate description of ‘the lay of the land’, and, if so, whether it is positive.
These debates are the most highly charged of all, quite possibly because we’re all implicated, one way or another, at a more direct personal level, whether we like it or not. This may also be the reason why this is one of the most difficult issues to debate well and why people disengage, perhaps simultaneously swaying from the holistic view to the more reductionist singular issue PoV in a the-glass-is-half-empty-or-the-glass-is-half-full kinda binary manner.
It's a controversy in every space: culture, politics, religion, medicine, sex, education, philosophy, and personal identity. And when children (or sports!) are involved people get emotional, unable to explore the issues in a fair minded way. Social media has made an issue that should be a rarefied specialist area of medicine into a toxic culture war.
It is a symptom of a wider identity crisis and loss of unifying narratives within the culture.
(Not to worry, the imperial corporate-military media have created a sparkly new cult for everyone!)
It is a holistic part of regressive efforts to relitigate social change over the last 60 years. That the same arguments are now being turned against gay and lesbian minorities is no surprise. Migrants and disabled people can't be far behind. Fear and othering are easy to tap into when people do not see the bigger picture.
What Sacha fails to even acknowledge is that lesbians have been losing a lot of ground because of GI. Australia is on the cusp of making it illegal for lesbians to exclude males who identify as a woman from gatherings, spaces etc.
Self-ID means that any man can say they are a woman at any time. It's not tied to birth certificates, it's tied to social mores.
Lesbians get banned from lesbian dating apps for saying they only want to date females. This is a safety issue, and it's also a rape culture issue. GI says that a man who identifies as a woman and as a lesbian is a woman and a lesbian. There is no such thing as female homosexuality after that.
It's true there is a conservative push against liberal gains of recent decades. And it's true that GI is *also removing women's rights at an alarming pace, and some left wing men are supporting this.
It's utter bullshit to suggest the problem is only progressive/conservative.
Don’t really want to comment on the specific commenter other than to say that if he (an intelligent and genuine contributor here who, as far as I can judge, has much in common with you) and you cannot have a constructive discussion about this then there’s little hope left for a wider debate. I’ll leave it at that.
I’m gobsmacked if lesbians or anybody else for that matter cannot choose whom they want to date on dating apps. I did read the article in The Australian but it said nothing about dating apps!?
It's not if, it's already happening and has been for some time. The reason you don't know about it is because gender identity activists have been so successful with No Debate. I know about it because I listen to lesbians talking about it on twitter. There is a huge amount of discussion there about this.
Don’t really want to comment on the specific commenter other than to say that if he (an intelligent and genuine contributor here who, as far as I can judge, has much in common with you) and you cannot have a constructive discussion about this then there’s little hope left for a wider debate. I’ll leave it at that.
Sacha believes that we are hijacking a labour movement blog. He has repeatedly misrepresented my views and mansplained feminism to me. Then he leaves and won't debate. He's a clear and compassionate thinking person generally, I have no useful explanation for why he is so poor on this and at presenting a coherent argument for his position but instead resorts to the above.
I'm pointing this out because this is a fairly consistent pattern within the war. GC women are open to informed debate. Gender identity people often aren't. I'm quite capable of a constructive conversation, you would have to take it up with him as to why he is not.
Beyond that, in the UK women just got on with organising, and that included constructive conversation. Left wing men can take themselves out of the conversation and women will just carry on without them. The debate isn't dependent on them, and can absolutely carry on. In the UK once people understood what was happening, the debate broadened significantly. That hasn't happened in NZ yet.
I have no desire to meddle in a stoush between you and another commenter. Personally, I think it can be resolved, even amicably, if both persons would wish this.
The topic (of GI wars) has indeed not crossed my radar, for various reasons.
NZ is a fairly small and isolated pool of people, which can be a curse or a blessing.
Personally, I don’t think unilateral debate and outcomes of that (decisions) is a viable way; at some stage others will have to be brought alongside, which is a description of inclusive leadership.
bit of a sore point. After years of watching feminists stop writing here because of the lack of support and because of antagonism from less progressive men, we now have to contend with progressive men actively working against us being here. I can easily write half a dozen posts right now about gender critical issues including what's been happening to lesbians. The reasons why I'm not are important. They're also the reason you and other didn't know about lesbian dating apps.
TWAW means any man who says he is a woman is a woman. That's the end of women's spaces, women's positions, women's sports (although there's been some progress on pushing back on that), women's safety, women's politics, and lesbianism.
Yes, I know it has been a sore point for you for some time and I’m sorry to hear that.
As I observe it, there seems to be a high level of confusion and mutual misunderstanding here on TS about these sorts of things. This has created a perception and thus a confirmation bias that there’s been a gap opening between feminists and progressive men on this site. Of course, there may always be a gap but not necessarily one that cannot be bridged with some respect, honesty & integrity, and whole lot of hard work to really understand what each side is saying (and not saying). Instead of closing/bridging the gap one side has pretty much walked away, the other is about to walk away and very few are left to hold the candle and continue. That doesn’t seem a sustainable situation to me. Best thing is if people could leave their baggage at the door and start afresh but I don’t think that’s realistic (even though I’m a dreamer).
I feel very much like an impartial observer here looking in …
As I observe it, there seems to be a high level of confusion and mutual misunderstanding here on TS about these sorts of things.
Not sure about that. There really are left wing men who believe that TWAW and therefore should be treated as women and women don't get to have say in that. The position by those men on TS is the same as elsewhere. It's not a misunderstanding, it's a fundamental disagreement.
This has created a perception and thus a confirmation bias that there’s been a gap opening between feminists and progressive men on this site.
Not really. There are other progressive men on TS who don't have a problem with feminists debating GI issues.
Instead of closing/bridging the gap one side has pretty much walked away, the other is about to walk away and very few are left to hold the candle and continue.
Who is about to walk away?
There are plenty of GI advocates here. In fact I would say there are more here talking about those issues now than in the past.
And who are they? People of flesh & blood or figments of the imagination?
I was thinking of the system. In which various people play various parts, and get various benefits or detriments. If the left hacks itself to death over liberalism, neoliberalism laughs all the way to the bank.
It’s slightly concerning that you of all people here seem to struggle with understanding what others are saying in this space. So, let me try again, because it was my direct response to what pat and you had said.
I always appreciate people clarifying, and it's not uncommon for me to not understand what people are saying here. So thanks for doing that.
the sex/gender war is easily the most difficult and the weirdest thing I've ever seen in politics.
I agree that liberal thinking is engrained in the system and institutionalised, with all the negative impacts and outcomes that this causes, but I think it is mistake to fight a nameless and faceless system, rage against the machine. We should apply more surgical precision in trying to affect progressive change, hence the cui bono?
The system is a human construct, enabled by and enabling people, but the weird thing is that both beneficiaries and victims seem to be stuck on it (aka TINA) because they don’t know any(thing) better.
Fair comment about asking for clarification (aka when in doubt, ask).
The sex/gender wars do my head it, TBH. It does affect all of us to various degrees but the level of engagement runs from one extreme to the other polar opposite with a huge apathetic (and confused?) mass in between.
The system is a human construct, enabled by and enabling people, but the weird thing is that both beneficiaries and victims seem to be stuck on it (aka TINA) because they don’t know any(thing) better.
Completely agree. Although another dynamic there is people whose politics want system change, but whose personal comfort is ok under neoliberalism and likely to change significantly if we went to a better system. Or they perceive they would lose out because they cannot imagine anything better where everyone’s needs are met. Hence lots of NZers want the housing crisis solved but won't vote for the Greens who would change the system so that the housing crisis can be solved.
Add in the pressures of the pandemic and looming climate crisis and many people are hunkering down rather then stepping into proactive change. I suspect that part of identity politics is entangled in that. It's easy enough to support LGBTI+ on twitter for instance. Makes one feel progressive, but there is a dearth of actual organising around the class issues (sex and socioeconomic. Ethnicity in NZ seems to be doing somewhat better given the influence of Māori in parliament).
I agree that liberal thinking is engrained in the system and institutionalised, with all the negative impacts and outcomes that this causes, but I think it is mistake to fight a nameless and faceless system, rage against the machine. We should apply more surgical precision in trying to affect progressive change, hence the cui bono?
I don't see it as nameless and faceless. Labour are obviously running a neoliberal agenda tempered by social democracy and the politics of wellbeing within a country that is now largely neoliberal. It's good they're doing this rather than just straight out neoliberal centrism, but it's still BAU and blocking change. Labour benefit as a party, pro-neoliberalism MPs benefit, the middle classes benefit and so on. Neoliberalism (the system) is adept at colonising the left. Feminists started naming this in the 90s. The increasingly neoliberal mainstream took the bits of the feminist agenda it liked and could live with and integrated it and established it as the bona fide feminism.
Hence we have liberal feminism, choice feminism, lipstick feminism and so on. It's a feminism of how to be ok within the dominant paradigm. They're not feminisms that seek to liberate women by dismantling the patriarchy.
The overlaps between GI and liberal feminism are large and strong.
Neoliberalism is indeed giving many the illusion of prosperity and wellbeing. This same illusion feeds into our collective delusion that although things are not ‘optimal’ yet and now, with a bit more time and patience things will be(come) better and for more people. This is the golden promise of the brighter future ahead that’s within reach of all as long as they work hard, have the right values, make the right decisions and take the right responsibility, et cetera.
Because neoliberalism is engrained and institutionalised, with a huge bureaucratic system behind it, it is the daily reality. For things to change one needs a couple of things: 1) a realisation that BAU is not ok and that change is needed; 2) a vision of a better alternative; 3) a mission on how to achieve the vision. I fear that many are losing confidence in the democratic and political processes and that the diminishing trust and hope will block any meaningful change. Our individual and atomised sense of helplessness, of not being in control or having very little influence over our lives, is growing into a collective Zeitgeist of the same negative feelings and general apathy. Only through an effective political and democratic process of some description (i.e. not the current version) can we hope to achieve a sense of empowerment to affect change and control our destiny.
It is worth noting that giving individuals or groupings in society a sense of empowerment is always resisted the most because once the gate/door is opened a little bit ‘all Hell will break lose’. Empowering people, all people, at all levels of society, that’s where our efforts should be, IMO. And I don’t think this is anything new of profound either.
I am also a person Pat. A female person. It is definitely not a non issue for me as a female person any more than equal pay for work of equal value, access to abortion anywhere around the world is a non issue. Is it because it may be an issue that is sometimes cared about and expounded on by women that it is a a non issue. I had actually thought that issues being divided intoot big world issues (men) and little domestic type issues (women) had gone long ago. If not then they should have gone ……
Issues are issues. some issues affect or interest different sets of people but they all affect us as human beings
Enough of this tyranny of others deciding who can speak and what they can speak on. Didn't this go out with the Ark as well.
Onward with the discussion …….the fact that some do not like the populace drawing attention to the fact that sometimes the Emperor has no clothes should be reason to stop us speaking out.
I'm included in 'people', Pat, and this is just some of what 'the issue' is for me:
1. The affirmative healthcare approach that has received additional funding has now had clinical reviews in several countries. Where this has happened, they have all concluded the net result is harm, and adjusted their treatment accordingly.
2. Any therapy funded will be affirmation only, not high quality exploratory, because the culture and the incoming 'conversion therapy' bill so celebrated by the not-bothered people, will actually facilitate the pathway to medical interventions whether appropriate for the individual or not.
3. There are psychological and mental health impacts of hormone treatment, often being given at a time of significant brain growth and maturation. This has consequences often ignored in discussions. Another impact on future well-being and health care needs.
4. What is the difference between a young man wanting breast augmentation, and a young woman of the same age wanting the same surgery? One will quality for augmentation under affirmative healthcare, the other will not. It becomes very clear what a woman is here.
5. As a result of the difference of biological sex, the hormonal impact on female transitioners is significant. Most male transitioners retain their genitalia, and if so, have a high likelihood of being able to come off their hormonal treatment and retain both full sexual function (which they may have retained anyway) and their fertility. Females, however, will undergo, medically induced menopause, with all it's congruent impacts. They will experience vaginal atrophy, with the possibility of pain during intercourse. The interruption of hormones to their sexual organs, often results in constant pain, which leads onto further surgeries to relieve that pain, including hysterectomies and oophorectomies. Both of which ensure infertility, and will affect the production of female hormones. The oophorectomy will ensure that from that point on, the woman will require synthetic hormone treatment for the rest of their life, even if they detransition. The future cost is locked in. The same is true for men who have an orchidectomy.
6. Not only is this medical care a concern, we are funding the promulgation of this approach in schools, NGO organisations, government departments, and institutions – ensuring that more will be encouraged to seek such treatments.
There is a wealth of reasons why this needs to be discussed on political platforms. There is also for many a benefit here, in seeing how this topic is treated and #NoDebate is achieved by social monitoring.
How this plays out in wider public discourse can be found here in a 2019 article on Transgender Trend which prints a letter that two GIDS professionals sent to the Guardian:
"At the end of our tethers, in the summer of 2017, we wrote this letter and sent it to the ‘Do you know what I’m really thinking?’ column at the Guardian. Although only a couple of years ago, this was a different time. Gender critical therapists did not yet exist, publicly at least. We thought we would lose our careers if anyone traced it back to us. In fact, we were so paranoid that we posted the letter so it would never be traced. One of us then called the Guardian news desk.
Then we sat back and waited. And waited. Our experiences of speaking out to colleagues had already left us fearing that people would label us transphobic and so ignore our concerns. The Guardian’s total lack of response, at the time, to what we thought was mind-changing information confirmed to us that we were on our own. "
Regarding the Auckland mayoralty poll, Farrar and the Taxdodgers Union are not speaking directly to voters, they are speaking to the three far-right/centre-right candidates, urging one or more of them to pull out. He is deliberately suggestive in a post on his blog.
This is not a win for dignity and respect for any elderly woman compelled to share her personal living space with someone of the opposite sex, in a designated single-sex space.
In the spring of 2021, a social worker at Pen Bay Medical Center contacted Sunrise on behalf of Ms. King, who at the time was a patient at the hospital. The facility initially said there was a room available, but upon learning that Ms. King is transgender Sunrise informed the hospital they would not admit her because she requested to reside in a room with a female roommate.
GLAD thinks otherwise, of course:
“The settlement in Ms. King’s case sends an unmistakable message that transgender older adults should be treated with dignity and respect when seeking long-term care services,” said GLAD senior attorney Ben Klein. “The joint resolution between the parties and the Maine Human Rights Commission makes clear that discriminating against an applicant because they are transgender violates the law, and the nondiscrimination Policy and LGBT-competency training required by this settlement are models for facilities across Maine and the nation to follow.”
Yes you are 'people'…unless you are perhaps AI. Your potential concerns are as far as I can see are founded on overseas events and as stated when (the wider) people see direct impact on their lives you may get the engagement you desire….that does not appear to be the case currently….if you can point to evidence otherwise then your chances of getting that engagement will increase.
Multiple times the NZ position and links have been provided. The thread included references to the the cost to the NZ health system.
You may pretend that women here are not speaking of the impact on NZ youth. We have, and will continue to do so.
The impact on women's rights in NZ is also happening here and now.
This is a NZ societal problem, that is following the pattern of overseas countries in regards to #NoDebate, legislation and impacts. That is why overseas links are provided.
I pretend nothing….it is not a concern that I perceive as requiring my attention (or that of anyone I know) nor does it appear to be a concern of anyone enough for it to be presented in the media, I have no accounts of any of this occurring here….all I see/hear is second hand interpretation of a stoush between (possibly academic) naval gazers half a world away….why would I devote any energy to it?
"Every week there are multiple important issues being reported about gender identity ideology and its impact on society. Almost none of it is being discussed in NZ except occasionally in MSM, or in antagonistic exchanges online. Most of what I am reading comes from feminists in the UK, predominantly left wing or centre left. I’ve been told I shouldn’t be talking about this on TS because this is a labour movement aligned blog, but these are fundamental issues that are part of class analysis. Sex sits alongside ethnicity and socioeconomics as the three great axes of class oppression and resistance and liberation."
a mistake I am unlikely to repeat…but you never know.
And just for the record – Poots openly embraces a Russian neo-colonial order. No ifs, no buts, no possible room for misinterpretation:
Vladimir Putin last night heralded a "new world order" as he took potshots at the West in a speech to business leaders.
The Russian tyrant said his country was a "powerful, sovereign nation" and claimed Moscow was entering a new era of dominance.
"We will definitely use the colossal opportunities provided by current times and will be even stronger," he vowed in a speech at St Petersburg International Economic Forum.
"It is obvious that the rules, the essence of the new world order, will be set by strong sovereign states," he said.
Countries who resist are "doomed to remain rightless colonies", Putin added.
Putin – whose speech was delayed by a cyber attack on the venue – said sanctions placed on Russia in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine were "mad and pointless".
All the tankies here who claimed he was just a poor misunderstood boy can now slink off in shame. You know who you are.
Interesting comment RL – how did you read, " Poots openly embraces a Russian neo-colonial order" when the text goes on to say, "It is obvious that the rules, the essence of the new world order, will be set by strong sovereign states," he said."
Incidentally, here is an alternative reporting of the same address. Seem to recall that other targets of your venom have expressed the view that the days of being corralled into a world where the US decides who is good and who is bad and who should live or who should die needs to end. The current 'world order' may have had been born of strong principles but they were corrupted long ago by the current 'colonial order'.
As for your smug 'piece de resistance ', it may have applied if you had your facts straight, but would have been no less insulting.
Not impressive, RedLogix. Cherry-picking the bits you want (or did you just skim the biased selection of quotes given in our media?)
I agree with aom, and see you as a more wishfully-thinking 'tankie' than even I used to be when I was young.
This is now a very dangerous situation. Neither side willing to give in, and escalation possible.
I don't think Putin was misunderstood: I think the USA was warned long ago by their own ambassador to Russia about how serious Putin and Russia were about the Ukraine.
But, of course, in your rose-tinted eyes, the USA would never have meddled in Ukrainian affairs, would it?
History will judge, if historians do not get wiped out with all the rest of us.
Constantly telling us how terrible the west is for all of its misdeeds in the past – while at the same time backing an imperial invasion of medieval barbarity happening right now, is the very definition of a traitorous bad faith hypocrisy.
Will no one think of the interminable suffering of the poor souls who initially planned to travel to the Cook Islands to look at potential locations for their upcoming wedding on their own but, after the first two changes, decided to bring their children and parents along as well.
/ /
“This time they’ve changed the flights by a whole day, so we’ve got to stay another night in the Cook Islands and pay for 10 more people’s accommodation,” Gardner said. “There are no other options, so you’ve got to accept it, but it’s like ‘are you guys going to help us out with accommodation?’. You can’t just find that out online.”
In reply to pat's view on gender issues. ‘Reply’ not currently working.
You are right pat.
The majority of people are not interested in the issue. When you take into consideration Climate Change, the potential for calamity due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, famine/pestilence and a worldwide upsurge in extreme violence then it isn’t surprising.
Of course it is an important issue for some, but ramming it down people’s throats is not going to help their cause. By all means put up posts on this site, but I sometimes get the impression there is an attempt to derail other topics under discussion on OM in favour of yet another round of the gender war fracas.
Pat I wanted to ask you but Molly got in first "why does it bother you that we post here?
And we can either follow mistakes made overseas or we can learn from them.
BTW I am absolutely against the increase in funding for these surgeries. Latest evidence from Sweedon shows outcomes are poor (ie. more psychiatric hosptalizations after surgery than before, high rates of suicide and more cardiac problems c/p with controls. This is very good 10 year follow up. So these surgeries aren’t that helpful to the people receiving them and I suspect the “solution” makes the problem worse. Will post link soon.
BTW if there was balanced reporting in the msm about these issues and women weren’t being shut down, it is unlikely I d post on here so
I am completely unperturbed by the posting on gender identity issues on The Standard….my post was in response to the question as to why so few are engaged with the topic for which I offered my perspective….if a small group wish to discuss the subject good luck to you but dont expect ( or demand even) everyone to share your enthusiasm.
…my post was in response to the question as to why so few are engaged with the topic for which I offered my perspective….if a small group wish to discuss the subject good luck to you but dont expect ( or demand even) everyone to share your enthusiasm.
What question? I didn't ask about this. I commented on the fact that gender identity unexamined causes great harm. And I pointed to the actual reason it's not being discussed: the success of No Debate.
I've not seen anything in your comments other than supposition that people aren't interested because transition affects as many people as rare cancers. But how would we know if there's been no public discussion? Further, people in positions of power (academics, medical people, therapists, politicians) are under intense pressure to not speak and not go against the ideology. That means little research, no precautionary principle, and badly written laws and policy. It's not some minor side issue, in the UK people are going to court over this.
Yet if we go the other way and introduce Christianity into the argument people can't wait to join the scrum. Strange world.
Quote:
“Contemporary trends in our culture are constantly changing and need careful attention: some young people experience significant confusion about their gender.”
A subsequent minor (re)lapse (on 17 Feb 2022) was to reply to Molly when a comment of mine (to observer) fell foul – this generated a lengthy exchange that ended amicably enough when I committed to not replying to Molly's comments, and Molly thought that was probably for the best:
This was to be expected if you have been following this issue. However, I didn't expect this situation. I can't blame prison officers. They can't defend themselves. They are underfunded and the hierarchy is useless.
However, Kelvin Davis, a reshuffle survivor, see's things differently.
My short term solution is use new police and army recruits on a rotational basis. That way they get to look evil in the face, unlike the second hand description they get from their instructors. It will also toughen them up both physically and mentally, especially mentally. If these recruits think inmates are only one step up in evolution from monkeys, they will be in for a huge shock to their middle class perceptions. It would also act as a filtering system that allows recruits to think twice about a career that puts them in continual danger.
My suggestion to Labour- call an early election. Either late November or May next year. You have lost control of NZ.
Skip to the Glossary at the end and see that it is all about "gender" and very little about sex. They refuse to give a definition of "homosexuality" and talk about same gender attraction rather than same sex attraction. Note also the inclusion of a "third sex".
They say that children are "assigned a sex at birth" when the truth is that your sex is determined at conception and is observed at birth – or these days by scans etc before birth.
"Sex assigned at birth: All babies are assigned a sex at birth, usually determined by a visual observation of external genitalia. A person’s gender may or may not align with their sex assigned at birth."
The whole curriculum is absolutely captured by, and infested with "gender ideology".
This is unscientific claptrap and one day quite soon some National Party activist is going to make a grand drama out of it.
The judgement comes from you. As someone who says that statement, I know that there is no judgement intended.
I cannot see another way of simply saying that there is a distinct class of the biological sex of women, and transwomen are not members of that group.
Do you have a suggestion on how to accomplish that?
Your suggestion?
No. I think that the current furore about "women with penises", and "men with vaginas", will diminish over time as some NZers come to realise that the magnitude of the ‘threat’ the trans minority poses was misjudged. I could be wrong – it's just a hope.
Not helpful, nor a solution driven approach. More an ignore those who think it's a problem scenario.
I thought back in October 2021, that it was a misunderstanding around language that interfered with robust discussion on this issue. I understood why some people said TWAW, even though I was not one of them, for the reasons stated. I had difficulty understanding why those that did say it, were so adamant that everyone should join in.
Since that first post, I've found the term women to be erased from medical policies and announcements here in NZ, despite evidence showing that such 'inclusive' language reduces the effectiveness and clarity of messages. I've seen how the conflation of sex and gender in political and public discussions is further hampered by the redefinition of the word woman.
There is no other single word to describe adult human females, which is necessary in advocacy and support in terms of politics, social impacts, medicine and statistics.
I've considered and assessed the problem and agree with the solution that was recognised by many before me.
The word woman is already fully occupied by adult human females.
The rainbow, with all its "pretty colours", does seem to confuse and threaten some, while others feel it should be brighter still. Most Kiwis haven't given the rainbow much thought beyond a few harmless casual comments and a little trivial discrimination here and there – your non-tribal approach can change this and build trusting relationships.
How this situation is not of concern to everyone is an indication of how tribal some seem to be.
Not trying to be clever, just occasionally run out of patience.
Thanks for the link to my relevant post. Don't really understand the relevance or remember using the phrase "neon glare of the rainbow" – but I quite like it.
Is that really my most unforgivable quote? … obviously must try harder.
(BTW, arnica's good for persistent bruising on thin skin.)
An intriguing diversion, but your phrase "neon glare of the rainbow" is "revealing". Little wonder that you quite like it – "pretty colours" and all.
Not seeing how its use is consistent with your apparent concerns about “how tribal some seem to be“, but do hope you will use it more often, in keeping with your “stunning and brave” mindset.
[edit] Thank for the arnica advice – another great example of how your non-tribal approach can build trusting relationships.
As you are contributing no counter considerations, offering no information or articulating other perspectives on this topic, but instead choosing to whinge, I have resorted to the lowest form of wit – sarcasm.
As do I. No whinging here – please use your (non-sarcastic?) phrase "the neon glare of the rainbow", with its "pretty colours", as often as you "quite like it", and its relevance to "how tribal some seem to be" may dawn on you.
On a laptop this morning, so now able to access my comment with the notorious, but somewhat adept turn of phrase "neon glare of the rainbow", to see why it was so memorable. (Phone only provided link to post itself, and all comments were inaccessible.)
Leery as I am of obviously truncated "quotes", I wanted to assure myself that I was indeed the author of the obviously memorable phrase, (kudos to me if that was the case) and have a look at the context.
So, on a post about the lack of medical evidence for children, and the fact that countries that have reviewed existing studies have found harm, and exchange with Sabine about the lack of public discussion, and the self-monitoring on the left led to this:
"Women raising concerns are definitely being treated differently to men raising the same concerns, even as those concerns are ignored.
I feel as if women's rights have almost melted away in the neon glare of the rainbow, and that is powered by all the co-opted institutions and governments who are dazzled by the pretty colours.
How this situation is not of concern to everyone is an indication of how tribal some seem to be."
Colour me red and yellow and pink and green, indigo, violet and blue – I am the witty author. Better still, I find myself in complete agreement with myself, in terms of the context of the post and the conversation that was taking place.
Perhaps you could ask yourself why in a post, with many comments on the very real problem of iatrogenic harm to minors by the adoption of such badly evidenced "affirming healthcare" (with a multitude of links and references to research) your 'takeaway' was offense at the somewhat colourful turn of phrase, "neon glare of the rainbow"?
Your clumsy attempt to imply that it means I have no consideration for others, rather than the clear statement that the movement and it's allies demands no scrutiny or critique is worrying.
Perhaps, not surprising though, because when offered a veritable smorgasbord of evidence and a wide variety of talking points where alternative viewpoints were encouraged and would be valuable, you instead opted for the junk food option of the 'takeaway'.
I thank you for the reminder of the phrase "neon glare of the rainbow". I think it describes succinctly the failure of many to do their due diligence in terms of policies, medical interventions, women's rights and child safeguarding in the pursuit of progressive credentials.
I will be using it again, in such context.
As a relic who lived through the eighties, neon glare has little effect on me, but others with weaker eyes may need to put on their sunglasses and start engaging about content rather than choosing 'a fence' to whinge from.
(Bad punning is a result of losing patience with bad faith engagement. You'll obviously have to learn to deal with it, if you engage again with me without providing any relevant points of discussion, or challenging mine with clarity.)
"Women raising concerns are definitely being treated differently to men raising the same concerns, even as those concerns are ignored.
I feel as if women's rights have almost melted away in the neon glare of the rainbow, and that is powered by all the co-opted institutions and governments who are dazzled by the pretty colours.
How this situation is not of concern to everyone is an indication of how tribal some seem to be.
Thank-you for that quote Molly. I did not see the original.
I'm not removed from your concerns. Indeed I can testify to the accuracy of that statement – at least in general terms.
Years ago, I realised I had knowledge of a tiny group of NZers who were implicated in the preparations occurring in advance of the Rainbow Warrior bombing. I was not listened to (because I was a woman) and the culprits were never arrested and charged. I was not harmed [physically] in the immediate ensuing years but my pets were. Enough time has passed now for me to feel able to talk about it.
Go well with your campaign against the rights of women to be listened to… and to be protected from those who do them harm in whatever way it may be.
Curiously I have 2 children who are teachers and in my discussions with them I have detected no such problem…that may be because as with most of the curriculum it is tempered by the common sense of those implementing it.
If there were instances in NZ of minors being forcibly given hormone treatment or surgery i dont doubt that the opposition and media would all over it like a rash….the opportunity would be too good to miss…as to oddly intentioned (minority) health and/or education advocates it is par for the course and parents will consider it as it warrants….adults are free to make their own minds up, right or wrong.
"If there were instances in NZ of minors being forcibly given hormone treatment or surgery.."
I haven't read any comments mentioning that minors are forcibly given treatment. I, along with others, have pointed out that the current "affirming healthcare" model currently in use for minors in New Zealand, is being abandoned by countries who have reviewed the clinical evidence for such an approach.
Not only have those reviews found that treatment for minors is not beneficial, it results in net harms. NZ follows the WPATH and Yogyakarta Principles guidelines. Neither of which is medically based, or clinically evidenced. For some reason, this information is ignored by NZ media, and also, on political blogs such as TS.
"i dont doubt that the opposition and media would all over it like a rash….the opportunity would be too good to miss…"
Except this might not be the case if commentators and media self-censor and regulate.
Not a fan of Ben Shapiro, but didn't know the story behind the clip so did a search, and found this short video of Ben Shapiro covering the background.
However, I wanted to see how the producers and the others on the show responded to a panelist actually physically grabbing someone by the neck and threatening them with physical violence.
So, after looking I found the whole segment. Timeset it to get the response after the incident. You only need to watch a couple of minutes to see how the blatant violence is ignored and excused:
Now, if Ben Shapiro had grabbed Zoey Tur on the back of the neck and threatened to put Zoey in the back of the ambulance – what would the response have been?
Has the left created a sacred class to be excused from any responsibility at all costs?
Do you really believe that in a climate such as this, you are going to be kept informed by media and the opposition?
Has the left created a sacred class to be excused from any responsibility at all costs?
It does this all the time. What you are finally seeing with this trans activism is the logical outcome of a process going back decades or more.
Frankly I am appalled beyond words – and I do not often use that word – at the butchery of teenage bodies (male and female) being sacrificed at the altar of this mad cult. But then like many men I get the distinct message this is in is some unspecified way all our fault anyway – and it is required we STFU.
I hear you regarding your discomfort and disagreement with aligning with feminists on this issue. I have the same aversion to in any way promoting someone like Matt Walsh, who I find uninteresting for the most part, and has very traditional gender stereotypes which GC feminists have fought against for decades – for both sexes.
However, as my concern is for women's rights and the protection of children from indoctrination and iatrogenic harm, I agree where agreement is warranted. I also acknowledge his circle of influence is not only huge, but is located in a demographic where few GC feminists will be found. He might intrigue his viewers enough to find out more, and we should all endeavour to make sure as much robust evidence, considerations and arguments is out there to find as possible. I post not to annoy but inform, although it often does the former only for certain commenters. That's of little concern to me, I just hope some may read and then go look for themselves.
I consider it a foolish expectation for me to need you to be a feminist before agreeing on this issue. By the same token, I don't really think you'd expect me not to be one.
If you consider the issue regarding the iatrogenic harm on minors to be of concern enough to stand beside those who raise the issue then there is a welcome space there.
Choice to engage – and how to engage – lies with us all.
On the theme of left progressiveness, I've also been surprised at how many topics are approached tribally with an expectation of total agreement or banishment.
The choice of many on the left to be authoritarian when the option was available. Mandates and compulsory vaccinations were treated as the only solution rather than a preferred one.
And I am beyond defending the current narrative that leaves the right as the only proponents of free speech.
Where are our left wing defenders of free speech?
At a time when even left and right should be working together as often as possible, I find myself politically homeless. I don't think I'm alone in this dilemma.
Red Logix, I don't blame men for the what is/has happened with gender ideology. I am a little frustrated that some progressive left wing men are not listening to women who are concerned about gender ideology. But I am frustrated with the women who don't seem to grasp what is going on either.
There is almost total censorship in this country in the msm about how gender ideology pervades most of our institutions and many businesses. The msm, particularly Stuff seem to carry an inordinate amount of material which can either only be considered pro trans. They almost without exception ignore any gender critical views or if they mention them, they use terms like "controversial group SUFW". I have yet to see an article about SUFW which reveals what the organisation is truly about. Even though the Judge in the case in Palmerston North High Court stated that SUFW could not be considered a hate group, they are presented as such by the media.
As the media are not doing their job, I think it is not possible to argue that the problems with gender ideology are only happening overseas.
Looks like the reply problem is fixed. It was a javascript minifier at cloudflare.
However I also found that the license for w3 total cache had disappeared. Chasing that now. Explains a sluggishness that has been showing up recently on the site.
I also have hardware for a new home server (and TS host) arriving. Should all be here by tuesday.
asrock rack x570d2u, The main reason for that upgrade is that it has a acceptable BMC for IPMI on it, and I wasn't that interested in doing a xeon system. If supermicro had a workstation/server board for a desktop AMD, then I'd have gotten that. Ryzen 5700G and 64GB RAM.
The disks will just get pulled from the old system ~20Tb of them. But I will look at upgrading the raid 1 array from TS from IBM 120Gb SSDs to something faster.
The old workstation (Ryzen 1700X) will probably get a facelift with a newer GPU, widescreen, and maybe a 3000 series CPU that the x370 chipset supports. But I don't play games apart from Civ6 these days, so I don't think I can be bothered upgrading it to far.
The 5700G looks damn near perfect for a non-gaming work station. Not too dear. Not too hot at 65W on the TPD. Significant grunt if you're doing anything that can use multi-threaded efficiently.
I'll probably just leave this one as air-cooled. The 1700X it is replacing was a nominal 95W, so I water cooled it just in case. I could hear it on air cooled when I ran long compiles. But I never heard it after I water cooled it.
I used a Asus X370 Prime motherboard last time. Hasn't burped at all in the last 5 years of continuous. I'll probably keep it running as the archive server.
I picked the motherboard this time for an ability to do remote updates without having to have the CPU running. 5 months working in Singapore in 2018 made that a very desirable feature this time around.
That is logical – because v6 had been working well for some days now. I was pleased to see that at long last I could reply on my Android phone reliably all week – something that was always very flaky in the past.
It seemed odd to me that a new version would work well for a week and then fail; therefore the problem lay elsewhere.
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Buzz from the BeehiveThe text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary. It can be quickly analysed ...
For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
Questions need to be asked on both sides of the worldPeter Williams writes – The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop:The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
TL;DR:Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
Bob Edlin writes – The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
The Government has accepted Labour’s change to the Road User Charge (RUC) discount for hybrid vehicles, meaning there will still be some incentive for people to buy greener vehicles. ...
Kicking the most vulnerable people out of state housing and pushing them towards homelessness will result in a proliferation of poverty and trauma across our most vulnerable communities. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. “I’m calling on all political parties to support my ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
The New Zealand public voted for a change in direction at the 2023 general election and that is exactly what this coalition government has been delivering in its first 100 days. There was an immediate focus on the economy, easing the cost of living, cracking down on law and order ...
The Government has left the health system as an afterthought, announcing half-baked targets at the last minute of their 100-day plan, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
Kiwis are still waiting for their promised cost of living support after 100 days of a National Government that is taking us backwards, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
100 days of National taking NZ backwardsThe National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
The Government must commit to funding free and healthy school lunches, as thousands of people sign the petition to keep them, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti says. ...
If the Government was serious about moving families into public housing, they would build more houses so there is actually somewhere for people to go. ...
The free and healthy school lunches programme feeds our kids, helps them to learn, and saves families money – but it is at risk under this Government, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
The Government’s proposed changes to Firearms Prohibition Orders (FPO) add almost nothing new and are merely an attempt to distract from its plans to loosen gun laws, police spokesperson Ginny Andersen and justice spokesperson Dr Duncan Webb said. ...
The great Victorian era English politician Lord Macauley stood in the British House of Parliament and said, "The gallery in which the reporters sit has become a fourth estate of the realm".He understood and outlined even way back then, the significant role and influence media have in a democracy. ...
The government’s attack on Māori health this week is committing tangata-whenua to a premature death, says Te Pāti Māori. “The government have begun their onslaught on Māori health with the abolishment of the Māori Health Authority and smokefree laws in the same day” said health spokesperson and co-leader, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. ...
"The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April. ...
Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand. Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships. “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland Acknowledgements and opening Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says. “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024 Acknowledgements and opening Morena, Nga Mihi Nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country. “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week. “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee. “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today. “The Amendment Paper represents ...
Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level. “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024. “Lower fruit and vege ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction. Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness. It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology. It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
Pacific Media Watch Ismail al-Ghoul, an Al Jazeera Arabic correspondent who was held for 12 hours at Gaza’s al-Shifa hospital, says Israeli forces rounded up Palestinian journalists at the facility and made them kneel on the ground for hours, while naked and blindfolded. “The occupation forces handcuffed and blindfolded us ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tony Wood, Program Director, Energy, Grattan Institute chinasong, Shutterstock Electricity customers in four Australian states can breathe a sigh of relief. After two years in a row of 20% price increases, power prices have finally stabilised. In many places they’re ...
Chumbawamba have reportedly issued the deputy PM a cease-and-desist notice after he used their song 'Tubthumping' before his state of the nation speech. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Deborah Lupton, SHARP Professor, Vitalities Lab, Centre for Social Research in Health and Social Policy Centre, and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society, UNSW Sydney kitzcorner/Shutterstock The assertion from Queensland’s chief health officer John Gerrard that ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Shutterstock Why are musicians so keen to get played on the radio? It can’t be because of the money. In Australia they are paid at rates so low they ...
"Farmers make a point not to tell our urban cousins how to live, yet Chlöe from central Auckland is hell-bent on having her say about farmers," says ACT Rural Communities spokesman Mark Cameron. “On her first day in the House as Green ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards – Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Curran, Associate Professor of Ecology, Lincoln University, New Zealand Getty Images/Gerald Corsi In the latest move to reform environmental laws in New Zealand, the coalition government has introduced a bill to fast-track consenting processes for projects deemed to ...
Uber has argued it does not have as much control over drivers as the unions suggest, and wants a judgment ruling that drivers are employees and not contractors set aside and sent back to the Employment Court. The 2022 ruling followed a three-week hearing in which four drivers sought to ...
What can and can’t be purchased by disabled people or their carers has been slashed in an effort by the Ministry of Disabled People Whaikaha to save money. The purchasing guidelines, a set of rules that sets out what can be purchased using the various streams of Government disability funding, ...
The Treasury has published today a new Analytical Note by Tod Wright and Hien Nguyen, Fiscal incidence in New Zealand: The effects of taxes and benefits on household incomes in tax year 2018/19 . Analyses of the distributional impact of taxation and government ...
The Treasury has published today a new Analytical Note by Cory Davis, Boston Hart and Benjamin Stubbing, Household cost-of-living impacts from the Emissions Trading Scheme and using transfers to mitigate regressive outcomes . This Analytical Note ...
A coalition of public transport and climate organisations, united as ‘Transport for All’, is actively opposing the government’s transport proposals. The draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) includes plans for higher fares for public transport, ...
Greater Wellington is inviting feedback on proposed changes to its Revenue and Financing Policy. The Revenue and Financing Policy covers the Council’s various sources of funding, and how the cost of services is shared across the region. This includes ...
Labour has conceded it could have done more to deal with disruptive state housing tenants while in government but says the current coalition is going too far. ...
The band has asked their record label to issue a cease and desist to stop the NZ First leader using their 1997 hit to support his ‘misguided political views’. “I get knocked down, but I get up again,” blared through the speakers on Sunday as Winston Peters took the stage ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist Food rationing is underway in remote areas in Papua New Guinea’s Highlands following torrential rain and flash flooding. More than 20 people have been reported dead in Chimbu Province. In nearby Enga Province, the centre of last month’s massacre, a 15-year-old boy has been ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Hughes, Lecturer, Research School of Management, Australian National University After months of debate and intrigue, the AFL’s 19th and newest team, the Tasmania Devils, finally launched its jumper, logo and colours in Devonport this week. The Devils will wear green, ...
Brannavan Gnanalingam reviews the debut novel by Saraid de Silva.One of the most baffling things for children who move to a new country is what their parents’ (or grandparents’) lives were like prior to moving – for kids in particular, they’re too busy trying to fit in in their ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Gaunson, Associate Professor in Cinema Studies, RMIT University Narelle Portanier/Binge “If you don’t know who your mob are, you don’t know who you are,” Detective Andrea “Andie” Whitford (played by Leah Purcell) is told early into the new crime ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elise Klein, Associate professor, Australian National University It’s commonly accepted that women do the vast majority of caregiving in Australian society. But less appreciated is that Indigenous women do larger amounts of unpaid care than any other group. Working with the Aboriginal ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne Joe Biden and Donald Trump have both secured their parties’ nominations for the November 5 United States general election by winning a ...
Comment: There has been a striking contrast in trans-Tasman interest about Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi’s visit to New Zealand and Australia. While the Australian press has been full of articles about the visit – including his curious decision to meet with former prime minister and China booster Paul Keating ...
After years of pressuring banks and other institutions to stop investing in fossil fuels, climate campaigners are making some progress. So how does divestment work?For years, climate activists have been pushing banks and other big institutions to divest from fossil fuels. New research from climate advocacy group 350 Aotearoa ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. The three young Polynesians are part of a K-pop fan community in Tāmaki Makaurau. It’s one of many that have sprung up worldwide as K-pop has gone ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. This one-off documentary presents three intimate portraits of young Polynesians who are pulled into a Korean cultural phenomenon. K-POLYS is directed by Litia Tuiburelevu, Produced by Hex ...
There’s ample evidence demonstrating free school lunch programmes provide wide benefits across schools, households and communities according to public health researchers. ACT Minister David Seymour wants to reduce the spending on Aotearoa New Zealand’s ...
By Wata Shaw in Suva Fiji is facing an exodus of Fijians as many are leaving for overseas seeking employment and education and others are migrating, says Opposition MP Viliame Naupoto. Speaking in Parliament, he said: “His Excellency’s speech (Ratu Wiliame Katonivere) comes after a little over one year of ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming comments from Christopher Luxon this morning recommitting to ‘no new taxes’ as part of Budget 2024. “Mr Luxon’s refusal at the Post-Cabinet press conference yesterday to repeat the ‘no new taxes’ promise ...
SAFE is urgently calling on the Environment Committee to reject the Government’s Fast-Track Approvals Bill, and is urging New Zealanders to rally behind the call. The proposed Bill, currently under consideration with the Environment select committee, ...
Teammates who spend all their time picking fights with spectators are only helpful for the other team, writes Madeleine Chapman. Anyone who has ever played a team sport competitively, particularly as a child and particularly, for some reason, basketball, will know that there’s a lot of politics involved. While there ...
The long-running Wellington music festival is too focused on the Jim Beam-ness and not enough on the Homegrown-ness.There is something about Homegrown that’s difficult to place. A barely perceptible-ness. Like feeling a ghost is watching you from the corner of the room but when you look, there’s nothing there. ...
The latest Ipsos New Zealand Issues Monitor reveals that fewer New Zealanders believe crime / law and order is one of the top issues facing our country. In 2018, Ipsos New Zealand started tracking the key issues facing New Zealand. In this wave ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Griffiths, Deputy Program Director, Budgets and Government, Grattan Institute Australia’s political donations rules are woefully inadequate, but donations reform is finally on the agenda. The federal government has signalled its interest in reform and will soon begin briefing MPs on its ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Patrick Taylor, Chief Environmental Scientist, EPA Victoria; Honorary Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Naiyana Somchitkaeo/Shutterstock A recent study published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine has linked microplastics with risk to human health. The study ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Global climate records were shattered in 2023, from air and sea temperatures to sea-level rise and sea-ice extent. Scores of countries recorded their hottest year ...
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a teacher explains why he and his partner are in frugal mode – and how they’re making it work. Gender: Male Age: 35Ethnicity: Pākehā Role: I am an intermediate school teacher and my partner is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Bendall, Senior Lecturer, Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences, Australian Catholic University Binge Mary & George, the new British television drama series, depicts the real-life story of Mary Villiers and her son George, and their social climbing at the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jason Nassios, Associate Professor, Centre of Policy Studies, Victoria University This article is part of The Conversation’s series examining the housing crisis. Read the other articles in the series here. Australian state and federal governments spend money in many ways to ...
The finance minister is denying that there’s a $5.6b shortfall in paying for the government’s campaign promises, including tax cuts. At his post-cabinet press conference yesterday, the PM refused to rule out new taxes to pay for the cuts, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s ...
Kāinga Ora tenants abused by their neighbours are doubting the government's crackdown on disruptive tenants will make a difference on their behaviour. ...
Kāinga Ora is New Zealand’s biggest residential landlord, housing more than 180,000 vulnerable people in more than 67,000 properties. Yesterday the government announced a crackdown on its tenants who fall behind on rent. One longtime Kāinga Ora tenant shares her experience.For 18 years I lived in a 1960s standalone ...
Why does this myth persist, and what’s the real reason our skin is suffering?It’s one of the biggest international grievances New Zealanders hold, up there with the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior and 1981’s underarm incident. We’re quick to tell international travellers that the world’s pollution led to the ...
Opinion: In a move that has shocked road safety advocates across the country, the new Minister of Transport, Simeon Brown, is poised to abandon the previous government’s speed limit reduction policy, particularly around schools. Even more alarmingly, he wants school speed limits to be variable rather than full-time, arguing ...
Auckland Council is opposing a fast-track development backed by Sir John Kirwan and Spark NZ, because it doesn’t meet stringent new climate adaptation requirements The post Surf-data centre faces new 3.8C climate warming rules appeared first on Newsroom. ...
When the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act was introduced in 2009 it was firmly targeted at gangs and drugs. The legislation means police no longer need a conviction to seize assets that criminals can’t prove were paid for legitimately, as long as their alleged offences are punishable by more than a ...
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In his latest speech, Putin declares Europe to be a colony of the US imperialists.
That this old world order is now over.
Personally I think Putin is overstating the case of Europe's subservience to US imperialism. Putin is overstating the power and influence of US imperialism for his own imperialist motives.
In my opinion this is a declaration of war of one imperialist bloc against another.
Putin thinks the US is in decline and that it is Russia's turn to be the global hegemonic power.
Putin may be right about the first part, but wrong about the second. In my opinion; The world does not need another hegemonic power. The age of imperialism and war needs to come to an end.
https://www.rt.com/russia/557346-putin-spief-speech-takeaways/?
With his speech Vladimir Putin has announced that WWIII for a new imperial redivision of the world has started.
The new leader of the British armed forces, General Sir Patrick Sanders, who assumed command of the British army last Monday, yesterday ordered the British army to prepare to fight in Europe in what he called WWIII.
https://www.world-today-news.com/british-general-warns-his-troops-to-be-ready-to-fight-russia-in-world-war-iii/
What leaves me most concerned is not so much the assorted tankies and traitors who cheer on on the fascists and autocrats – but that the west is far too complacent and to a degree socially degenerate. In this Putin has a point – and he has judged his moment well.
Sanders is correct in his appraisal, that this is round one of a much tougher contest than most people imagine just yet.
+1
As Britain (and presumably other European military forces), prepare for a wider war in Europe. To become a truly global conflict between the super powers, Just as Imperial Japan did when the European powers were last engaged in war in Europe, China may take the opportunity to advance its imperial interests. The known flashpoints where this conflict will break out are the LAC and Taiwan.
https://theprint.in/defence/india-us-to-hold-high-altitude-military-exercise-amid-chinas-alarming-build-up-along-lac/988648/
WWIII edges closer.
Yup. It gets depressing fast.
After that I'm not sure depressing covers it.
Every week there are multiple important issues being reported about gender identity ideology and its impact on society. Almost none of it is being discussed in NZ except occasionally in MSM, or in antagonistic exchanges online. Most of what I am reading comes from feminists in the UK, predominantly left wing or centre left. I’ve been told I shouldn’t be talking about this on TS because this is a labour movement aligned blog, but these are fundamental issues that are part of class analysis. Sex sits alongside ethnicity and socioeconomics as the three great axes of class oppression and resistance and liberation.
One of the most serious aspects is the huge rise in the number of girls seeking to transition in the UK. Gender ideology applauded this, feminists are saying wtaf, girls hate their sexed bodies so much they’d rather have radical surgery and lifetime hormonal treatment than be a gender non conforming girl or lesbian.
NZ Labour just increased funding for transition. This wouldn’t be a problem except for the No Debate and affirmation only political positions that mean medical and psychological services are under pressure to not provide alternative care for distressed youth. If you want to see how badly this can go, read this.
https://twitter.com/victoriapeckham/status/1537756546880380930
Alternate link in case that goes behind a paywall https://archive.ph/iG971
If you are bothered by that being in a conservative paper, understand that the liberal press refused to cover these issues for many years.
https://twitter.com/suzanne_moore/status/1537840392271536128
https://twitter.com/bindelj/status/1537843309846093824
What percentage of people have the inclination, necessity or bandwidth to devote their attention to this in the current environment do you think?
It’s a political choice. People here have plenty of energy for the war in the Ukraine, or another round of bullshit from Nact.
Obviously it matters more to women. And gay people.
Id suggest the overwhelming majority of people dont consider it is or will be an issue for them and if it ever was they would deal with it in their own manner, if they ever consider it at all……meanwhile there is a roof to put over the head and mouths to feed.
maybe people should consider for the following reasons
a. this is tax payer funded surgery – no matter if it goes well or not
b. the issues stemming from these tax payer funded surgeries and the need for further medical intervention will and is already paid for by the tax payer
c. these surgeries are coming with a hefty carbon foot print
d. these children will be the adults of tomorrow – but then why would anyone alive today complain about that, right it does not affect us here today.
e. like with Contergan in Germany it took a while for the medical establishment to understand and accept the side effects of Contergan – the children with no arms. legs and hands protruding from their shoulders, deformed feet etc etc etc, but eventually it got to much, these kids were suddenly everywhere, and people could see the harm and were rightfully shocked by deformities these children were born with due to a pill that should have been taken of the shelf much earlier. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thalidomide_scandal
f. some – quite a few actually, detransition later in life to find themselves 'nullified' if their genital surgery went fucked beyond believe (i.e. no gentials at all just a urethra), or in need of revisions to keep depth (neo vagina) or in need for a liposuction (if the fake penis is made of upper leg skin/tissues as that is where women (the born ones) typically grow fat – this is for the ones that value girth over length or something, or with life time issues in their arm that provided the tissue/skin/nerve material for a fake penis . Never mind the infections, sepsis etc etc etc. All tax payer funded, and every revision and fixings of another medical problem is too.
I get it, no one cares about males in female prisons, no one cares about males in female sport, or males in female changing rooms. After all this benefits males at the expense of woman (born women) . Something the left and some on the right are quite happy about this. Born women are just low testosterone men, and thus are exactly! (TM) the same as men. No difference between Mum n Dad, no siree, and all that is tax payer funded.
In the meantime we warehouse our homeless who have no roof over their heads to the cost of a million a day in rundown motels. We hand out 300.000 + food grants for people who can’t feed their families and so on and so forth.
So while you don't mind getting kids castrated and sterilised before they even have a notion of sex, lust, orgasm, and maybe reproduction, you might mind the cost that is carried by you, and everyone else around you.
When it touches peoples lives they will devote attention to it…as with everything…until then it remains an academic exercise with no expectation of personal impact.
How many devote their time and energy to researching/discussing/advocating on rare cancers?….those that do have personal experience or academic interest….the wider public dont.
Thanks, Sabine.
The impact on the ongoing health budget, and the consequential reduction in other areas should be discussed more.
Life time hormonal supplements and dealing with the resultant side effects comes at a high cost.
NZ state provision of trans affirming surgeries is either:
1. Cosmetic surgery (Why?)
2. Life-saving surgery (How?)
This is a huge medical intervention budget, that will result in burgeoning future healthcare requirements for those 'treated'. And declining budgets for others relying on the system for treatment.
I can see two sides to this.
One is that any topic or issue ranks somewhere on a ladder of priorities and importance & relevance. It is a personal and political choice to devote attention to it and ‘the cause’. This is often seen as a zero-sum game because of our limited attention spans and time constraints, et cetera.
The other one is that arguably this specific topic area links directly with even bigger and longstanding issue that ought to pique the attention and interest of many more progressively minded people, e.g. here on TS. In other words, it is not mutually exclusive and not a zero-sum game, but rather quite the opposite.
It seems to me that the division seemingly into two camps is artificial, unnecessary, and possibly even deliberate, i.e. divide and conquer. The latter raises the question of cui bono?
neoliberalism and the death cult stands to gain.
Didn't really understand what you are meaning. If you mean there are two sides in the gender/sex wars, then yes, broadly there are. On TS isn't not necessary, people can argue whatever they want. Thing that I find surprising is people going 'oh I tried to say something and got knocked back, so I won't bother again'. I've seen that before but it does seem to be a feature of this debate, as if suddenly people don't want to debate.
And who are they? People of flesh & blood or figments of the imagination?
It’s slightly concerning that you of all people here seem to struggle with understanding what others are saying in this space. So, let me try again, because it was my direct response to what pat and you had said.
As I see it, some view the “gender/sex wars” through a reductionist lens as an isolated issue. As such, one can fairly easily choose to take or leave (dismiss) it. I think this represents pat’s view.
Others may view these wars through a holistic lens as (directly or inextricably) linked to larger issues such as class war, as you pointed out @ 2. As such, one cannot easily ignore and dismiss “gender/sex wars”. I believe this represents your view.
HTH
As an aside, I read of No Debate, women-only spaces, and some perceptions of people not feeling welcome to join the debate (e.g. STFU or scroll on) and it is clear that nothing is clear, that confusion is ubiquitous, and mixed messages are the rule rather than the exception. I’ll leave it for others to judge whether this is an accurate description of ‘the lay of the land’, and, if so, whether it is positive.
These debates are the most highly charged of all, quite possibly because we’re all implicated, one way or another, at a more direct personal level, whether we like it or not. This may also be the reason why this is one of the most difficult issues to debate well and why people disengage, perhaps simultaneously swaying from the holistic view to the more reductionist singular issue PoV in a the-glass-is-half-empty-or-the-glass-is-half-full kinda binary manner.
Physician heal thyself.
It’s terminal, I’m afraid.
It's a controversy in every space: culture, politics, religion, medicine, sex, education, philosophy, and personal identity. And when children (or sports!) are involved people get emotional, unable to explore the issues in a fair minded way. Social media has made an issue that should be a rarefied specialist area of medicine into a toxic culture war.
It is a symptom of a wider identity crisis and loss of unifying narratives within the culture.
(Not to worry, the imperial corporate-military media have created a sparkly new cult for everyone!)
It is a holistic part of regressive efforts to relitigate social change over the last 60 years. That the same arguments are now being turned against gay and lesbian minorities is no surprise. Migrants and disabled people can't be far behind. Fear and othering are easy to tap into when people do not see the bigger picture.
What Sacha fails to even acknowledge is that lesbians have been losing a lot of ground because of GI. Australia is on the cusp of making it illegal for lesbians to exclude males who identify as a woman from gatherings, spaces etc.
Self-ID means that any man can say they are a woman at any time. It's not tied to birth certificates, it's tied to social mores.
Lesbians get banned from lesbian dating apps for saying they only want to date females. This is a safety issue, and it's also a rape culture issue. GI says that a man who identifies as a woman and as a lesbian is a woman and a lesbian. There is no such thing as female homosexuality after that.
It's true there is a conservative push against liberal gains of recent decades. And it's true that GI is *also removing women's rights at an alarming pace, and some left wing men are supporting this.
It's utter bullshit to suggest the problem is only progressive/conservative.
https://twitter.com/alliancelgb/status/1416292515041484802
Don’t really want to comment on the specific commenter other than to say that if he (an intelligent and genuine contributor here who, as far as I can judge, has much in common with you) and you cannot have a constructive discussion about this then there’s little hope left for a wider debate. I’ll leave it at that.
I’m gobsmacked if lesbians or anybody else for that matter cannot choose whom they want to date on dating apps. I did read the article in The Australian but it said nothing about dating apps!?
It's not if, it's already happening and has been for some time. The reason you don't know about it is because gender identity activists have been so successful with No Debate. I know about it because I listen to lesbians talking about it on twitter. There is a huge amount of discussion there about this.
Sacha believes that we are hijacking a labour movement blog. He has repeatedly misrepresented my views and mansplained feminism to me. Then he leaves and won't debate. He's a clear and compassionate thinking person generally, I have no useful explanation for why he is so poor on this and at presenting a coherent argument for his position but instead resorts to the above.
I'm pointing this out because this is a fairly consistent pattern within the war. GC women are open to informed debate. Gender identity people often aren't. I'm quite capable of a constructive conversation, you would have to take it up with him as to why he is not.
Beyond that, in the UK women just got on with organising, and that included constructive conversation. Left wing men can take themselves out of the conversation and women will just carry on without them. The debate isn't dependent on them, and can absolutely carry on. In the UK once people understood what was happening, the debate broadened significantly. That hasn't happened in NZ yet.
I have no desire to meddle in a stoush between you and another commenter. Personally, I think it can be resolved, even amicably, if both persons would wish this.
The topic (of GI wars) has indeed not crossed my radar, for various reasons.
NZ is a fairly small and isolated pool of people, which can be a curse or a blessing.
Personally, I don’t think unilateral debate and outcomes of that (decisions) is a viable way; at some stage others will have to be brought alongside, which is a description of inclusive leadership.
bit of a sore point. After years of watching feminists stop writing here because of the lack of support and because of antagonism from less progressive men, we now have to contend with progressive men actively working against us being here. I can easily write half a dozen posts right now about gender critical issues including what's been happening to lesbians. The reasons why I'm not are important. They're also the reason you and other didn't know about lesbian dating apps.
TWAW means any man who says he is a woman is a woman. That's the end of women's spaces, women's positions, women's sports (although there's been some progress on pushing back on that), women's safety, women's politics, and lesbianism.
Yes, I know it has been a sore point for you for some time and I’m sorry to hear that.
As I observe it, there seems to be a high level of confusion and mutual misunderstanding here on TS about these sorts of things. This has created a perception and thus a confirmation bias that there’s been a gap opening between feminists and progressive men on this site. Of course, there may always be a gap but not necessarily one that cannot be bridged with some respect, honesty & integrity, and whole lot of hard work to really understand what each side is saying (and not saying). Instead of closing/bridging the gap one side has pretty much walked away, the other is about to walk away and very few are left to hold the candle and continue. That doesn’t seem a sustainable situation to me. Best thing is if people could leave their baggage at the door and start afresh but I don’t think that’s realistic (even though I’m a dreamer).
I feel very much like an impartial observer here looking in …
The article and Ms Hoyle's release.
Twelve months on and nothing about the appeal.
https://archive.ph/9g0x4 (the australian)
https://feministlegal.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/FLC-Media-Release-Jessica-Hoyle.pdf
Not sure about that. There really are left wing men who believe that TWAW and therefore should be treated as women and women don't get to have say in that. The position by those men on TS is the same as elsewhere. It's not a misunderstanding, it's a fundamental disagreement.
Not really. There are other progressive men on TS who don't have a problem with feminists debating GI issues.
Who is about to walk away?
There are plenty of GI advocates here. In fact I would say there are more here talking about those issues now than in the past.
been trying to get back to this for days 🙂
I was thinking of the system. In which various people play various parts, and get various benefits or detriments. If the left hacks itself to death over liberalism, neoliberalism laughs all the way to the bank.
I always appreciate people clarifying, and it's not uncommon for me to not understand what people are saying here. So thanks for doing that.
the sex/gender war is easily the most difficult and the weirdest thing I've ever seen in politics.
Ok, thanks.
I agree that liberal thinking is engrained in the system and institutionalised, with all the negative impacts and outcomes that this causes, but I think it is mistake to fight a nameless and faceless system, rage against the machine. We should apply more surgical precision in trying to affect progressive change, hence the cui bono?
The system is a human construct, enabled by and enabling people, but the weird thing is that both beneficiaries and victims seem to be stuck on it (aka TINA) because they don’t know any(thing) better.
Fair comment about asking for clarification (aka when in doubt, ask).
The sex/gender wars do my head it, TBH. It does affect all of us to various degrees but the level of engagement runs from one extreme to the other polar opposite with a huge apathetic (and confused?) mass in between.
Completely agree. Although another dynamic there is people whose politics want system change, but whose personal comfort is ok under neoliberalism and likely to change significantly if we went to a better system. Or they perceive they would lose out because they cannot imagine anything better where everyone’s needs are met. Hence lots of NZers want the housing crisis solved but won't vote for the Greens who would change the system so that the housing crisis can be solved.
Add in the pressures of the pandemic and looming climate crisis and many people are hunkering down rather then stepping into proactive change. I suspect that part of identity politics is entangled in that. It's easy enough to support LGBTI+ on twitter for instance. Makes one feel progressive, but there is a dearth of actual organising around the class issues (sex and socioeconomic. Ethnicity in NZ seems to be doing somewhat better given the influence of Māori in parliament).
I don't see it as nameless and faceless. Labour are obviously running a neoliberal agenda tempered by social democracy and the politics of wellbeing within a country that is now largely neoliberal. It's good they're doing this rather than just straight out neoliberal centrism, but it's still BAU and blocking change. Labour benefit as a party, pro-neoliberalism MPs benefit, the middle classes benefit and so on. Neoliberalism (the system) is adept at colonising the left. Feminists started naming this in the 90s. The increasingly neoliberal mainstream took the bits of the feminist agenda it liked and could live with and integrated it and established it as the bona fide feminism.
Hence we have liberal feminism, choice feminism, lipstick feminism and so on. It's a feminism of how to be ok within the dominant paradigm. They're not feminisms that seek to liberate women by dismantling the patriarchy.
The overlaps between GI and liberal feminism are large and strong.
Catch-up mode.
Neoliberalism is indeed giving many the illusion of prosperity and wellbeing. This same illusion feeds into our collective delusion that although things are not ‘optimal’ yet and now, with a bit more time and patience things will be(come) better and for more people. This is the golden promise of the brighter future ahead that’s within reach of all as long as they work hard, have the right values, make the right decisions and take the right responsibility, et cetera.
Because neoliberalism is engrained and institutionalised, with a huge bureaucratic system behind it, it is the daily reality. For things to change one needs a couple of things: 1) a realisation that BAU is not ok and that change is needed; 2) a vision of a better alternative; 3) a mission on how to achieve the vision. I fear that many are losing confidence in the democratic and political processes and that the diminishing trust and hope will block any meaningful change. Our individual and atomised sense of helplessness, of not being in control or having very little influence over our lives, is growing into a collective Zeitgeist of the same negative feelings and general apathy. Only through an effective political and democratic process of some description (i.e. not the current version) can we hope to achieve a sense of empowerment to affect change and control our destiny.
It is worth noting that giving individuals or groupings in society a sense of empowerment is always resisted the most because once the gate/door is opened a little bit ‘all Hell will break lose’. Empowering people, all people, at all levels of society, that’s where our efforts should be, IMO. And I don’t think this is anything new of profound either.
Unclear if this is your inference (that people aren’t interested because cost of living crisis, covid etc), but two things
Dont think I could be much clearer…its a non issue for people, and if it became one they would deal with it when the time came.
I am also a person Pat. A female person. It is definitely not a non issue for me as a female person any more than equal pay for work of equal value, access to abortion anywhere around the world is a non issue. Is it because it may be an issue that is sometimes cared about and expounded on by women that it is a a non issue. I had actually thought that issues being divided intoot big world issues (men) and little domestic type issues (women) had gone long ago. If not then they should have gone ……
Issues are issues. some issues affect or interest different sets of people but they all affect us as human beings
Enough of this tyranny of others deciding who can speak and what they can speak on. Didn't this go out with the Ark as well.
Onward with the discussion …….the fact that some do not like the populace drawing attention to the fact that sometimes the Emperor has no clothes should be reason to stop us speaking out.
@pat 2.2.2.1
I'm included in 'people', Pat, and this is just some of what 'the issue' is for me:
1. The affirmative healthcare approach that has received additional funding has now had clinical reviews in several countries. Where this has happened, they have all concluded the net result is harm, and adjusted their treatment accordingly.
2. Any therapy funded will be affirmation only, not high quality exploratory, because the culture and the incoming 'conversion therapy' bill so celebrated by the not-bothered people, will actually facilitate the pathway to medical interventions whether appropriate for the individual or not.
3. There are psychological and mental health impacts of hormone treatment, often being given at a time of significant brain growth and maturation. This has consequences often ignored in discussions. Another impact on future well-being and health care needs.
4. What is the difference between a young man wanting breast augmentation, and a young woman of the same age wanting the same surgery? One will quality for augmentation under affirmative healthcare, the other will not. It becomes very clear what a woman is here.
5. As a result of the difference of biological sex, the hormonal impact on female transitioners is significant. Most male transitioners retain their genitalia, and if so, have a high likelihood of being able to come off their hormonal treatment and retain both full sexual function (which they may have retained anyway) and their fertility. Females, however, will undergo, medically induced menopause, with all it's congruent impacts. They will experience vaginal atrophy, with the possibility of pain during intercourse. The interruption of hormones to their sexual organs, often results in constant pain, which leads onto further surgeries to relieve that pain, including hysterectomies and oophorectomies. Both of which ensure infertility, and will affect the production of female hormones. The oophorectomy will ensure that from that point on, the woman will require synthetic hormone treatment for the rest of their life, even if they detransition. The future cost is locked in. The same is true for men who have an orchidectomy.
6. Not only is this medical care a concern, we are funding the promulgation of this approach in schools, NGO organisations, government departments, and institutions – ensuring that more will be encouraged to seek such treatments.
There is a wealth of reasons why this needs to be discussed on political platforms. There is also for many a benefit here, in seeing how this topic is treated and #NoDebate is achieved by social monitoring.
How this plays out in wider public discourse can be found here in a 2019 article on Transgender Trend which prints a letter that two GIDS professionals sent to the Guardian:
https://www.transgendertrend.com/2017-letter-gids-clinicians-ignored-guardian/
Regarding the Auckland mayoralty poll, Farrar and the Taxdodgers Union are not speaking directly to voters, they are speaking to the three far-right/centre-right candidates, urging one or more of them to pull out. He is deliberately suggestive in a post on his blog.
That is how they are interfering.
This is not a win for dignity and respect for any elderly woman compelled to share her personal living space with someone of the opposite sex, in a designated single-sex space.
https://news.yahoo.com/landmark-discrimination-suit-maine-nursing-124309139.html
GLAD thinks otherwise, of course:
https://www.glad.org/post/transgender-woman-reaches-landmark-settlement-with-maine-assisted-living-facility-that-denied-her-a-room/
It seems to be a surprise to a lot of people that women actually value women only spaces.
looks like replies aren't nesting. I'll let Lprent know.
Reply tabs appear not to be working.
@ Molly @3
Yes you are 'people'…unless you are perhaps AI. Your potential concerns are as far as I can see are founded on overseas events and as stated when (the wider) people see direct impact on their lives you may get the engagement you desire….that does not appear to be the case currently….if you can point to evidence otherwise then your chances of getting that engagement will increase.
@pat 8.0
Multiple times the NZ position and links have been provided. The thread included references to the the cost to the NZ health system.
You may pretend that women here are not speaking of the impact on NZ youth. We have, and will continue to do so.
The impact on women's rights in NZ is also happening here and now.
This is a NZ societal problem, that is following the pattern of overseas countries in regards to #NoDebate, legislation and impacts. That is why overseas links are provided.
I pretend nothing….it is not a concern that I perceive as requiring my attention (or that of anyone I know) nor does it appear to be a concern of anyone enough for it to be presented in the media, I have no accounts of any of this occurring here….all I see/hear is second hand interpretation of a stoush between (possibly academic) naval gazers half a world away….why would I devote any energy to it?
@pat 10.0
Since you gather neither information nor insight from posts or comments on this topic, nor provide any, what is your intent in contributing?
And therein lies the problem.
I commented to this….
"Every week there are multiple important issues being reported about gender identity ideology and its impact on society. Almost none of it is being discussed in NZ except occasionally in MSM, or in antagonistic exchanges online. Most of what I am reading comes from feminists in the UK, predominantly left wing or centre left. I’ve been told I shouldn’t be talking about this on TS because this is a labour movement aligned blog, but these are fundamental issues that are part of class analysis. Sex sits alongside ethnicity and socioeconomics as the three great axes of class oppression and resistance and liberation."
a mistake I am unlikely to repeat…but you never know.
And just for the record – Poots openly embraces a Russian neo-colonial order. No ifs, no buts, no possible room for misinterpretation:
All the tankies here who claimed he was just a poor misunderstood boy can now slink off in shame. You know who you are.
Interesting comment RL – how did you read, " Poots openly embraces a Russian neo-colonial order" when the text goes on to say, "It is obvious that the rules, the essence of the new world order, will be set by strong sovereign states," he said."
Incidentally, here is an alternative reporting of the same address. Seem to recall that other targets of your venom have expressed the view that the days of being corralled into a world where the US decides who is good and who is bad and who should live or who should die needs to end. The current 'world order' may have had been born of strong principles but they were corrupted long ago by the current 'colonial order'.
As for your smug 'piece de resistance ', it may have applied if you had your facts straight, but would have been no less insulting.
Not impressive, RedLogix. Cherry-picking the bits you want (or did you just skim the biased selection of quotes given in our media?)
I agree with aom, and see you as a more wishfully-thinking 'tankie' than even I used to be when I was young.
This is now a very dangerous situation. Neither side willing to give in, and escalation possible.
I don't think Putin was misunderstood: I think the USA was warned long ago by their own ambassador to Russia about how serious Putin and Russia were about the Ukraine.
But, of course, in your rose-tinted eyes, the USA would never have meddled in Ukrainian affairs, would it?
History will judge, if historians do not get wiped out with all the rest of us.
This speech speaks for itself – that you would defend such blatant neo-colonialism tells all.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCM6KIU-ppc
That you believe only one side is practising 'neo-colonialism' (I prefer to call it good old imperialism) also tells it all.
Although this guy plods a bit, I take him as seriously as Al Jazeera’s pro-western slants.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qciVozNtCDM&t=647s
Constantly telling us how terrible the west is for all of its misdeeds in the past – while at the same time backing an imperial invasion of medieval barbarity happening right now, is the very definition of a traitorous bad faith hypocrisy.
Mearscheimer get taken apart by Vexler:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBngLoLceI0
Thanks. Will watch, and report back to you on a later thread.
Will no one think of the interminable suffering of the poor souls who initially planned to travel to the Cook Islands to look at potential locations for their upcoming wedding on their own but, after the first two changes, decided to bring their children and parents along as well.
/ /
“This time they’ve changed the flights by a whole day, so we’ve got to stay another night in the Cook Islands and pay for 10 more people’s accommodation,” Gardner said. “There are no other options, so you’ve got to accept it, but it’s like ‘are you guys going to help us out with accommodation?’. You can’t just find that out online.”
https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/travel-troubles/300616084/people-are-suffering-no-imminent-end-to-air-new-zealand-call-centre-crisis
@pat 12.0
Let's have a look at what's conveyed in your first comment @ 2.2 :
"What percentage of people have the inclination, necessity or bandwidth to devote their attention to this in the current environment do you think?"
The reader in me interprets this as:
1. Justify your reason for posting on Open Mike;
2. You have other things you should be doing;
3. Everyone else has other things they should be doing.
No contribution at all, just admonition.
The pattern is recognisable, as is the cowardice in not just clearly saying:
'Shut up, why don't you?'
In reply to pat's view on gender issues. ‘Reply’ not currently working.
You are right pat.
The majority of people are not interested in the issue. When you take into consideration Climate Change, the potential for calamity due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, famine/pestilence and a worldwide upsurge in extreme violence then it isn’t surprising.
Of course it is an important issue for some, but ramming it down people’s throats is not going to help their cause. By all means put up posts on this site, but I sometimes get the impression there is an attempt to derail other topics under discussion on OM in favour of yet another round of the gender war fracas.
Pat I wanted to ask you but Molly got in first "why does it bother you that we post here?
And we can either follow mistakes made overseas or we can learn from them.
BTW I am absolutely against the increase in funding for these surgeries. Latest evidence from Sweedon shows outcomes are poor (ie. more psychiatric hosptalizations after surgery than before, high rates of suicide and more cardiac problems c/p with controls. This is very good 10 year follow up. So these surgeries aren’t that helpful to the people receiving them and I suspect the “solution” makes the problem worse. Will post link soon.
BTW if there was balanced reporting in the msm about these issues and women weren’t being shut down, it is unlikely I d post on here so
@Anne 16.0
"Of course it is an important issue for some, but ramming it down people’s throats is not going to help their cause."
Noted that your rare contributions are solely to pat the backs of those saying: Ssssh!
Simple solution – scroll on, Anne.
This topic might not be a concern for you, but those engaging honestly have provided me with links and information that I value.
Test comment using tinyMCE
Test comment as ckeditor (and reedited)
Test reply, using https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-18-06-2022/?replytocom=1895098#respond (i.e. RH click on Reply button in front-end, copy & paste into address bar.
Edit: Open Link in New Tab also works
It is a minify issue. Looks like cloudflare is using something called rocket to minify js.
@ Anker @17
I am completely unperturbed by the posting on gender identity issues on The Standard….my post was in response to the question as to why so few are engaged with the topic for which I offered my perspective….if a small group wish to discuss the subject good luck to you but dont expect ( or demand even) everyone to share your enthusiasm.
FFS Pat, if you're uninterested in a particular topic the polite thing to do would be to just scroll past.
And don't be mistaken by the quantity of participants , many just like to listen, so please don't be so rude.
What question? I didn't ask about this. I commented on the fact that gender identity unexamined causes great harm. And I pointed to the actual reason it's not being discussed: the success of No Debate.
I've not seen anything in your comments other than supposition that people aren't interested because transition affects as many people as rare cancers. But how would we know if there's been no public discussion? Further, people in positions of power (academics, medical people, therapists, politicians) are under intense pressure to not speak and not go against the ideology. That means little research, no precautionary principle, and badly written laws and policy. It's not some minor side issue, in the UK people are going to court over this.
@ Pat.
Yet if we go the other way and introduce Christianity into the argument people can't wait to join the scrum. Strange world.
Quote:
“Contemporary trends in our culture are constantly changing and need careful attention: some young people experience significant confusion about their gender.”
https://www.stuff.co.nz/bay-of-plenty/300613838/school-told-trans-student-god-doesnt-make-mistakes–then-they-tried-to-kill-themselves
Blade, there was a broader discussion on this incident on Open Mike 16/6/2022.
Sorry, have trouble linking when I'm on my phone.
Thanks for the heads up. I must have missed it.
To Pat (@12 / 21) – me too. My last major mistake was to provide an honest if ill-advised answer to a question posed at the end of a 13 October 2021 Guest post – didn't end well.
A subsequent minor (re)lapse (on 17 Feb 2022) was to reply to Molly when a comment of mine (to observer) fell foul – this generated a lengthy exchange that ended amicably enough when I committed to not replying to Molly's comments, and Molly thought that was probably for the best:
Now your comments have been linked to “cowardice“, and Anne has also fallen short.
Not all perspectives are equally welcome or easy to understand – that's to be expected.
This was to be expected if you have been following this issue. However, I didn't expect this situation. I can't blame prison officers. They can't defend themselves. They are underfunded and the hierarchy is useless.
However, Kelvin Davis, a reshuffle survivor, see's things differently.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/128981532/nearly-800-frontline-prison-jobs-unstaffed-as-guards-quit-in-droves
My short term solution is use new police and army recruits on a rotational basis. That way they get to look evil in the face, unlike the second hand description they get from their instructors. It will also toughen them up both physically and mentally, especially mentally. If these recruits think inmates are only one step up in evolution from monkeys, they will be in for a huge shock to their middle class perceptions. It would also act as a filtering system that allows recruits to think twice about a career that puts them in continual danger.
My suggestion to Labour- call an early election. Either late November or May next year. You have lost control of NZ.
.
Pat – you might like to have a look at what your children/grandchildren/ younger relatives etc are being taught today in New Zealand.
schools. https://hpe.tki.org.nz/guidelines-and-policies/relationships-and-sexuality-education/
Skip to the Glossary at the end and see that it is all about "gender" and very little about sex. They refuse to give a definition of "homosexuality" and talk about same gender attraction rather than same sex attraction. Note also the inclusion of a "third sex".
They say that children are "assigned a sex at birth" when the truth is that your sex is determined at conception and is observed at birth – or these days by scans etc before birth.
"Sex assigned at birth: All babies are assigned a sex at birth, usually determined by a visual observation of external genitalia. A person’s gender may or may not align with their sex assigned at birth."
The whole curriculum is absolutely captured by, and infested with "gender ideology".
This is unscientific claptrap and one day quite soon some National Party activist is going to make a grand drama out of it.
Here you go, folks. Media beat-up of the week.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/kaumatua-questions-christopher-luxons-maoridom-guidance-after-potential-tikanga-breach/EXVW5XG2MG5UERO6ZU4TMCR3BQ/?utm_campaign=nzh_tw&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter&utm_campaign=nzh_tw#Echobox=1655364282-1
@Drowsy M. Kram 24,0
Stunning and brave comment. Join the club over in the corner of the yard.
Must've left a scar for you to be still hurting over a query to your comment in October 2021:
Your suggestion?
Not helpful, nor a solution driven approach. More an ignore those who think it's a problem scenario.
I thought back in October 2021, that it was a misunderstanding around language that interfered with robust discussion on this issue. I understood why some people said TWAW, even though I was not one of them, for the reasons stated. I had difficulty understanding why those that did say it, were so adamant that everyone should join in.
Since that first post, I've found the term women to be erased from medical policies and announcements here in NZ, despite evidence showing that such 'inclusive' language reduces the effectiveness and clarity of messages. I've seen how the conflation of sex and gender in political and public discussions is further hampered by the redefinition of the word woman.
There is no other single word to describe adult human females, which is necessary in advocacy and support in terms of politics, social impacts, medicine and statistics.
I've considered and assessed the problem and agree with the solution that was recognised by many before me.
The word woman is already fully occupied by adult human females.
Transwomen are men.
Clever clever Molly, but imho your brightest and most revealing phrase is:
The rainbow, with all its "pretty colours", does seem to confuse and threaten some, while others feel it should be brighter still. Most Kiwis haven't given the rainbow much thought beyond a few harmless casual comments and a little trivial discrimination here and there – your non-tribal approach can change this and build trusting relationships.
Kia kaha.
Not trying to be clever, just occasionally run out of patience.
Thanks for the link to my relevant post. Don't really understand the relevance or remember using the phrase "neon glare of the rainbow" – but I quite like it.
Is that really my most unforgivable quote? … obviously must try harder.
(BTW, arnica's good for persistent bruising on thin skin.)
An intriguing diversion, but your phrase "neon glare of the rainbow" is "revealing". Little wonder that you quite like it – "pretty colours" and all.
Not seeing how its use is consistent with your apparent concerns about “how tribal some seem to be“, but do hope you will use it more often, in keeping with your “stunning and brave” mindset.
[edit] Thank for the arnica advice – another great example of how your non-tribal approach can build trusting relationships.
Drowsy.
I appear to be failing to make my point clear
As you are contributing no counter considerations, offering no information or articulating other perspectives on this topic, but instead choosing to whinge, I have resorted to the lowest form of wit – sarcasm.
I thought that – at least – you would understand.
(The arnica advice – however -remains valid.)
As do I. No whinging here – please use your (non-sarcastic?) phrase "the neon glare of the rainbow", with its "pretty colours", as often as you "quite like it", and its relevance to "how tribal some seem to be" may dawn on you.
[edit] Thanks again for the arnica advice – might give it a go if needed.
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-721/arnica
On a laptop this morning, so now able to access my comment with the notorious, but somewhat adept turn of phrase "neon glare of the rainbow", to see why it was so memorable. (Phone only provided link to post itself, and all comments were inaccessible.)
Leery as I am of obviously truncated "quotes", I wanted to assure myself that I was indeed the author of the obviously memorable phrase, (kudos to me if that was the case) and have a look at the context.
So, on a post about the lack of medical evidence for children, and the fact that countries that have reviewed existing studies have found harm, and exchange with Sabine about the lack of public discussion, and the self-monitoring on the left led to this:
"Women raising concerns are definitely being treated differently to men raising the same concerns, even as those concerns are ignored.
I feel as if women's rights have almost melted away in the neon glare of the rainbow, and that is powered by all the co-opted institutions and governments who are dazzled by the pretty colours.
How this situation is not of concern to everyone is an indication of how tribal some seem to be."
Colour me red and yellow and pink and green, indigo, violet and blue – I am the witty author. Better still, I find myself in complete agreement with myself, in terms of the context of the post and the conversation that was taking place.
Perhaps you could ask yourself why in a post, with many comments on the very real problem of iatrogenic harm to minors by the adoption of such badly evidenced "affirming healthcare" (with a multitude of links and references to research) your 'takeaway' was offense at the somewhat colourful turn of phrase, "neon glare of the rainbow"?
Your clumsy attempt to imply that it means I have no consideration for others, rather than the clear statement that the movement and it's allies demands no scrutiny or critique is worrying.
Perhaps, not surprising though, because when offered a veritable smorgasbord of evidence and a wide variety of talking points where alternative viewpoints were encouraged and would be valuable, you instead opted for the junk food option of the 'takeaway'.
I thank you for the reminder of the phrase "neon glare of the rainbow". I think it describes succinctly the failure of many to do their due diligence in terms of policies, medical interventions, women's rights and child safeguarding in the pursuit of progressive credentials.
I will be using it again, in such context.
As a relic who lived through the eighties, neon glare has little effect on me, but others with weaker eyes may need to put on their sunglasses and start engaging about content rather than choosing 'a fence' to whinge from.
(Bad punning is a result of losing patience with bad faith engagement. You'll obviously have to learn to deal with it, if you engage again with me without providing any relevant points of discussion, or challenging mine with clarity.)
Thank-you for that quote Molly. I did not see the original.
I'm not removed from your concerns. Indeed I can testify to the accuracy of that statement – at least in general terms.
Years ago, I realised I had knowledge of a tiny group of NZers who were implicated in the preparations occurring in advance of the Rainbow Warrior bombing. I was not listened to (because I was a woman) and the culprits were never arrested and charged. I was not harmed [physically] in the immediate ensuing years but my pets were. Enough time has passed now for me to feel able to talk about it.
Go well with your campaign against the rights of women to be listened to… and to be protected from those who do them harm in whatever way it may be.
Thanks, Anne for taking the time to read and consider.
It's more in line with my experience of your comments on topics, and your explanatory reply is appreciated.
Thumb up. Image disappeared.
Oops… I meant “Go well with your campaign FOR the rights of women to be listened to. 😮
Embarrassingly, since I try to take care to read properly, I didn't even notice the slip…
(These moving emoticons are throwing me off).
I agree with the assumed original, and the corrected update. Respectful listening to all, is an essential part of resolving issues.
Trying for the thumb myself now…
@ Visubversa @26
Curiously I have 2 children who are teachers and in my discussions with them I have detected no such problem…that may be because as with most of the curriculum it is tempered by the common sense of those implementing it.
If there were instances in NZ of minors being forcibly given hormone treatment or surgery i dont doubt that the opposition and media would all over it like a rash….the opportunity would be too good to miss…as to oddly intentioned (minority) health and/or education advocates it is par for the course and parents will consider it as it warrants….adults are free to make their own minds up, right or wrong.
"If there were instances in NZ of minors being forcibly given hormone treatment or surgery.."
I haven't read any comments mentioning that minors are forcibly given treatment. I, along with others, have pointed out that the current "affirming healthcare" model currently in use for minors in New Zealand, is being abandoned by countries who have reviewed the clinical evidence for such an approach.
Not only have those reviews found that treatment for minors is not beneficial, it results in net harms. NZ follows the WPATH and Yogyakarta Principles guidelines. Neither of which is medically based, or clinically evidenced. For some reason, this information is ignored by NZ media, and also, on political blogs such as TS.
"i dont doubt that the opposition and media would all over it like a rash….the opportunity would be too good to miss…"
Except this might not be the case if commentators and media self-censor and regulate.
This tweet is an example:
https://twitter.com/hatpinwoman/status/1537922190795911170?s=20&t=BUe1KcQt64evARgXt6Ygsg
Not a fan of Ben Shapiro, but didn't know the story behind the clip so did a search, and found this short video of Ben Shapiro covering the background.
https://youtu.be/Fi9aDLAtVbw
However, I wanted to see how the producers and the others on the show responded to a panelist actually physically grabbing someone by the neck and threatening them with physical violence.
So, after looking I found the whole segment. Timeset it to get the response after the incident. You only need to watch a couple of minutes to see how the blatant violence is ignored and excused:
https://youtu.be/6tj3ULSJV8I?t=526
Now, if Ben Shapiro had grabbed Zoey Tur on the back of the neck and threatened to put Zoey in the back of the ambulance – what would the response have been?
Has the left created a sacred class to be excused from any responsibility at all costs?
Do you really believe that in a climate such as this, you are going to be kept informed by media and the opposition?
@Molly
Has the left created a sacred class to be excused from any responsibility at all costs?
It does this all the time. What you are finally seeing with this trans activism is the logical outcome of a process going back decades or more.
Frankly I am appalled beyond words – and I do not often use that word – at the butchery of teenage bodies (male and female) being sacrificed at the altar of this mad cult. But then like many men I get the distinct message this is in is some unspecified way all our fault anyway – and it is required we STFU.
I am also appalled.
I hear you regarding your discomfort and disagreement with aligning with feminists on this issue. I have the same aversion to in any way promoting someone like Matt Walsh, who I find uninteresting for the most part, and has very traditional gender stereotypes which GC feminists have fought against for decades – for both sexes.
However, as my concern is for women's rights and the protection of children from indoctrination and iatrogenic harm, I agree where agreement is warranted. I also acknowledge his circle of influence is not only huge, but is located in a demographic where few GC feminists will be found. He might intrigue his viewers enough to find out more, and we should all endeavour to make sure as much robust evidence, considerations and arguments is out there to find as possible. I post not to annoy but inform, although it often does the former only for certain commenters. That's of little concern to me, I just hope some may read and then go look for themselves.
I consider it a foolish expectation for me to need you to be a feminist before agreeing on this issue. By the same token, I don't really think you'd expect me not to be one.
If you consider the issue regarding the iatrogenic harm on minors to be of concern enough to stand beside those who raise the issue then there is a welcome space there.
Choice to engage – and how to engage – lies with us all.
On the theme of left progressiveness, I've also been surprised at how many topics are approached tribally with an expectation of total agreement or banishment.
The choice of many on the left to be authoritarian when the option was available. Mandates and compulsory vaccinations were treated as the only solution rather than a preferred one.
And I am beyond defending the current narrative that leaves the right as the only proponents of free speech.
Where are our left wing defenders of free speech?
At a time when even left and right should be working together as often as possible, I find myself politically homeless. I don't think I'm alone in this dilemma.
Read and agreed – more than you know.
Red Logix, I don't blame men for the what is/has happened with gender ideology. I am a little frustrated that some progressive left wing men are not listening to women who are concerned about gender ideology. But I am frustrated with the women who don't seem to grasp what is going on either.
There is almost total censorship in this country in the msm about how gender ideology pervades most of our institutions and many businesses. The msm, particularly Stuff seem to carry an inordinate amount of material which can either only be considered pro trans. They almost without exception ignore any gender critical views or if they mention them, they use terms like "controversial group SUFW". I have yet to see an article about SUFW which reveals what the organisation is truly about. Even though the Judge in the case in Palmerston North High Court stated that SUFW could not be considered a hate group, they are presented as such by the media.
As the media are not doing their job, I think it is not possible to argue that the problems with gender ideology are only happening overseas.
Well for my part I am entirely supportive of The Standard remaining one of the few local public domains where this can be discussed rationally.
Looks like the reply problem is fixed. It was a javascript minifier at cloudflare.
However I also found that the license for w3 total cache had disappeared. Chasing that now. Explains a sluggishness that has been showing up recently on the site.
I also have hardware for a new home server (and TS host) arriving. Should all be here by tuesday.
asrock rack x570d2u, The main reason for that upgrade is that it has a acceptable BMC for IPMI on it, and I wasn't that interested in doing a xeon system. If supermicro had a workstation/server board for a desktop AMD, then I'd have gotten that. Ryzen 5700G and 64GB RAM.
The disks will just get pulled from the old system ~20Tb of them. But I will look at upgrading the raid 1 array from TS from IBM 120Gb SSDs to something faster.
The old workstation (Ryzen 1700X) will probably get a facelift with a newer GPU, widescreen, and maybe a 3000 series CPU that the x370 chipset supports. But I don't play games apart from Civ6 these days, so I don't think I can be bothered upgrading it to far.
Thanks, Lprent.
Haven't been so active of late, probably to the delight of a few few, but do appreciate the effort and time spent on providing this platform.
Picked up the CPU and RAM on Saturday along with a pile of overdue UPS lead heavy batteries (roll on cheaper and lighter lithium UPS units).
Case and power supply arrived this morning.
Just waiting for the motherboard, which DHL say will be tomorrow. I had to get that from Aussie.
I built a pc a few months ago for music production using the 5700g and asus b550 tomahawk. Very impressed with both the cpu and board.
The 5700G looks damn near perfect for a non-gaming work station. Not too dear. Not too hot at 65W on the TPD. Significant grunt if you're doing anything that can use multi-threaded efficiently.
I'll probably just leave this one as air-cooled. The 1700X it is replacing was a nominal 95W, so I water cooled it just in case. I could hear it on air cooled when I ran long compiles. But I never heard it after I water cooled it.
I used a Asus X370 Prime motherboard last time. Hasn't burped at all in the last 5 years of continuous. I'll probably keep it running as the archive server.
I picked the motherboard this time for an ability to do remote updates without having to have the CPU running. 5 months working in Singapore in 2018 made that a very desirable feature this time around.
That is logical – because v6 had been working well for some days now. I was pleased to see that at long last I could reply on my Android phone reliably all week – something that was always very flaky in the past.
It seemed odd to me that a new version would work well for a week and then fail; therefore the problem lay elsewhere.
Same experience for me on my Android phone.
Thanks I prent
Thanks Lprent
My Thanks as well Lprent