The Polish village hit by Russian missiles lies due north of Lyiv, and on the same latitude west of Kiev.
NATO knows this, Biden et al know this, and President Zelenskyy knows this. Simply put, the Russians got it wrong – human error, and knowing Russians (I lived there for a short period) the operator was probably drunk!
Ukraine uses s-300 ground to air missiles, which, if they miss their target, are designed to explode harmlessly in the air, not fall to the ground and then explode.
Another commentator has suggested the crater from the explosion is way too big for a s-300 to make, but probably comes from something larger, like a Russian cruise missile.
Pictures of some of the debris look remarkably similar to that of Russian cruise missile debris found elsewhere in Ukraine.
Lastly, Ukraine (up to now) has been denied access to the bomb site.
We have (or are) witnessed (-ing) a huge cover-up – albeit for the best of reasons, to avoid a major NATO-Russia conflict.
This missile attack which killed two Polish civilians is just another war crime by the Kremlin.
I have seen that argument as well, that it was a combination of co-ordiantes for Lviv and Kyiv, hence a Russian mistake rather than a Ukrainian error. That argument is fairly weak in my opinion, and would require a lot more physical evidence to support it.
I have no confidence in the competence (or sobriety) of Russian soldiers. It would not surprise me at all if some tipsy computer operative mixed the co-ordinates up.
But certainly a mistake rather than a deliberate provocation.
But more evidence would be needed to make that case.
Both Kyiv and Lviv are large cities, so after the fact, it probably isn't suprising that missile strike co-ordinates could be aligned with those cities in retrospect.
If, however, the co-ordinates could be matched with say, power substations in each city, then that would be interesting.
Responding to Zelenskyy’s comments, a diplomat from a Nato country in Kyiv told the Financial Times: “This is getting ridiculous. The Ukrainians are destroying [our] confidence in them. Nobody is blaming Ukraine and they are openly lying. This is more destructive than the missile.”
Zelensky has softened their stance on the origin of the missile, but is asking for access to the site and the evidence, which I think is entirely reasonable.
Both the Russians and Ukrainians use the S300 Air Defense missile that is apparently the type identified from the remains. Normally when used for its intended purpose this missile has a self-destruct algorithm that cause the missile to explode in mid-air if it misses its target.
The Russians have been bypassing this protection to enable them to use S300s to attack ground targets, while the Ukrainians, having no ground targets they are allowed to hit, do not.
Also while it is clear that neither side would have any motive to deliberately target a tiny Polish farming village, the coordinates involved are plausibly the result of a Russian serviceman accidentally transposing coordinates from Lyiv and Kyiv cities.
Of course this is proof of nothing, but if NATO are certain of their case – then it should stand open, trusted and transparent scrutiny. This is a relatively straight forward technical investigation of the type that air accident investigators routinely report on.
The Ukrainian request for access to the data is reasonable.
I understand that NATO has been tracking missiles fired, and should be able to determine the path of the missile that hit Poland.
The problem with the theory that Russia fired a S300 in ground attack mode is that, if the case, it must have been fired from Belarus. But, the analysis I have seen suggests that the nearest possible location would have been out of range.
I don't find the mixed up grid coordinate theory compelling yet as the margin for error is too high given the size of both Lviv and Kyiv. But if the coordinates could be reverse-aligned with credible targets in each city I would be more convinced.
If a Russian cruise missile was involved, I find the two missile theory most compelling. That is, a S300 air defence took down a Russian cruise missile, and that the debris for both fell onto Poland. The original reports suggested two missile strikes, so could be a credible explanation.
I understand the fail-safes in these missiles. But S300 failures have been relatively common, as has been evidenced by several videos of Russian missiles going astray and detonating on the ground.
We have our own example of what can go wrong when a technician accidently transposes coordinates. I refer to the Erebus tragedy. Together with the White Out phenomenon, the pilots were fooled into believing they were flying over the Ross Sea when in fact they were heading for Erebus.
The fault lay entirely with Air NZ (for reasons too detailed to go into here) but in their attempt to avoid responsibility Air NZ blamed the pilots. The extent of the cover-up job has never been revealed, but it included a criminal element and went to the top of the tree. Innocent people were caught up in it and had their reputations destroyed.
The chances are, something similar could happen here but perhaps the involvement of NATO will preclude a cover-up job.
Ukraine are now involved in the investigation, so a NATO coverup probably isn't likely. Neither is it necessary.
Whatever, missile hit, it obviously was an accidental strike on Poland, so never was going to cause WW3. I don't discount the accidential coordinate theory. I think we just need more evidence to co-oborate it. The missile debri supports an S300 being involved. We should know soon if there were any other missiles involved as well, such as a Russian cruise missile.
“We have sought to explain that what mainstream economists call progress is what ecologists call planetary ruin. We’ve contended that infinite growth on a finite planet is a recipe for catastrophe.”
Dr Jones takes a useful idea and spoils it. If climate change is a manifestation or outcome of colonisation, we might expect to see non-colonised populations (say in Europe) keeping their GHG emissions within sustainable bounds. We don't. If he argued that both colonisation and climate change have a similar origin (endless growth in capital accumulation) he might have something to talk about.
Instead, he seems to have inserted a false causal link in there to suit his own purposes. It really doesn't help to do this, because it ends up feeding the paranoia of the Groundswell types in believing that climate change policy is just a Trojan horse for Maori control.
The one powerful idea he expresses – "no problem [can] be solved within the conscience that created it" – therefore gets unfortunately lost.
The focus has to be on China and India, because they aren't turning their systems around fast enough and because the effects are hitting them the fastest.
US and European climate gas emission levels are falling fast.
For example, Germany was at one point the largest producer of steel globally. Now it's China. Steel production creates massive amounts of CO2. Easy for Germany to claim a significant reduction in CO2.
Does this mean Germany stopped using steel when building cars, houses, machinery etc.? Nope.
Europe – is providing the best path towards the lowest climate impact.
Not really. Unless we move the global polluting industry off this planet, instead of shifting from one country to another (normally from a more "advanced" country to a less "advanced" one, having less environmental / job security, which makes matters worse)
OR
We either reduce the production causing massive pollution or we introduce ways to produce existing products with significant less pollution.
As I mentioned before… if people don't like the amount of green house gases China (or any other big polluting country) produces, they should simply stop buying Chinese-made products, products containing Chinese-products or products produced on Chinese-made machines…
Cherry picking is fundamentally dishonest so just stop it.
Europe was the source of colonial empires, not Germany specifically.
Europe not Germany specifically, is the global leader in greenhouse gas emission decreases with a fall of 32% between 1990 and 2020 across all sectors except for a 7% increase in transport.
As for the offshoring argument, as far I am aware the EU has the most advanced carbon offshoring mechanism against such 'leakage'. Here's some analysis:
Neither China nor India are saints in steel production, but China in particular is acting to a plan and achieving. Also its' steel production has plateaued with the stagnation of the real estate economy.
Simply instructing people not to buy from China as some wish towards perfection is just weak. New Zealand and Australia are addicted to China and it appears to suit all three just fine.
I used "For example" (with example being the country German and the industry being Steel) and I'm relatively certain other European countries did exactly the same thing, incl. colonial United Kingdom and France (to name two more major previously heavy-industrial countries in Europe); going up the "value chain" ensuring higher environmental standards and higher work safety locally, while the pollution and lower work safety are fully accepted remotely by the west. In the early years, which I would date it the early 90s after the end of the Cold War, the "dirty industry" also moved to easier close-by targets in the Eastern European countries.
The EU carbon border adjustment mechanism was certainly not around when the offshoring of dirty industries in Europe started. It's a good thing to have, no doubt.
And I've never even remotely stated, in any of my posts, that India or China are not a problem re. greenhouse gases or other forms of pollution. However, they are very easy finger-pointing targets for the West (incl. yourself, I might add)…
Until western countries clearly acknowledge that China / India's (and other countries, where often western companies produce for cheap) pollution are partially western responsibility too, improvements will be limited.
I'm not instructing people not to buy from China. I want people to acknowledge, that a significant part of their (China / India and the countries) pollution problem is inflicted by our (western) over-consumption of cheap products and moving of previously local industries to their shores.
Just posting this here, TDB hosts this, one of the excellent things they do. A must-listen for those freaking out about the media portrayal of TruMp TaKinG ContRol Of The HOuSe!!!!!!!!!!
Spoiler: well, no. Him running again is an absolute nightmare for the GOP. The tides are shifting against him, in a pretty serious way. For him.
How much is known about Trump and how he performs in the environment now compared to 2016?
The most fervent Republicans will vote Trump for President in 2024 if he is the Republican candidate. How many will stay away from voting if he is their candidate? If he doesn't win the primary will he stand as an independent out of spite? Or to somehow stall legal processes against him?
Though the current Trump Brand may be electorally toxic, politics like nature abhors a vacuum. The far right populism of Trump fills an empty space in the American, anti-liberal conservative psych.
The marriage between the far right and religious fundamentalists was the secret to Trump's success, but wasn't a good fit with Trump's personality and values, which has led to a split in conservative voter support.
Relaunched with a new face, smile and squeaky clean persona the new Trump, better able to marry venal neoliberal finance and corporate values with the conservative religious values, will be more dangerous to democracy and world peace and the environment and climate than the original.
Countdown Pt. Chev now cheaper to shop at than Pak n Save as groceries are free! Hopefully police have the car number plate so arrests should be imminent.
There is rarely a video on the follow-up, which often results in arrest.
So, not free shopping, but extremely expensive. Unfortunately, the consequences in a court are not a "shock-horror" story, and there are no pictures. So they are not reported.
Do you have some evidence that police are actively following up shoplifting cases?
Because it's directly at odds with what business owners are being told – that basically they're on their own with security – unless there is violence involved.
Occasionally the perpetrator will be picked up over another issue – and the shoplifting crime added to the docket during the trial. It is unlikely to result in additional time on any sentence – and certainly won't result in any restitution for the shop owner.
On a smaller scale – we've had a local rush of thefts from parked vehicles (not even parked on the road, but down driveways, and inside carports), and front doorsteps. Often of tradie's tools, which are serial number IDed; and of courier packages. Police almost never come, even when an offence is reported (unless you're claiming on insurance, people are starting to say 'why bother'). Home-owners have provided camera footage of the offenders, and sometimes of their vehicles; and also info of where they are flogging off the stolen goods online. Zero interest from the police.
This, however, isn't the type of case in the original comment: a supermarket trolley full of shopping; or my supplementary example of multiple local small scale thefts.
These will be commercial thefts on a large scale, almost certainly a burglary ring – stealing to order.
Given that it involved stolen property dating back at least two years – it's not exactly a ringing endorsement of timely policing.
“We have identified the property as having been stolen from as far away as Kapiti Coast and the Wairarapa, dating back as far as two years.”
The receivers will go to court (or, at least, I would hope so!) But, unless they dob in those involved in the burglaries, the people who actually committed the crimes won't.
I don't disagree with prosecuting the receivers. But you can't claim that this illustrates 'serious consequences' for the actual thieves.
That's how it's done. Well thought out, long term vision, effects on all stakeholders… what a great project and great journalism.
"…at a critical moment when human-caused climate change is hammering the Western United States with prolonged drought… allowing California’s second-largest river to flow naturally, and its flood plains and wetlands to function normally, would mitigate those impacts."
Local Biogeography Expert Shane Wright will tell you how NZ's ecosystems were once massively enriched in similar fashion with nitrogen and phosphorus from the ocean. In our instance not so much from anadromous fish migration – but the vast colonies of sea birds that visited the land, and vice versa.
Numbers beyond comprehension.
Speaking of, I wonder if the mosquito plague currently hitting parts of Aussie will be a boon to the amphibians and birds? It's not a regular event, but some flux of aquatic nutrients brought back onto land will occur.
There are great Youtube clips on these and they are inspiring.
No wonder the Contact Energy rails against the NZBattery Project given the Roxburgh Dam is well due for replacement.
Atiamuri, Whakamaru, Arapuni and Karapiro. The Waikato is such an obvious target for Waikato Tainui in 3 Waters, if Mercury haven't figured that out yet.
I don't get a reply link to your comment on Adam's line of comments.
You characterize my attacks on him as personal, but I don't know or care who he is – I treat pretty much anyone pushing fascist propaganda the same.
He never produces credible links (largely speaking there are none for most of his claims). He is never less than vile and insulting – is he to go unanswered?
I realize this creates issues for moderators, and I'm not trying to multiply them, but his disinformation needs to be contradicted.
If you want to reply to a comment that has no reply link, then just scroll upwards from that comment to the first reply link inline with the comment you are replying to.
You characterize my attacks on him as personal, but I don't know or care who he is –
Here's a selection from your recent comments, my italics,
You know, if your constant ad homs did not demonstrate what a shriveled husk of a human being you were, I might be offended.
…
… like some soulless soviet aparatchik.
…
you have become a Judas goat, a flagrant fascist supporter
and so on. You clearly are attacking him personally. Using ad homs. Which you seem to agree is a problem.
I treat pretty much anyone pushing fascist propaganda the same.
I can't imagine that adam has done that, and you've not provided any evidence that he has been. But even if he were, you still can't start flame wars here. I don't care what you think about him, I care how your behaviour affects this place, commenters, debate atmosphere.
He never produces credible links (largely speaking there are none for most of his claims). He is never less than vile and insulting – is he to go unanswered?
Your problem is that the point I came into this you were both being abusive. I see no reason why I should single him out and not you.
I realize this creates issues for moderators, and I'm not trying to multiply them, but his disinformation needs to be contradicted.
Exactly. Argue against what he is saying, without all the added abuse. Then there is no problem for the mods.
If you can't see the difference between attacking someone personally and attacking their arguments, then there is most definitely a problem for the mods.
What you don't realise is that as a mod, I don't care who started it. This isn't kindergarten. What I care about are these things,
stopping a flame war
limiting the amount of time I have to spend on this as a mod (so no, I'm not trawling back through the debate, I'm working with what I see in front of me)
upholding the robust debate ethic of TS
I have seen both of you using ad homs and personal attacks. That has to stop. Focus on the arguments and have a go at those. If adam is saying what you say he is, then you have plenty of material to work with. Personal attacks are just lazy in that sense.
No, you cannot use TS is run a crusade against those you believe are fascists. Do you have any idea how many people there are here who think like this but all about different people? Pull down the arguments, that is how you make the case. If you can demonstrate that another commenter is running fascist lines here, do that!
I've know adam commenting here a long time, so on the face of it I can't see what you mean. If you want to convince people, you have to do the work on that. Going forward.
Pah – I'm been banned for extended periods by those same fascists, Weka.
Nor do I live to indulge in the trade in lies that passes for debate from Adam.
I'm only concerned with their determination to misinform others.
I'd really rather not have to moderate Nazis on a supposedly left site.
Adam's fellow travellers are so dishonest as to routinely deny Russia's culpability for MH17 – they have no respect for truth whatsoever. They should pay for that.
Their ignorance of modern Russian history is on them – I don't propose to give them a three-year degree in it, and they wouldn't thank me if I did.
to me this looks like outright contempt of moderation on TS. Take this as a warning, that if you continue to do this you will be banned. This has nothing to do with adam, it’s about your behaviour and that you seem to think the rules here don’t apply to you.
Ohhhh, I think we can rely on Corporate Iwi and their affluent establishment Pakeha Woke "allies" (suffering from debilitating narcissistic personality disorders) to know what's best for us all.
I suspect it’s time we began to live our lives strictly according to their instructions.
Swordfish, weighing up the dilemma of unsolicited advice vs offer of something that may be useful. Apologies if I've made the wrong call.
If you are the type who looks to supplement your medical treatment, I can share access to a site that shows how to determine which off-label meds and supplements are best for your individual needs.
The approach is to interrupt the metabolic pathways that provide energy to cancer.
Thanks very much, Molly … you have absolutely zero to apologise for !!! … I'm genuinely very grateful … but I can understand you feeling a little wary & tentative given the melodramatic, self-pitying, tiptoe-on-eggshells-around me at all times personality types favoured by some of the Woke cadre here over the years …. (the sort of people who feel they've been brutally colonised and shipped off as slave labour if two women politely disagree with them) …. We've witnessed a small segment of highly manipulative vulnerable narcissists here over the years … they find a way of playing the victim at all times even when people have gone out of their way to be helpful & kind. The sort of walking-talking personality disorders who’d find a way to be highly offended by your very kind & thoughtful offer.
So, your offer & reaching out is very much appreciated.
Yeah, during the early cycles of first-line chemo late last year (those days when I wasn't suffering from the dreaded 'Chemo Fog', where you're in a state not entirely dissimilar to significant sleep deprivation), I did a reasonable amount of research on the most promising drugs currently being re-purposed to fight cancer in general & Stage 4 Colorectal cancer in particular.
Looked pretty clear from the literature – including some really useful 'umbrella' overviews – that there are 3 particular families of drug that are exhibiting the greatest efficacy against cancer:
The Anti-Parasitical Drugs
The Hypertension Drugs
The Drugs controlling Diabetes (esp, of course, Metformin)
Along with a handful of others.
In the process of my sporadic research during Sep-Dec last year, I did come across the COC protocol … didn't have time to read anything in great depth (haven't read the associated books for instance) … just the website overviews … but learnt enough of the very basic stuff to have a couple of informative email discussions with 2 GPs who are sympathetic to COC (around the same time, I also discovered the Joe Tippens story & others who had enjoyed unusually positive outcomes)
But I'd still like to learn more so I will DM you on twitter in the next few weeks (obviously not around Xmas / New Year though). Thanks again, Molly, really appreciate it.
All good swordfish. Whenever you want to get in touch, I will provide the login for the COC Jane McLelland course. (You'll be able to see how far I got, before getting a cheat sheet from a forum, which appealed to my lazy instincts). It's not a problem if you just want to have a look and not converse.
If later on, you want to swap war stories, we can do it whenever. I'll keep an eye out for your DM.
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Chris Trotter writes – The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three. ...
Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blogIn 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
Citizen Science writes – Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
Karl du Fresne writes – There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
David Farrar writes – The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time.A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brownannounced ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Māori are yet to see anything from this Government except cuts, reversals and taking our people backwards, Māori Development spokesperson Willie Jackson said. ...
The Coalition Government’s refusal to commit to ongoing funding for social housing is seeing the sector pull back on developments and families watch their dreams of securing a home fade away, says Labour Housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty. ...
Changes to minimum wage and benefit indexation means many New Zealanders will get less this year, as the Government gives a big tax break to landlords instead. ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner. The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel. “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says. "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board. “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti. “I have asked her to ...
The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States. “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Duckett, Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne iamharin/Shutterstock For many people, the term “bulk billed” refers to a GP visit they don’t have to pay ...
Emmas Hislop, Sidnam and Wehipeihana discuss what’s in a name. Emma Sidnam: Hello Emmas! Thank you so much for agreeing to do this with me. My first question for you is related to what’s been on my mind for a while. It’s very important. You see we’ve recently had some ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Sievers, Research Fellow, Global Wetlands Project, Australia Rivers Institute, Griffith University Chris Brown Humans love the coast. But we love it to death, so much so we’ve destroyed valuable coastal habitat – in the case of some types of habitat, ...
Josh Thomson on the 80s milk ad jingle he can’t stop singing, the beauty of The Simpsons, why Jersey Shore is as good as Shakespeare and more. For someone who spends a lot of time on our screens, popping up in everything from 7 Days to Taskmaster, Educators to Good ...
In apparent defiance of the Biden administration, the Netanyahu government has now initiated missile strikes against Iran. Last Saturday night (Sunday morning in New Zealand) Iran launched more than 300 drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles against Israeli military targets. With the assistance of US, UK and possibly French forces, ...
Māori representation brings a perspective that encompasses not only the interests of Māori communities but also a broader, holistic approach to environmental stewardship and community well-being, principles deeply embedded in Te Ao Māori (the Māori ...
This week in Auckland, a group of young people took over the microphone at a ministerial press conference, to explain why they oppose the Fast-Track Approvals Bill. One young woman said, ‘We’re here because we love Aotearoa New Zealand. We want to raise our children in an environment that’s thriving, ...
The summer was wonderful. Evie was wonderful, too; finally a teenager, finally worthy of long, hot days. She shaved her legs for the first time and bought cut-off shorts from the op-shop that made them look long. She got a Warehouse singlet so tight on her new shape that her ...
When Thomas James was on his solo camp as part of Outward Bound, the keen outdoorsman didn’t find it too challenging, as others often do. In what might just be the perfect illustration of his character, he saw it as a great opportunity to solve a few problems. “I thought, ...
From the unstable and drippy to the hi-tech and pretty, here’s our ranking of all the tunnels you can drive through in this country. The first tunnel seems to have been built in 2200BC in Babylonia, kicking off a global phenomenon for digging holes in order to get places more ...
Lucinda Bennett on the art of being greedy but resourceful. This is an excerpt from our weekly food newsletter, The Boil Up. When I picture the market, it is always this time of year. Crisp air, dripping nose, counting coins with cold fingers. Sunlight pale, filtered through specks of dew still ...
Zoë Colling’s favourite piece in the ‘That’s So Last Century’ collection is a lubrication chart for a sewing machine from the ’60s. It’s about the size of a postcard, and carefully maintained. “I like it that this piece of ephemera highlights that manual and technical side of the skill involved ...
Kia Ora Gaza A passionate haka reverberated through Auckland International Airport as a medical team of three New Zealand doctors received an emotional farewell from a big crowd of supporters before flying to Turkey to join the international Freedom Flotilla to Gaza. The doctors, who left Auckland yesterday, hope to ...
With submissions closing today, Macassey-Pickard says groups around the country have been supporting a huge range of people to make their submissions. ...
Our response to the new legislation is informed by targeted conversations with practitioners working in the system and through an implementation lens. ...
The new ‘Fast-track Approvals Bill’ would give just three Ministers the power to approve or deny development projects. They would avoid the usual checks and balances that are in place to protect rivers, land, the ocean, and communities. ...
COMMENTARY:By Eugene Doyle Helen Clark, how I miss you. The former New Zealand Prime Minister — the safest pair of hands this country has had in living memory — gave a masterclass on the importance of maintaining an independent foreign policy when she spoke at an AUKUS symposium held ...
The government's released the list of organisations provided with information on how to apply - just hours before public submissions on the bill close. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milton Speer, Visiting Fellow, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney Before climate change really got going, eastern Australia’s flash floods tended to concentrate on our coastal regions, east of the Great Dividing Range. But that’s changing. Now ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elizabeth Finkel, Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow, La Trobe University Sia Duff / South Australian Museum In February, the South Australian Museum “re-imagined” itself. In the face of rising costs and inadequate government funds, CEO David Gaimster, who took the reins last June, declared ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alan Pearce, Professor, School of Allied Heath, Human Services & Sport, La Trobe University, La Trobe University This week, Collingwood AFL player Nathan Murphy announced his retirement, brought on by his concussion history and ongoing issues. The 24-year-old’s seemingly sudden retirement, ...
The Mental Health Foundation provides support and resources for those facing the loss of their job, so it’s wrong in the very week the Government adds another 1000 jobs to its tally of cuts, that this is happening. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Howard, Senior Lecturer, Discipline of English and Writing, University of Sydney Daniel Boud/Sydney Theatre Company Decay, terror, revulsion. These are three of the central themes of Thomas Bernhard’s rarely performed play The President. The Austrian is one of the greatest ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ye In (Jane) Hwang, Postdoctoral Research Associate at School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney Shutterstock You’d be hard pressed to find any aspect of daily life that doesn’t require some form of digital literacy. We need only to look back ten ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says threats by ministers Shane Jones and David Seymour to reform or close down the Waitangi Tribunal were “ill-considered”, as legal experts say the ministers may have breached Cabinet Manual conventions. “I think those comments are ill-considered and we expect all ministers to actually exercise good ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rob Newton, Professor of Exercise Medicine, Edith Cowan University Pexels/RDNE stock project You’re not in your 20s or 30s anymore and you know regular health checks are important. So you go to your GP. During the appointment they measure your waist. ...
A new poem by Evangeline Riddiford Graham. Mitochondrial Problem I. It was long drive to Kansas for the man and his dog but you have to understand he said She doesn’t fly. Which calls to mind not carsick shitting barking or whining but a dog who chooses not to as ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38)Hot off the press, this debut ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laura Wajnryb McDonald, PhD candidate in Criminology, University of Sydney Less than 24 hours after Ashlee Good was murdered in Bondi Junction, her family released a statement requesting the media take down photographs they had reproduced of Ashlee and her family without ...
Chief executive Shaun Robinson said it has not had any government funding cut, but government-funded contracts have not kept pace with rising costs. ...
The Ministry of Health has delayed the release of its evidence brief on the safety, reversibility and mental health and wellbeing outcomes for puberty blockers. While we wait, Julia de Bres speaks to those with firsthand experience. Best practice gender-affirming healthcare is based on trans people’s self-determination and agency. The ...
Barcelona’s city streets have gone from traffic-clogged to pedestrian-friendly. How? Superblocks. Ellen Rykers explains. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week I read a great interview with renowned urbanist Janette Sadik-Khan by The Spinoff’s Wellington editor Joel MacManus: “You can reimagine streets, ...
Student groups ‘Climate Action VUW’, Schools Strike 4 Climate and VUWSA will be on the street in Wellington today, the last day for submissions on the Fast-track Approvals Bill, with a message that the fight against the Government’s ‘War on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sofia Ammassari, Research Fellow, Griffith University Since 2014, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity has grown exponentially – and so has the formidable organisational machine of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). These two factors will be key to delivering the BJP a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendon Hyndman, Associate Professor of Education (Adjunct) & Senior Manager (BCE), Charles Sturt University During COVID almost all Australian students and their families experienced online learning. But while schools have long since gone back to in-person teaching, online learning has not gone ...
Yes, they’re better for the environment. No, that’s not a good enough reason for me to use them. Once every 26 days or so, my period arrives, and if struck by an act of God, I am caught red-crotched without products. How, after 17 years of this, do I still ...
“It will cause significant harm to our environment and communities. It is completely at odds with New Zealanders’ relationship with nature and our need for a low-carbon, sustainable economic future." ...
The Chair of the National Maori Authority, Matthew Tukaki, has warned a Parliamentary Select Committee that fast-tracking legislation is a perilous practice that undermines the core tenets of democracy, transparency, and accountability. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Tenbensel, Associate Professor, Health Policy, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images Since coming into power, the coalition government has adopted a simple but shrewd see-how-fast-we-can-move political strategy. However, in the health sector this need for speed entails ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Hronis, Clinical Psychologist, University of Technology Sydney Darya Sannikova/Pexels Whether you’re watching TV, attending a footy game, or eating a meal at your local pub, gambling is hard to escape. Although the rise of gambling is not unique to Australia, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Wong, Forrest Fellow, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia Have you ever wondered if there are more insects out at night than during the day? We set out to answer this question by combing through the scientific ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Carol T Kulik, Research Professor, University of South Australia IR Stone/Shutterstock In Australia, it’s not the done thing to know – let alone ask – what our colleagues are paid. Yet, it’s easy to see how pay transparency can make pay ...
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is sounding a warning to migrants, that running foul of the law may see them leaving the country prematurely. ...
The government’s plan to get 50,000 people off jobseeker support by 2030 has had a rocky start, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Beneficiary numbers are up – and so are ...
Raglan Roast is a staple of Wellington coffee culture. But with five branches across the capital, which one is the best? I am a die-hard Raglan Roast fan. It’s consistently the most affordable cafe in Wellington, and one of the only places you can get a coffee after 3pm. So, ...
Residents of University of Auckland halls are being urged to withhold their accommodation fees from May 1, in a bid to force the university to take student concerns over rent hikes seriously.The University of Auckland is facing a strike from students over the cost of on-campus accommodation. The Students ...
Opinion: The famed American architect and urban designer Daniel Burnham once said, “Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men’s blood!” Burnham wouldn’t have been referring to the transport plans in Aotearoa New Zealand over the past five years; projects so big they hadn’t the credibility to ...
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The Polish village hit by Russian missiles lies due north of Lyiv, and on the same latitude west of Kiev.
NATO knows this, Biden et al know this, and President Zelenskyy knows this. Simply put, the Russians got it wrong – human error, and knowing Russians (I lived there for a short period) the operator was probably drunk!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwXZcT4b5BU&t=34s
Ukraine uses s-300 ground to air missiles, which, if they miss their target, are designed to explode harmlessly in the air, not fall to the ground and then explode.
Another commentator has suggested the crater from the explosion is way too big for a s-300 to make, but probably comes from something larger, like a Russian cruise missile.
Pictures of some of the debris look remarkably similar to that of Russian cruise missile debris found elsewhere in Ukraine.
Lastly, Ukraine (up to now) has been denied access to the bomb site.
We have (or are) witnessed (-ing) a huge cover-up – albeit for the best of reasons, to avoid a major NATO-Russia conflict.
This missile attack which killed two Polish civilians is just another war crime by the Kremlin.
If that is true its all over rover for Ukraine.Nato/US will not intervene with boots on the ground
I have seen that argument as well, that it was a combination of co-ordiantes for Lviv and Kyiv, hence a Russian mistake rather than a Ukrainian error. That argument is fairly weak in my opinion, and would require a lot more physical evidence to support it.
Also, another view from Michael Clarke, often relied on by media for commentary on the war, is that it was a Russian missile and the Ukrainian air defence missile. Hence two missiles. That would square with initial reports that suggested two explosions and explain the size of the crater.
So, there is a bit of water to go under the bridge with this yet.
A bit of a coincidence, though!
I have no confidence in the competence (or sobriety) of Russian soldiers. It would not surprise me at all if some tipsy computer operative mixed the co-ordinates up.
But certainly a mistake rather than a deliberate provocation.
But more evidence would be needed to make that case.
Both Kyiv and Lviv are large cities, so after the fact, it probably isn't suprising that missile strike co-ordinates could be aligned with those cities in retrospect.
If, however, the co-ordinates could be matched with say, power substations in each city, then that would be interesting.
Responding to Zelenskyy’s comments, a diplomat from a Nato country in Kyiv told the Financial Times: “This is getting ridiculous. The Ukrainians are destroying [our] confidence in them. Nobody is blaming Ukraine and they are openly lying. This is more destructive than the missile.”
https://www.ft.com/content/d417ea8f-62ee-4bb8-966b-a85a98fc6b3a
That article is paywalled!
try putting the URL into this (second field, or the first if the second doesn't work)
https://archive.ph/
Zelensky has softened their stance on the origin of the missile, but is asking for access to the site and the evidence, which I think is entirely reasonable.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ukraine-news-russia-war-poland-missile-nato-zelenskyy-biden/
Both the Russians and Ukrainians use the S300 Air Defense missile that is apparently the type identified from the remains. Normally when used for its intended purpose this missile has a self-destruct algorithm that cause the missile to explode in mid-air if it misses its target.
The Russians have been bypassing this protection to enable them to use S300s to attack ground targets, while the Ukrainians, having no ground targets they are allowed to hit, do not.
Also while it is clear that neither side would have any motive to deliberately target a tiny Polish farming village, the coordinates involved are plausibly the result of a Russian serviceman accidentally transposing coordinates from Lyiv and Kyiv cities.
Of course this is proof of nothing, but if NATO are certain of their case – then it should stand open, trusted and transparent scrutiny. This is a relatively straight forward technical investigation of the type that air accident investigators routinely report on.
The Ukrainian request for access to the data is reasonable.
Ukrainians have now been granted access to the missile site.
I understand that NATO has been tracking missiles fired, and should be able to determine the path of the missile that hit Poland.
The problem with the theory that Russia fired a S300 in ground attack mode is that, if the case, it must have been fired from Belarus. But, the analysis I have seen suggests that the nearest possible location would have been out of range.
I don't find the mixed up grid coordinate theory compelling yet as the margin for error is too high given the size of both Lviv and Kyiv. But if the coordinates could be reverse-aligned with credible targets in each city I would be more convinced.
If a Russian cruise missile was involved, I find the two missile theory most compelling. That is, a S300 air defence took down a Russian cruise missile, and that the debris for both fell onto Poland. The original reports suggested two missile strikes, so could be a credible explanation.
I understand the fail-safes in these missiles. But S300 failures have been relatively common, as has been evidenced by several videos of Russian missiles going astray and detonating on the ground.
We have our own example of what can go wrong when a technician accidently transposes coordinates. I refer to the Erebus tragedy. Together with the White Out phenomenon, the pilots were fooled into believing they were flying over the Ross Sea when in fact they were heading for Erebus.
The fault lay entirely with Air NZ (for reasons too detailed to go into here) but in their attempt to avoid responsibility Air NZ blamed the pilots. The extent of the cover-up job has never been revealed, but it included a criminal element and went to the top of the tree. Innocent people were caught up in it and had their reputations destroyed.
The chances are, something similar could happen here but perhaps the involvement of NATO will preclude a cover-up job.
Ukraine are now involved in the investigation, so a NATO coverup probably isn't likely. Neither is it necessary.
Whatever, missile hit, it obviously was an accidental strike on Poland, so never was going to cause WW3. I don't discount the accidential coordinate theory. I think we just need more evidence to co-oborate it. The missile debri supports an S300 being involved. We should know soon if there were any other missiles involved as well, such as a Russian cruise missile.
… so a NATO coverup probably isn't likely. Neither is it necessary.
I meant that. If another person or entity did try to cover-up NATO would expose it. 🙂
Invasion, war, genocide, slavery, resource looting, environmental destruction, racism, white supremacy. colonialisation, neo-colonialisan, imperialism, neo-imperialism.
Initially spreading out from Europe, the ongoing process of imperialism is now colonising the climate.
It's a process
It's a process and it has yet to reach its nadir.
Growth:
"Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of a cancer cell"
Edward Abbey
https://www.methodeva.com/blog/2018/11/growth-for-the-sake-of-growth-is-the-ideology-of-a-cancer-cell/
The anti-growth movement:
“We have sought to explain that what mainstream economists call progress is what ecologists call planetary ruin. We’ve contended that infinite growth on a finite planet is a recipe for catastrophe.”
George Monbiot
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/oct/12/liz-truss-anti-growth-coalition-class-power
Cancerous:
“We’re bullish about the whole of the Pacific rim,”
“We think there’s the potential for lots of growth.”
Christopher Luxon
https://globalnews.ca/news/257764/ap-interview-air-nzs-new-ceo-christopher-luxon-sees-growth-opportunities-in-asia-us/
(tell it to the Pacific rim countries suffering the negative effects of climate change due to rising emissions).
Dr Jones takes a useful idea and spoils it. If climate change is a manifestation or outcome of colonisation, we might expect to see non-colonised populations (say in Europe) keeping their GHG emissions within sustainable bounds. We don't. If he argued that both colonisation and climate change have a similar origin (endless growth in capital accumulation) he might have something to talk about.
Instead, he seems to have inserted a false causal link in there to suit his own purposes. It really doesn't help to do this, because it ends up feeding the paranoia of the Groundswell types in believing that climate change policy is just a Trojan horse for Maori control.
The one powerful idea he expresses – "no problem [can] be solved within the conscience that created it" – therefore gets unfortunately lost.
I'm sure Dr dude is great at mental health, but gas emissions scientist he ain't.
US and European climate gas emission levels are falling fast.
Climate Change Indicators: Greenhouse Gases | US EPA
China is the biggest emitter by a long shot and it's mostly their coal.
World’s Top Emitters Interactive Chart I World Resources Institute (wri.org)
There is no pathway to a 1.5c degree increase solution anymore, and it's the actual collective global opinion saying that.
Emissions Gap Report 2022 (unep.org)
The focus has to be on China and India, because they aren't turning their systems around fast enough and because the effects are hitting them the fastest.
The Carbon Brief Profile: India
Arguably the source of historical colonialisation – Europe – is providing the best path towards the lowest climate impact.
.
For example, Germany was at one point the largest producer of steel globally. Now it's China. Steel production creates massive amounts of CO2. Easy for Germany to claim a significant reduction in CO2.
Does this mean Germany stopped using steel when building cars, houses, machinery etc.? Nope.
Not really. Unless we move the global polluting industry off this planet, instead of shifting from one country to another (normally from a more "advanced" country to a less "advanced" one, having less environmental / job security, which makes matters worse)
OR
We either reduce the production causing massive pollution or we introduce ways to produce existing products with significant less pollution.
As I mentioned before… if people don't like the amount of green house gases China (or any other big polluting country) produces, they should simply stop buying Chinese-made products, products containing Chinese-products or products produced on Chinese-made machines…
Cherry picking is fundamentally dishonest so just stop it.
Europe was the source of colonial empires, not Germany specifically.
Europe not Germany specifically, is the global leader in greenhouse gas emission decreases with a fall of 32% between 1990 and 2020 across all sectors except for a 7% increase in transport.
As for the offshoring argument, as far I am aware the EU has the most advanced carbon offshoring mechanism against such 'leakage'. Here's some analysis:
EU carbon border adjustment mechanism (europa.eu)
Neither China nor India are saints in steel production, but China in particular is acting to a plan and achieving. Also its' steel production has plateaued with the stagnation of the real estate economy.
For steel sector, China’s decarbonization is a costly quest | S&P Global
Simply instructing people not to buy from China as some wish towards perfection is just weak. New Zealand and Australia are addicted to China and it appears to suit all three just fine.
I used "For example" (with example being the country German and the industry being Steel) and I'm relatively certain other European countries did exactly the same thing, incl. colonial United Kingdom and France (to name two more major previously heavy-industrial countries in Europe); going up the "value chain" ensuring higher environmental standards and higher work safety locally, while the pollution and lower work safety are fully accepted remotely by the west. In the early years, which I would date it the early 90s after the end of the Cold War, the "dirty industry" also moved to easier close-by targets in the Eastern European countries.
The EU carbon border adjustment mechanism was certainly not around when the offshoring of dirty industries in Europe started. It's a good thing to have, no doubt.
And I've never even remotely stated, in any of my posts, that India or China are not a problem re. greenhouse gases or other forms of pollution. However, they are very easy finger-pointing targets for the West (incl. yourself, I might add)…
Until western countries clearly acknowledge that China / India's (and other countries, where often western companies produce for cheap) pollution are partially western responsibility too, improvements will be limited.
I'm not instructing people not to buy from China. I want people to acknowledge, that a significant part of their (China / India and the countries) pollution problem is inflicted by our (western) over-consumption of cheap products and moving of previously local industries to their shores.
Just posting this here, TDB hosts this, one of the excellent things they do. A must-listen for those freaking out about the media portrayal of TruMp TaKinG ContRol Of The HOuSe!!!!!!!!!!
Spoiler: well, no. Him running again is an absolute nightmare for the GOP. The tides are shifting against him, in a pretty serious way. For him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1fxS0OdshU&t=848s
Yeah they said that last time in 2016.
Must say that went through my mind as well. The scoffing media wrote Tr^mp off then couldn't get enough of him.
How much is known about Trump and how he performs in the environment now compared to 2016?
The most fervent Republicans will vote Trump for President in 2024 if he is the Republican candidate. How many will stay away from voting if he is their candidate? If he doesn't win the primary will he stand as an independent out of spite? Or to somehow stall legal processes against him?
Though the current Trump Brand may be electorally toxic, politics like nature abhors a vacuum. The far right populism of Trump fills an empty space in the American, anti-liberal conservative psych.
The marriage between the far right and religious fundamentalists was the secret to Trump's success, but wasn't a good fit with Trump's personality and values, which has led to a split in conservative voter support.
Relaunched with a new face, smile and squeaky clean persona the new Trump, better able to marry venal neoliberal finance and corporate values with the conservative religious values, will be more dangerous to democracy and world peace and the environment and climate than the original.
Countdown Pt. Chev now cheaper to shop at than Pak n Save as groceries are free! Hopefully police have the car number plate so arrests should be imminent.
Watch: Bold thieves bag trolley full of groceries before taking off in getaway car – NZ Herald
Last time it was Countdown Meadowbank
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/brazen-auckland-supermarket-shopping-trolley-theft-not-reported-to-police-countdown-using-own-security-measures/OO7WGZIKZ62B432INYH4R3PRZA/
Free groceries! How awful. Send the perps to the colonies – that'll learn 'em.
https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/national/wellington-food-bank-appeals-for-donations-as-holiday-period-approaches/
https://waateanews.com/2022/10/17/davel-letele-food-banks-at-risk/
If you want to help, get in touch with a local food bank.
https://www.foodbank.co.nz/
https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/16-08-2022/the-side-eyes-two-new-zealands-the-table
There is always a video on social media.
There is rarely a video on the follow-up, which often results in arrest.
So, not free shopping, but extremely expensive. Unfortunately, the consequences in a court are not a "shock-horror" story, and there are no pictures. So they are not reported.
Do you have some evidence that police are actively following up shoplifting cases?
Because it's directly at odds with what business owners are being told – that basically they're on their own with security – unless there is violence involved.
Occasionally the perpetrator will be picked up over another issue – and the shoplifting crime added to the docket during the trial. It is unlikely to result in additional time on any sentence – and certainly won't result in any restitution for the shop owner.
On a smaller scale – we've had a local rush of thefts from parked vehicles (not even parked on the road, but down driveways, and inside carports), and front doorsteps. Often of tradie's tools, which are serial number IDed; and of courier packages. Police almost never come, even when an offence is reported (unless you're claiming on insurance, people are starting to say 'why bother'). Home-owners have provided camera footage of the offenders, and sometimes of their vehicles; and also info of where they are flogging off the stolen goods online. Zero interest from the police.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/130078074/hundreds-of-thousands-of-dollars-worth-of-stolen-property-recovered-in-wellington-police-operation
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/major-police-operation-sees-over-3000-stolen-goods-recovered/XZZGX2HLDJAHFGAX2KI6YJNJZ4/
This, however, isn't the type of case in the original comment: a supermarket trolley full of shopping; or my supplementary example of multiple local small scale thefts.
These will be commercial thefts on a large scale, almost certainly a burglary ring – stealing to order.
Given that it involved stolen property dating back at least two years – it's not exactly a ringing endorsement of timely policing.
The receivers will go to court (or, at least, I would hope so!) But, unless they dob in those involved in the burglaries, the people who actually committed the crimes won't.
I don't disagree with prosecuting the receivers. But you can't claim that this illustrates 'serious consequences' for the actual thieves.
That's how it's done. Well thought out, long term vision, effects on all stakeholders… what a great project and great journalism.
"…at a critical moment when human-caused climate change is hammering the Western United States with prolonged drought… allowing California’s second-largest river to flow naturally, and its flood plains and wetlands to function normally, would mitigate those impacts."
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/11/17/us-to-demolish-four-dams-in-river-restoration-effort
such good news!
for those that want to understand the meaning here, this from Derrick Jensen is worth a read,
https://derrickjensen.org/endgame/the-gift-of-salmon/
That's great.
Local Biogeography Expert Shane Wright will tell you how NZ's ecosystems were once massively enriched in similar fashion with nitrogen and phosphorus from the ocean. In our instance not so much from anadromous fish migration – but the vast colonies of sea birds that visited the land, and vice versa.
Numbers beyond comprehension.
Speaking of, I wonder if the mosquito plague currently hitting parts of Aussie will be a boon to the amphibians and birds? It's not a regular event, but some flux of aquatic nutrients brought back onto land will occur.
The world-view of the First Peoples led to this result.
There are great Youtube clips on these and they are inspiring.
No wonder the Contact Energy rails against the NZBattery Project given the Roxburgh Dam is well due for replacement.
Atiamuri, Whakamaru, Arapuni and Karapiro. The Waikato is such an obvious target for Waikato Tainui in 3 Waters, if Mercury haven't figured that out yet.
Mathematical analyst introduces well posed prose to crypto catastrophe.
https://twitter.com/nntaleb/status/1593347534591868932
Charlie Munger being more old school,called crypto VD,turds,coinage for kidnappers.
@ Weka
I don't get a reply link to your comment on Adam's line of comments.
You characterize my attacks on him as personal, but I don't know or care who he is – I treat pretty much anyone pushing fascist propaganda the same.
He never produces credible links (largely speaking there are none for most of his claims). He is never less than vile and insulting – is he to go unanswered?
I realize this creates issues for moderators, and I'm not trying to multiply them, but his disinformation needs to be contradicted.
If you want to reply to a comment that has no reply link, then just scroll upwards from that comment to the first reply link inline with the comment you are replying to.
Stuart,
Here's a selection from your recent comments, my italics,
and so on. You clearly are attacking him personally. Using ad homs. Which you seem to agree is a problem.
I can't imagine that adam has done that, and you've not provided any evidence that he has been. But even if he were, you still can't start flame wars here. I don't care what you think about him, I care how your behaviour affects this place, commenters, debate atmosphere.
Your problem is that the point I came into this you were both being abusive. I see no reason why I should single him out and not you.
Exactly. Argue against what he is saying, without all the added abuse. Then there is no problem for the mods.
If you can't see the difference between attacking someone personally and attacking their arguments, then there is most definitely a problem for the mods.
I have argued against what he's saying.
He started the ad homs, (a crack about warmongers! from a troll that supports Putin's invasion no less!) and he hasn't stopped lying for a moment.
He's a dedicated Putin bot, with no real world knowledge of Russia whatsoever.
You might want to go through his comments for ad homs too – I didn't start them.
I don't think the truth should be treated equally with lies, or fascist trolls the same as those who support Ukraine's right to self-determination.
He's the modern form of Nazi, and tolerance of him is inappropriate.
What you don't realise is that as a mod, I don't care who started it. This isn't kindergarten. What I care about are these things,
I have seen both of you using ad homs and personal attacks. That has to stop. Focus on the arguments and have a go at those. If adam is saying what you say he is, then you have plenty of material to work with. Personal attacks are just lazy in that sense.
No, you cannot use TS is run a crusade against those you believe are fascists. Do you have any idea how many people there are here who think like this but all about different people? Pull down the arguments, that is how you make the case. If you can demonstrate that another commenter is running fascist lines here, do that!
I've know adam commenting here a long time, so on the face of it I can't see what you mean. If you want to convince people, you have to do the work on that. Going forward.
I would be saying exactly the same thing to him.
Pah – I'm been banned for extended periods by those same fascists, Weka.
Nor do I live to indulge in the trade in lies that passes for debate from Adam.
I'm only concerned with their determination to misinform others.
I'd really rather not have to moderate Nazis on a supposedly left site.
Adam's fellow travellers are so dishonest as to routinely deny Russia's culpability for MH17 – they have no respect for truth whatsoever. They should pay for that.
Their ignorance of modern Russian history is on them – I don't propose to give them a three-year degree in it, and they wouldn't thank me if I did.
to me this looks like outright contempt of moderation on TS. Take this as a warning, that if you continue to do this you will be banned. This has nothing to do with adam, it’s about your behaviour and that you seem to think the rules here don’t apply to you.
mod note
One of the rules is truthfulness.
Until it is enforced on the Putin trolls, they will continue to waste everyone's time.
then use the way things work here to address that. Stop fucking with moderation.
I'm not sure that 'the way things work here' works.
My impression is that we are dealing with something very like Bonhoeffer's Theory of Stupidity.
In any case, I am increasingly busy these days, and have proportionately less time to deal with our resident Putin propagandists.
Good luck with them.
I encountered Bonhoeffer's story a while back and I commend you for linking to it. Best wishes with whatever it is that is gotten you busier.
Thought for the day..
Are we a representative democracy?
For the moment. 'Tweaked Democracies' seem all the rage.
Democracy needs tweaking. Witness how the privileged right howl whenever anything is suggested to grow participation.
Preservation of power is crucial to the already powerful.
.
Ohhhh, I think we can rely on Corporate Iwi and their affluent establishment Pakeha Woke "allies" (suffering from debilitating narcissistic personality disorders) to know what's best for us all.
I suspect it’s time we began to live our lives strictly according to their instructions.
Swordfish, weighing up the dilemma of unsolicited advice vs offer of something that may be useful. Apologies if I've made the wrong call.
If you are the type who looks to supplement your medical treatment, I can share access to a site that shows how to determine which off-label meds and supplements are best for your individual needs.
The approach is to interrupt the metabolic pathways that provide energy to cancer.
A research trial is happening in the UK.
https://careoncologyclinic.com/what-is-the-coc-protocol-new/
If interested, you can DM me on Twitter: @EdgeWatching
.
Thanks very much, Molly … you have absolutely zero to apologise for !!! … I'm genuinely very grateful … but I can understand you feeling a little wary & tentative given the melodramatic, self-pitying, tiptoe-on-eggshells-around me at all times personality types favoured by some of the Woke cadre here over the years …. (the sort of people who feel they've been brutally colonised and shipped off as slave labour if two women politely disagree with them) …. We've witnessed a small segment of highly manipulative vulnerable narcissists here over the years … they find a way of playing the victim at all times even when people have gone out of their way to be helpful & kind. The sort of walking-talking personality disorders who’d find a way to be highly offended by your very kind & thoughtful offer.
So, your offer & reaching out is very much appreciated.
Yeah, during the early cycles of first-line chemo late last year (those days when I wasn't suffering from the dreaded 'Chemo Fog', where you're in a state not entirely dissimilar to significant sleep deprivation), I did a reasonable amount of research on the most promising drugs currently being re-purposed to fight cancer in general & Stage 4 Colorectal cancer in particular.
Looked pretty clear from the literature – including some really useful 'umbrella' overviews – that there are 3 particular families of drug that are exhibiting the greatest efficacy against cancer:
Along with a handful of others.
In the process of my sporadic research during Sep-Dec last year, I did come across the COC protocol … didn't have time to read anything in great depth (haven't read the associated books for instance) … just the website overviews … but learnt enough of the very basic stuff to have a couple of informative email discussions with 2 GPs who are sympathetic to COC (around the same time, I also discovered the Joe Tippens story & others who had enjoyed unusually positive outcomes)
But I'd still like to learn more so I will DM you on twitter in the next few weeks (obviously not around Xmas / New Year though). Thanks again, Molly, really appreciate it.
All good swordfish. Whenever you want to get in touch, I will provide the login for the COC Jane McLelland course. (You'll be able to see how far I got, before getting a cheat sheet from a forum, which appealed to my lazy instincts). It's not a problem if you just want to have a look and not converse.
If later on, you want to swap war stories, we can do it whenever. I'll keep an eye out for your DM.
Very interesting. Although not directly applicable to my situation I will follow up on that.
Invitation applies to you also RedLogix. Just DM me if you want to know details.
" https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2022/11/18/christopher-luxon-why-not-a-boot-camp-for-tax-dodgers/
Yesterday the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists released a report on dental care in Aotearoa, highlighting its unaffordability and recommending free, universal dental care. This is something the left has been campaigning for for a long time – Jim Anderton pushed for it before the 2011 election, and Helen Clark has advocated for it. It would massively improve people's lives, reduce pain and suffering, and save money in the long-term. But it would involve spending money, so naturally Grant Robertson has vetoed it:
http://norightturn.blogspot.com/2022/11/grant-says-no-again.html
They should find that billion dollars a year for dental care. It would make a huge difference, A real difference. Lets do this Grant!
How much is the new health authority costing again?
Oh just checked it out. The new Health Authority is costing $11 billion dollars to set up and run for the next four years……..
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/467473/budget-2022-11-point-1b-allocated-to-overhauling-the-health-system#:~:text=A%20whopping%20%2411.1%20billion%20has,run%20the%20new%20health%20system.&text=Health%20New%20Zealand%20and%20the,district%20health%20boards%20from%20July.
Persoanally I rather have that money spent of dental care for all NZders.