Open mike 21/10/2015

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, October 21st, 2015 - 95 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:

openmikeOpen mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step up to the mike …

95 comments on “Open mike 21/10/2015 ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Paul 1
    21 October 2015 at 6:16 am

    NZME defend Tony Veitch after his appalling lack of remorse in this facebook comment of his.

    https://www.facebook.com/veitchyonsport/posts/931520890217957

    This is appalling that ZB are defending him for writing this..

    His remorse has rightly been questioned by Chloe Ann King

    ‘ Hey dude I guess some people are just utterly bewildered by your lack of personal insight and ability to reflect? You broke your partners back in four places and still, you have done no work to give back to places like women’s refuge or in anyway indicated you are remorseful. In fact you are making out, as if, you are the victim. You aren’t. You are a violent offender who got away with his crimes and have faced almost no consequences. What message do you think this sends to the public? And if a bit of verbal abuse is upsetting you maybe you could take some time to think about how it must have felt for Dunne-Powell when you hit and abused her? There is no courage in what you have done. You have no mana.’

    Marama Davidson

    ‘Allowing abusers with violent pasts to rebuild their lives, to honestly and deeply own what they did, to be forgiven by themselves and their victims, and to humbly rebuild their lives and commit to non-violent futures is essential in healing our country of the appalling rate of domestic violence.
    Your comment Veitch shows none of this. None. You are NOT a victim here. You really aren’t.’

    and thousands of others.

    • tc 1.1
      21 October 2015 at 6:23 am

      Is that any surprise from the employers of Holmes, Hoskins, smith, Williams, mcivor etc.

      They are just confirming what a lot of folk already suspected about the culture atop this spin distribution organisation.

      • Paul 1.1.1
        21 October 2015 at 6:26 am

        We live in a toxic culture where many of the ‘opinion makers’ say or do quite hateful things.
        Hosking
        Henry
        Veitch

        • Draco T Bastard 1.1.1.1
          21 October 2015 at 12:26 pm

          Yep, they are the major problem and we need to stop them from poisoning our society.

  2. Tautoko Mangō Mata 2
    21 October 2015 at 6:29 am

    While we await the release of the text of the TPPA, here is some reading about the area that concerns me and obviously EU- SOEs and public services.
    “EU Trade Deals with US and Canada Blasted as ‘Attacking Public Services’
    TTIP and CETA ‘could lock public services into a commercialization from which they will not recover—no matter how damaging to welfare the results may be”.

    http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/10/19/eu-trade-deals-us-and-canada-blasted-attacking-public-services

  3. capn insano 3
    21 October 2015 at 7:05 am

    I’m not sure if this has come up yet. I’ve been thinking about the AECT elections now that I’ve seen Communities and Residents posters around the place. Since Dirty Politics broke I’ve wary of things like council votes and this sort of thing, not just the national elections. Simply put, I want to avoid voting in tory pricks/troughers anywhere in power if I have a vote on it. I did a search on C&R this morning, thus far I’ve just found this article on Unite;
    https://unitenews.wordpress.com/tag/aect/
    As well as that there was an article on Scoop with David Smeghead Seymour twatting on.

    • Anne 3.1
      21 October 2015 at 8:58 am

      City Vision is the left leaning group for local body elections. Here are the candidates for the AECT elections plus more info.

      http://www.cityvisionforaect.org.nz/

      • savenz 3.1.1
        21 October 2015 at 11:19 am

        City Vision for AECT in on Facebook and this is what they have to say. They have the Green party and Labour party logo’s so seem to be the ‘centre left’ choices.

        If you believe in maintaining community ownership of Vector & your dividend cheque, protecting families from high power prices, and investing in clean technology, then VOTE NOW for ✔COURY, ✔ELLEY, ✔MITCHELL, ✔SERPES and ✔TIZARD.

        • tc 3.1.1.1
          21 October 2015 at 1:51 pm

          Power prices will keep rising due to nact flogging the generators and akls expanding network.

        • capn insano 3.1.1.2
          23 October 2015 at 10:16 pm

          Ah cheers. I did get pointed to them to consider so after a look at their position they got my vote.
          I’m making more of an effort to pay attention and vote for these sorts of things to, tories seem to want low voter participation.

  4. Molly 4
    21 October 2015 at 9:08 am

    Everyone loves a panda…. (Godwin alert – but just such a bizarre image)

  5. Rodel 5
    21 October 2015 at 9:48 am

    And now folks we have Judith Collins sponsored by Honest John’s Car yard!!
    Nick Smith sponsored by Harvey’s real Estate!!!!!
    Stephen Joyce sponsored by your caring Auckland Casino and on the other side Andrew Little sponsored by Specsavers!!!

    Thanks to Judith Trump for pioneering a new era in public service.
    Like a beauty contest of the 1970s (with not much beauty).
    Donald would love it.

  6. Chooky 6
    21 October 2015 at 9:58 am

    Not just in New Zealand that young people are being politically and financially excluded from ever owning their own home by the right wing:

    Episode 824

    https://www.rt.com/shows/keiser-report/318933-episode-max-keiser-824/

    “In this episode of the Keiser Report, Max Keiser and Stacy Herbert discuss economic insurgents and fiscal charters leaving the economy to monetary policy. In the second half, Max interviews Fran Boait of Positive Money UK about Osborne’s ‘fiscal charter,’ the rise of inequality and its causes.”

  7. Karen 7
    21 October 2015 at 10:00 am

    TVNZ are obviously aware their One News political poll analysis was justifiably accused of bias.
    Corin Dann has published a fairer and a much more measured response on their web page.

    https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/corin-dann-key-might-be-secretly-a-little-disappointed-by-latest-one-news-poll-q16490

    • tc 7.1
      21 October 2015 at 10:51 am

      To which they’ll claim balance leaving the govt friendly spin on the much wider and ‘trusted’ muppet TV channel standing without any attempt at an apology or redress.

    • savenz 7.2
      21 October 2015 at 11:21 am

      Unfortunately the less politically aware are still watching the news and not the web for news. So not really helping.

  8. greywarshark 8
    21 October 2015 at 10:10 am

    Can someone tell me how Scoop is getting on with its pledges? I went to the original page and the board there shows that there are 28 days to go, and further down it says it finishes on 17 November. So that is presumably up to date. Yet it shows only about $6000 and it is aiming at $50,000. Surely this can’t be right.

    I think it is time for alert NZs to reach into their pockets and make sure Scoop gets launched as envisaged. Or else all the words are hot air going into progressive blogs and really just a load of farts.

    • greywarshark 8.1
      22 October 2015 at 10:21 am

      I see no-one who knows has the time to answer my query about Scoop’s progress.
      Perhaps I should say something gender-sensitive so that someone will take some notice and i will then get instant response to my query, which is something that never happens usually.

      So I bet women are all talk about the need for change and more responsible news and now the time has come to front up with something concrete, they just can’t make the sacrifice of cash. It is for an essential and endlessly-discussed institution of reliable truth and information you know.

      And all those TS commenters who have so many opinions about politicians and anyone who does anything, but I doubt very little actual determined action when it is needed as many of you ‘Can’t handle the truth’ so why support a truth-delivering medium like Scoop? I bet you haven’t even put the minimum of $16 in. You’d better get your arses into gear if you do have something solid behind all the puffery of words here, you have till the 17th November.

  9. Puckish Rogue 9
    21 October 2015 at 11:18 am

    http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2015/10/little_lowest_polling_opposition_leader_one_year_in.html

    1.John Key 33%
    2.Don Brash 20%
    3.Jenny Shipley 16%
    4.David Shearer 11%
    5.Bill English 10%
    6.David Cunliffe 10%
    7.Phil Goff 9%
    8.Andrew Little 8%

    So Andrew Little has the lowest polling of any opposition leader one year into their leadership since the advent of MMP

    Don’t worry though as I’m sure once NZers get to know the real Andrew Little I’m sure the numbers will change

    • scotty 9.1
      21 October 2015 at 12:08 pm

      Yep the lowest polling ever, in the history of the whole world.
      Well -that is apart from someone by the name of John key who also polled 8% in the Herald Digi poll August 2006 approx 1 year after becoming leader.

      • McFlock 9.1.1
        21 October 2015 at 12:42 pm

        Key became leader in november 2006.

        but the real test of tories is what they omit. Why four leaders? Because the fifth for Labour is Helen Clark, who struggled in personal popularity polls for quite some time (even being sub-margin of error) before being a very successful, long term leader. A leader who also tried to make things a bit better for all NZers, unlike Key.

        • Hami Shearlie 9.1.1.1
          21 October 2015 at 4:24 pm

          Helen Clark was given a good long time to bed in as leader – unlike David Cunliffe! I still struggle to understand why the ABC faction were so determined to get rid of him when, having been leader for a very brief time, he won nearly every debate against Key in the election according to newspaper polls etc. Why was he not given the same treatment that Helen Clark got and allowed to stay where he was. The way things are now I am sure he would be doing much much better than Andrew Little. David Cunliffe looks and sounds like a Prime Minister. I am still very angry with the ABC crowd – they were just so damn stupid and self-serving! Just my opinion.

          • McFlock 9.1.1.1.1
            21 October 2015 at 4:33 pm

            Helen Clark demanded leadership, even after missing government in 1996. It wasn’t “given”.

            If you can’t lead a party, how can you lead a government?

            But I’m sure after a few more years Cunliffe will be leadership material.

          • Chooky 9.1.1.1.2
            21 October 2015 at 7:45 pm

            +100 Hami Shearlie

        • Anne 9.1.1.2
          21 October 2015 at 5:24 pm

          … the real test of tories is what they omit.

          0h yes, they ALWAYS forget to mention Helen Clark – 4% was it? It was a year or two after she became leader and It prompted a small delegation of MPS to visit her and ask her to step down. She stared them down instead. To be fair they all conceded they were wrong – very wrong – a few years later.

          Sorry to spoil your ‘little’ dream sequence PR but history does have a habit of repeating itself.

    • Draco T Bastard 9.2
      21 October 2015 at 12:31 pm

      Of course, that’s actually meaningless comparison as we don’t directly elect leaders but parties.

    • lprent 9.3
      21 October 2015 at 12:34 pm

      Yawn. It is an irrelevant measure. Just how irrelevant I am sure you realize. I notice that you (and Kiwiblog) managed to not include Helen Clark or Jim Bolger on it, I wonder why?

      Because it exposes your political stupidity?

      • Puckish Rogue 9.3.1
        21 October 2015 at 3:38 pm

        You’re correct of course however I’m also sure you’d agree that having a leader thats reasonble popular wouldn’t hurt Labours chances either

      • lprent 9.3.2
        21 October 2015 at 5:03 pm

        It is just one amongst many factors. It is also probably the least important.

        The only reason that it is notable is because of the way that it allows the politically mindless yammering about it on TV. The reason is that it allows the talking heads to personalise the ‘contest’.

        Fortunately, the number of people bothering to watch broadcast TV is now rapidly falling, which probably means that the average political intelligence of the population will start rising.

        Certainly I haven’t watched much since I didn’t fix the aerial when we moved back into my apartment in 2012. We just use net services, these days mostly Netflix. I watch some of the current affairs shows online. But I get better news from the net.

    • Bearded Git 9.4
      21 October 2015 at 12:36 pm

      @puckish

      31+12+9=goodbye to the ponytail puller. As Corin Dann says today (see link above) the Nats have hit a plateau at 47% with no friends out there.

      • Puckish Rogue 9.4.1
        21 October 2015 at 3:43 pm

        Ok so 31 + 12 + 9 = goodbye of course it could also just as easily be 47 + 9 = three more years

        Theres as many good reasons Winston would go to the left as he would go to the right so you shouldn’t count your chickens until they’re hatched

        • You_Fool 9.4.1.1
          21 October 2015 at 3:54 pm

          Winston should not be counted on either side, which is why I am hoping for a few more % points; 35+15 (pretty much within the margin of error) would make the +9 (or +10) more likely to come down on the correct side of the fence – or possibly leave him for the cross-bench and support policy by policy.

  10. savenz 10
    21 October 2015 at 11:33 am

    Roading lobbyists eyeing Vector shares

    Trying to steal from the poor and Aucklander’s again so that the the Vector privatisation can pay for more roads.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11375615

    • Puckish Rogue 11.1
      21 October 2015 at 11:39 am

      Wow

    • Treetop 11.2
      21 October 2015 at 1:32 pm

      Heffernan has highlighted one of the issues (that the public could lose confidence in the judiciary) that really pisses me off when it comes to an inquiry into historical sexual abuse. The silence is deafening for a sexual abuse survivor when the perpetrator is being protected from being investigated or named and shamed in public just because of their employment.

      It is about time that those who were sexually offended against as children were properly understood by those who do the investigating regardless of how long ago the sexual offending occurred.

      Leave no stone unturned is what I want the investigators/inquirors to do, anything less is not good enough.

      • Rosemary McDonald 11.2.1
        21 October 2015 at 2:31 pm

        “It is about time that those who were sexually offended against as children were properly understood by those who do the investigating regardless of how long ago the sexual offending occurred.”

        here….http://notmyshame.squarespace.com/

        and here…http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/regional/287541/sisters-lose-legal-bid-to-name-abuser

        “But Justice Mander said lifting that suppression after more than 20 years – when the man had served jail time and been fully rehabilitated – would be a disproportionate action.”

        • Treetop 11.2.1.1
          21 October 2015 at 4:12 pm

          The silence is deafening.

          I do not agree with Justice Mander.

          • weka 11.2.1.1.1
            21 October 2015 at 5:23 pm

            The starting point should be the long term effects on the victim. Someone may well have served their time and been fully rehabilitated*, which suits society, but the victim may still be serving theirs.

            *whatever that means. If they haven’t redressed the wrongs they did to the actual victim then I doubt that it counts as fully.

          • Rosemary McDonald 11.2.1.1.2
            21 October 2015 at 7:48 pm

            “The silence is deafening.

            I do not agree with Justice Mander.”

            Ditto.

            Justice or enabling?

            Part of the “silence” thing could be because this situation for these women is so damned awful.

            I can’t find any better words to describe how I feel about this….that’s why I linked to the notmyshame site.

            There was a window here….slammed shut, and ammo provided for the next pedophile who wants to hide behind name suppression.

            • Chooky 11.2.1.1.2.1
              21 October 2015 at 9:58 pm

              +100…Justice Mander’s shame!…he should not be a judge!

            • Treetop 11.2.1.1.2.2
              22 October 2015 at 9:24 am

              “Justice or enabling?”

              Enabling.

              Survivors (when ready) need to have the choice to have the sexual perpetrator named or not named, regardless of the perpetrator being alive or deceased.

              Out of the British inquiry led by Justice Goddard, I hope that every paedophile and sexual perpetrator is named regardless of who they are and what they have achieved.

              Both you and Weka get it when it comes to revictimising the survivor.

              Until NZ has judges which fully understand what a sexual assault victim goes through, blunders will keep being made.

    • Anne 11.3
      21 October 2015 at 8:34 pm

      @ Gangnam Style:
      Given what is now coming to light in Britain and the involvement of a former prime minister (plus the police cover-up), then this story is by no means far fetched. I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if something along the lines alleged was happening in Australia. And it’s not beyond the realms of possibility some suspect behaviour was occurring here back in the “good old days”.

  12. The Chairman 12
    21 October 2015 at 1:57 pm

    AMY GOODMAN: So what happens in Congress now (TPPA)?

    ROBERT WEISSMAN: Well, we’re going to have some period of time. There’s going to be 90 days, at least, from now, before the president can sign the deal, and after that, 30 days, at least, before the implementing legislation is presented to Congress to vote on. So we’re looking at least four months before the thing finally is formally presented to Congress. And it may be much longer, but it’s going to be at least four months.

    In that period, and when the thing is on the floor of Congress, you’re going to see a massive mobilization in the United States to demand members of Congress vote this horrible deal down.

    You’ve got almost the entirety of the labor movement, almost the entirety of the environmental movement, almost all consumer groups, massive numbers of faith-based groups, community groups, all united in opposition to this, and it is going to become a major issue in American politics.

    It’s going to become a major issue in the presidential campaign.

    And, you know, we’re going to work super hard on this, but we’re very optimistic that this thing is going to be stopped and that people power will actually prevail over the interests of the multinational corporations.

    https://youtu.be/-SFNKnLYwvY

    • The Chairman 12.1
      21 October 2015 at 2:22 pm

      Will people power actually prevail over the interests of the multinational corporations?

      Thoughts?

      • Draco T Bastard 12.1.1
        21 October 2015 at 3:34 pm

        We can hope so but, as they already rule the US, probably not.

        • The Chairman 12.1.1.1
          21 October 2015 at 4:05 pm

          Indeed. However, with large opposition spread across the political spectrum, coupled with the thought of an election hanging overhead, the increased pressure may lead to Congress succumbing to the public will. Thus, there is some hope, albeit slim.

    • Colonial Viper 12.2
      21 October 2015 at 6:51 pm

      You’ve got almost the entirety of the labor movement, almost the entirety of the environmental movement, almost all consumer groups, massive numbers of faith-based groups, community groups, all united in opposition to this, and it is going to become a major issue in American politics.

      Yeah its utterly shite; amazing that all these grassroots groups are against the TPP upfront no ifs or buts, but an Andrew Little NZ Labour Government would keep the door open on the TPP.

  14. Treetop 14
    21 October 2015 at 2:44 pm

    I commented to Gangnam Style at 1.32 pm, the comment showed up in search but not in open mike.

    • Grindlebottom 15.1
      21 October 2015 at 4:35 pm

      Don’t think much of Jo Moir, the reporter, for starting the article with

      Labour leader Andrew Little has snubbed rising star Jacinda Ardern for the deputy leadership after confirming veteran MP Annette King will stay in the role.

      Good choice for now by Little I think.

      • McFlock 15.1.1
        21 October 2015 at 4:49 pm

        Yeah – it seems media never miss an opportunity to try and foment division.

        • Grindlebottom 15.1.1.1
          21 October 2015 at 4:53 pm

          The rest of the article goes into the relevant issues and how Little reached the decision. It was a perfectly reasonable decision and there’s nothing to indicate Ardern in any way considers herself to have been snubbed. It’s a gutter journalism-type line.

        • Ergo Robertina 15.1.1.2
          21 October 2015 at 7:15 pm

          And it seems the standard of media critique on the Standard retains its usual level of sophistication, complete with poor grammar.

          I don’t like this reporting, but it’s a classic example of the celebrity-driven content that characterises Stuff, and increasingly, NZ Herald.
          Jacinda is known and liked by people/readers who would struggle to name another front-bencher, apart from the leader. That makes her the angle.
          It’s not partisan stirring; it is the banality of clicks, and the decisions to pursue that strategy has been made in Australia.
          Unfortunately Kiwis tend to be small minded and punitive – now we have questions on the thread over the reporter’s gender – and the bigger picture passes them by.
          Ironic, in a way, as the same dynamic meant Rogernomics could be implemented.

          • Grindlebottom 15.1.1.2.1
            21 October 2015 at 7:24 pm

            It’s not partisan stirring; it is the banality of clicks, and the decisions* to pursue that strategy has* been made in Australia.

            *Grammar. 🙂

            • Ergo Robertina 15.1.1.2.1.1
              21 October 2015 at 7:31 pm

              oops . . . I meant decision, not plural. Always dicey to go down the grammar grumbling track I guess.

          • greywarshark 15.1.1.2.2
            21 October 2015 at 7:46 pm

            Hey who is being punitive. I only asked if Jo was male or female. I still like the idea that there should be different genders and it is interesting the style that each person brings to their work. Less picky please.

            • Ergo Robertina 15.1.1.2.2.1
              21 October 2015 at 8:06 pm

              Fair enough, it seemed like a weird question until you explained it.
              Women out-number men in journalism schools these days, sometimes overwhelmingly, I understand.
              Whatever their gender, reporters are more likely to be young and inexperienced than at any other time.

      • ianmac 15.1.2
        21 October 2015 at 5:15 pm

        Read that mean piece by Jo Moir. Spiteful and ill informed. Bet if he chose Jacinda, Jo would write, “Labour leader Andrew Little has chosen inexperienced Jacinda Ardern for the deputy leadership after snubbing veteran MP Annette. “

      • greywarshark 15.1.3
        21 October 2015 at 6:44 pm

        Is Jo a woman? That’s the way that woman usually spell the name, men Joe.

        • Grindlebottom 15.1.3.1
          21 October 2015 at 6:48 pm

          I assumed so, from the same deductive reasoning as yours. Why do you ask? Does it matter?

    • The Chairman 15.2
      21 October 2015 at 5:13 pm

      So it seems his at length discussion with caucus resulted in King being selected.

      Wonder why Little brought forward the announcement?

      • McFlock 15.2.1
        21 October 2015 at 5:32 pm

        Probably to nip the bullshit in the bud would be my guess.

        King’s good in the job, Ardern might be, Robertson might be, and so on down the list. But the sooner the issue was sorted the less chance there was for party or caucus members to say stuff that can’t be taken back.

    • Anne 15.3
      21 October 2015 at 5:35 pm

      Delighted to hear it. She’s been really on to it this electoral term. She and Little are very much the political equivalent of the good cop/bad cop routine. You know how well the tandem is working by the way Key is gunning for Annette King at every available opportunity in the debating chamber.

      • Rosemary McDonald 15.3.1
        21 October 2015 at 7:02 pm

        I don’t watch Parly Telly much….but I must confess to delighting in A Certain Person being subject to loud and justified taunts of “scumbag” from the Opposition Benches.

        Onya Annette, you speak for many of us.

        A perfect foil for Little.

    • Gavin 15.4
      21 October 2015 at 6:56 pm

      I agree it’s probably the best move, although a lot of younger voters would probably like to see Ardern as Deputy Leader. Older voters probably want the stability, and let’s face it, they vote more reliably. Several (rightwing?) posters on Stuff reckon Ardern will try for leader before the 2017 election. Of course they’d like that, that would surely scuttle Labour’s chances. Labour has to let voters take a really good look at a stable lineup, by 2017 that’ll be working well, Little needs to polish his presentations a bit more, but he’s doing OK. He’ll need to take every opportunity that presents itself though, to stick it to John Key.

      Message to Andrew: this is very important, be well rehearsed, don’t look at your notes, be a good toastmaster, train up, and help us get National out of office.

      • Anne 15.4.1
        21 October 2015 at 7:40 pm

        He does need to improve his interviewee skills. Too many umms and arrs and word repeating. It takes the shine off what he’s actually saying.

  16. NZSage 16
    21 October 2015 at 4:39 pm

    Sky shares plummet!

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11532802

    These guys have been rooting Kiwis for decades and now hopefully their time is up!

    My heart bleeds!

    And in true corporate style greed Sky directors gave themselves a pay rise before the bad news leaked. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sky-tv/news/article.cfm?o_id=195&objectid=11530306

  17. Morrissey 17
    21 October 2015 at 7:10 pm

    Liars of Our Time
    No. 52: MICHAEL CHEIKA

    “I genuinely feel for Craig Joubert. It’s so unfair. No other referee has had this stuff put out there like that and he’s a very good referee.”

    —-Wallabies coach Michael Cheika, 20 October 2015. (Well, he would say that, wouldn’t he.)
    http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/oct/20/michael-cheika-world-rugby-craig-joubert-

    More liars…
    http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-20102015/#comment-1084864

    • GregJ 17.1
      21 October 2015 at 10:05 pm

      It’s a bit rich coming from Cheika who has form for openly criticizing refereeing decisions. Not that I necessarily have a problem with professional referees having their performance critiqued.

      it is fair to add though it wasn’t just Joubert’s performance in that match – the TMO made an appalling recommendation which saw Maitland sinbinned and that played as much into the result of the match as the incorrectly awarded penalty.

  18. Morrissey 18
    21 October 2015 at 8:24 pm

    BBC implies Palestinian dead are Israeli
    20 October 2015

    A fresh Israeli onslaught against Palestinians began at the start of October, resulting in almost fifty Palestinians killed in just under three weeks.

    Nearly ten Israelis were slain during that same period.

    While extreme and sustained Israeli violence against Palestinians is a routine feature of Israel’s military occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, just as predictable is the BBC’s coverage of it.

    And so it comes as no surprise to witness the BBC focusing almost exclusively on Palestinian attacks on Israelis while presenting Israel, not only as the victim, but the sole victim of October’s violence — while mentioning Palestinian fatalities only in passing.

    A prime example this week was a segment on the BBC’s flagship radio news program Today. On 19 October it broadcast a four-minute chat between veteran presenter John Humphrys and one of its Middle East correspondents, Kevin Connolly.

    With 42 Palestinians killed at that time, and thousands more injured in attacks by settlers and soldiers, Humphrys began his conversation with Connolly like this: “Yet another attack on Israelis last night. This time an Arab man with a gun and a knife killed a soldier and wounded 10 people. Our Middle East correspondent is Kevin Connolly. The number is mounting, isn’t it Kevin? The number is about 50 now, isn’t it?”

    Not only does Humphrys’ introduction make it sound as though only Israelis are being attacked, he quite extraordinarily implies that the 50 who had been killed since the beginning of the month were all Israelis.

    Connolly doesn’t correct him. He instead adds: “We think around 50 dead over the course of the last month or so, John. This sudden sharp uptick of violence; not just that attack at the bus station in Beersheva, inside Israel itself, but also, on Saturday, a wave of stabbing attacks in Hebron and in Jerusalem.”

    /Full article:

    https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/amena-saleem/bbc-implies-palestinian-dead-are-israeli

The server will be getting hardware changes this evening starting at 10pm NZDT.
The site will be off line for some hours.