Open mike 22/11/2023

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, November 22nd, 2023 - 62 comments
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62 comments on “Open mike 22/11/2023 ”

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  1. Wei 1
    22 November 2023 at 4:01 am

    Advantage is a consistent apologist for US empire.

    That a so called 'left' website should publish his misinformation is frankly disgraceful.

    [This is rich coming from a PRC shill. Everybody is free to comment here and contribute to robust debate. You obviously can’t handle this freedom and resort to wild accusations and broad-based attacks, incl. on a TS Author. This is the exact reason why you’ve been in Pre-Mod and unless you lift your game to the standard of TS, which most commenters achieve without too many issues, you’ll be repatriated – Incognito]

    [TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]

  2. Bearded Git 2
    22 November 2023 at 6:57 am

    It's a bit weird how much of the media has portrayed Milei's win in Argentina as a "landslide" when he won 55.8 to 44.2.

    The crap state of Argentina's economy, with inflation at 140% and 40% of people below the poverty line , stuffed Massa.



  3. Ad 3
    22 November 2023 at 9:16 am

    Just want to give a big shoutout to Kim Hill leaving RNZ.

    I know she's going to a few more bits for them, but at her best she was fearless and always researched her brief really well.

    I also particularly respected her for relentlessly championing New Zealand science and scientists, who are a desperately small and not well supported group but in the Calaghan Institute and in others we have New Zealand's best chances of generating innovations that can help both public good science and spinoff commercialised innovations that can find their niches in the world.

    Also she was a resolute champion of women and took a lot of stick for it from the show feedback, which she was happy to read out to her audience.

    I sure want someone just as good to replace her, but in the meantime, Kim you were and are awesome.

    • ianmac 3.1
      22 November 2023 at 9:54 am

      Yes Ad. Kim's going is a bit like a bereavement. Who will be an adequate replacement?

    • joe90 3.2
      22 November 2023 at 10:02 am

      Can't find an archived recording but Kim Hill v Mary Agnes Brooke is my all-time fav.

      https://www.bsa.govt.nz/decisions/all-decisions/brooke-and-radio-new-zealand-ltd-2000-001/#searched-for-

      • observer 3.2.1
        22 November 2023 at 10:33 am

        Kim Hill and John Howard is another.

        Anyway, what Ad said basically. Outstanding on radio, but also in 2005 Kim interviewed the party leaders on TVNZ, back when the network gave half an hour in peak time (gasp!) to one interview, which would never happen now. I wish all her successors would watch, learn, improve.

        • lprent 3.2.1.1
          22 November 2023 at 1:05 pm

          You should have a look at the Jack Tame interviews. I found those to be up to standard when I finally located them where I could stream them from.

    • Belladonna 3.3
      22 November 2023 at 2:08 pm

      Kim Hill leaves giant shoes to fill.

      A totally fearless interviewer, unwilling to put up with PR bullshit crap from any source. Fiercely intelligent, and fearsomely well-briefed in any situation. She left you feeling better informed on any subject she chose to broadcast on.

      I didn't always listen (some topics are not ones I care about), and didn't always agree – but always appreciated her work.

  4. SPC 4
    22 November 2023 at 9:51 am

    An order of fair competition is being formalised across international sport.

    This will leave some US college sport polity as outlier – monetising (sports scholarships for grifters) gender identity.

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2023/11/cricket-transgender-women-barred-from-internationals-as-part-of-new-regulations-set-by-icc.html

  5. Rolling-on-Gravel 5
    22 November 2023 at 10:16 am

    https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/301012892/live-government-coalition-deal-all-but-done-may-be-signed-thursday

    This is getting pretty scary. They will finalise the coalition tomorrow barring any shenanigans.

    • Kay 5.1
      22 November 2023 at 10:32 am

      I hear you RoG. No-one should ever be genuinely afraid of living under a government of any stripe.

    • alwyn 5.2
      22 November 2023 at 10:32 am

      "This is getting pretty scary."

      Why? What are you scared of?

      • observer 5.2.1
        22 November 2023 at 10:36 am

        Early death. Popcorn is loaded with salt and calories.

        • Rolling-on-Gravel 5.2.1.1
          22 November 2023 at 10:40 am

          FUCK YOU OBSERVER.

          • observer 5.2.1.1.1
            22 November 2023 at 10:43 am

            You might want to pause and edit that.

            Point missed, obviously.

            • Rolling-on-Gravel 5.2.1.1.1.1
              22 November 2023 at 10:45 am

              What else I can infer from what you just said, Observer?

              It seems as if you don’t take stuff like this seriously.

              • observer …
                22 November 2023 at 11:04 am

                "Popcorn"

                2023 Final results « The Standard

                "Circus"

                The baubles of office « The Standard

                And so on.

                It's not "getting scary", it was already scary on election night over a month ago. What did you think was going to happen in the negotiations? A sudden change of heart by the 3 parties? Seriously?

                If anything, after Luxon's incompetence, the threesome falling apart is more likely now than on election night. Hence, popcorn.

                • Rolling-on-Gravel …
                  22 November 2023 at 11:20 am

                  Why then did you combine such phrases with "early death", likely knowing that there is a connotation of schadenfreude or indifference when it comes to popcorn and celebration, with the added inference of salt and calories being a contributor to hypertension?

                  For your information, I was already there on the standard around that time, full of worry and fear about what they will do to us.

                  And I knew then and now that there won't be a change of heart.

                  Today is the most real it ever has been and it already was real to me a while ago.

                  I was hoping against hope that all the negotiations chaos was going to mean a return to the polls but no.

                  So that's now gone for now.

                  • observer …
                    22 November 2023 at 11:26 am

                    OK, you're angry and I get that.

                    So there is no misunderstanding, I think this will be the worst government since the early 1990s.

                    I also think that it is more likely to be a shorter government than looked probable when National plus ACT had a possible majority (in the polls, and then on election night).

                    I look forward to its demise.

              • AB …
                22 November 2023 at 11:20 am

                ROG – I think observer was referring to himself, not you. That is, the thing he has to fear is eating too much popcorn while watching the new government make fools of themselves and fall apart. I hope he's right, but so much time, effort and money has been invested in getting Labour out of government and this lot installed, that I don't think National's backers will tolerate such a thing and will get the message through to Luxon loud and clear. We all know from what you have said previously that lowering or freezing benefits is going to harm you – perhaps seriously.

                • Rolling-on-Gravel …
                  22 November 2023 at 11:27 am

                  OK, AB, I'll give Observer the charity for what he has posted. I'm sorry that I blew up at you, Observer. This is extremely stressful for me.

                  I hope you and Observer are right that they utterly fall apart and the damage is limited.

                  Otherwise it would be some of the darkest eras in Kiwi history and I pray that it won't come to that.

      • Kay 5.2.2
        22 November 2023 at 10:36 am

        Alwyn- the very real knowledge- based on history- that low income/beneficiaries (including disabled) are the first group they will come after. If you've been fortunate enough not to have to live with that threat, you cannot appreciate the fear is very real.

      • Rolling-on-Gravel 5.2.3
        22 November 2023 at 10:42 am

        Alywn. Them following the UK model when it comes to benefits.

        That's what I'm afraid of.

    • weka 6.1
      22 November 2023 at 11:15 am

      please write some explanation, context and your views when commenting. Rather than just a bunch of links.

      • Rolling-on-Gravel 6.1.1
        22 November 2023 at 11:21 am

        Weka: please delete my comment so I can redo this. I couldn't edit it even after refreshing.

    • Rolling-on-Gravel 6.2
      22 November 2023 at 11:45 am

      "Recent evidence has shown people across the UK are dying younger as a result of austerity, with people living in the poorest areas hardest hit. A new study published today now quantifies the scale of these deaths. The study, led by the Glasgow Centre for Population Health (GCPH) and the University of Glasgow, and published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, reports that compared to what previous trends predicted, an additional 335,000 deaths were observed across Scotland, England & Wales between 2012 and 2019." is a study made by Uni of Glasgow in the first link. It basically says that austerity is a political choice.

      https://www.gla.ac.uk/news/headline_885099_en.html

      This following 2nd link delineates a freedom of information request of DWP about its review of disabled people's benefits and the rates of death. This is Disability Rights from UK, reporting that.

      "New figures show how the number of secret reviews into deaths of benefit claimants that have been linked to the failings of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has more than doubled over the last three years, the Disability News Service (DNS) reports. They show how the DWP started 43 internal process reviews (IPRs) into deaths between July 2019 and June 2020, 59 from July 2020 to June 2021, and 38 in the last year, a total of 140 in three years."

      https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/2022/july/secret-reviews-dwp-deaths-have-more-doubled-three-years

      The quote from Disability News Service 3rd link says that:

      "The draft version of the Deaths by Welfare timeline* exposes how DWP was alerted more than 40 times over the past 30 years to life-threatening systemic flaws in its disability benefits systems, by academics, coroners and its own researchers. IPRs are not released publicly, and grieving families are not even told that they are taking place."

      https://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/secret-reviews-into-dwp-deaths-more-than-double-in-three-years/

      This means that there's a culture of cruelty and secrecy in DWP, enough that families of the affected weren't informed that there were investigations beforehand.

      The fourth link is from the Guardian.

      "Five thousand people died before they could be reimbursed for a government error that left chronically ill and disabled benefit claimants thousands of pounds out of pocket, it has emerged. Approximately 70,000 claimants were originally estimated to have been underpaid about £340m between 2011 and 2014, after being transferred from older benefits on to the employment and support allowance (ESA) during a government overhaul of incapacity benefits."

      https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/jan/16/people-died-benefits-error

      Incompetence or malice or both, doesn't matter. People has the potential to be harmed if the NZ government decides to go down this path.

      Fifth link also from Guardian, about people dying after being found fit for work when they weren't fit and were forced to work:

      "Nearly 90 people a month are dying after being declared fit for work, according to new data that has prompted campaigners and Labour leadership contenders to call for an overhaul of the government’s welfare regime. Statistics released by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) revealed that during the period December 2011 and February 2014 2,380 people died after their claim for employment and support allowance (ESA) ended because a work capability assessment (WCA) found they were found fit for work."

      https://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/aug/27/thousands-died-after-fit-for-work-assessment-dwp-figures

      This is why I fear what Luxon and Seymour will do. They will force people who aren't suitable to work and they may be harmed.

      Part One of Two

      • Rolling-on-Gravel 6.2.1
        22 November 2023 at 11:58 am

        Part 2 of 2

        The sixth link from Big Issue, a magazine, shows the challenge of keeping that much-needed money and how tough people has it in UK welfare system nowadays and how traumatising it is.

        "Previous reporting from The Big Issue found the DWP rejects almost 90% of initial challenges over benefit decisions, but official statistics show 68% of claimants win their case when appealing the decision at tribunal, during which officials have more time to consider an individual’s case. This process causes avoidable damage for claimants like Aidan, who spent months appealing a PIP decision which lost him critical financial support and his car. “I’ve been living in quite squalid conditions because I haven’t had the mental capacity to keep the place tidy, clean and sanitary,” Aidan, who has multiple conditions including autism and an amputated leg, told The Big Issue. “The whole process was causing severe psychological stress and trauma to the point of being suicidal.”"

        https://www.bigissue.com/news/social-justice/dwp-disability-benefits-claimants-fail-whistleblowers/

        This is from Big Issue again. This is about how such a welfare system is affecting people for the worse.

        "Josh Smith was so anxious about his disability benefits assessment that he told his mother Tracy he planned to take a hammer and chisel to his leg. “That’s a disability they can see,” she breaks into tears as she remembers her son’s desperate words. “They can’t see my mental health. If they can see my disability they’re more likely to give me the clear.” Josh was just 25 when he took his own life. His final months were consumed with anxiety that his benefits would be snatched away. Tracy, who is speaking out for the first time three years after her son’s death, blames the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and public services for failing Josh when he was at his most desperate. “Life was already a massive struggle for him,” Tracy says. “The benefits system added so much pressure. I know there’s people who work the system, but you know when someone’s really depressed and mentally ill. It doesn’t take rocket science. This is the consequence of adding pressure to people who are genuinely ill. They are pushed over the edge.”"

        https://www.bigissue.com/news/social-justice/man-died-suicide-dwp-disability-benefits/

        All of this paints a picture of what NZ may face in the future with its disability community by this government.

        This was why I was so angry and anxious earlier in this Open Mike.

        This is why the coalition agreeing so much on things is so dangerous.

        • Ad 6.2.1.1
          22 November 2023 at 10:00 pm

          Poverty and states running down welfare is worth getting angry about.

          Keep up the good energy.

          We're going to need it.

  7. Scott 7
    22 November 2023 at 1:09 pm

    The new coalition government won't cut benefits.

    They will just make those who can work take the jobs that are on offer

    • Barfly 7.1
      22 November 2023 at 1:24 pm

      "The new coalition government won't cut benefits"

      They will cut benefits by changing the rate of increase in benefits so that is lower than it would have been . CPI is not an accurate measure for the inflation faced by beneficiaries as CPI measurements are based on a basket of goods including the likes of vehicles and major consumer electronic apliances which generally skew the the CPI downwards.

      "They will just make those who can work take the jobs that are on offer"

      They will demonise. harass, pressure and sanction the mentally unwell creating unnessessary suffering, more negative health outcomes and increasing the suicide rate and this is all for political advantage by satisfying the 'urge to punish'. common among sociopathic idiots such as you. devil

      • Scott 7.1.1
        22 November 2023 at 1:56 pm

        It makes no sense to call someone you don't sociopathic on the basis of their opinion on a blog site

        In your first paragraph you seem to agree with me that the new govt won't cut benefits but believe that they will increase them in line with the CPI.

        In your second paragraph you maintain that the govt will harass the mentally unwell to take jobs in order to punish them and that this will increase the suicide rate.

        I never suggested that people who are sick should work. That's why we have a sickness benefit.

        To be clear I think that those who are fit for work should work and that this govt will make the case for work more strongly than the previous govt.

        • Visubversa 7.1.1.1
          22 November 2023 at 4:00 pm

          We don't have a "sickness benefit" as such in New Zealand. This benefit also covers people who are looking for work.

          https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/products/a-z-benefits/jobseeker-support.html

          "Jobseeker Support, which used to be called sickness benefit in New Zealand, is a weekly payment that helps employees who have temporarily taken time off work or are working at a lesser load due to a sickness, injury, pregnancy or a disability".

          You might want to do some basic research (30 seconds on Google perhaps) before you demonstrate ignorance and prejudice in a forum such as this.

          • Rolling-on-Gravel 7.1.1.1.1
            22 November 2023 at 4:15 pm

            Damn Key for that particular bit of change.

            • Sabine 7.1.1.1.1.1
              22 November 2023 at 7:47 pm

              Damn,

              Labour for never undoing it despite having a majority for three years,

              and never implementing a proper unemploymnet benefit for those that lost their jobs

              and not removing the partnership clause/misery leaving many who should have and would have otherwise a benefit with nothing but the grace of their partners.

              Damn, 3 years of a full majority and Winz is very much as Paula Bennet handed it over to Sepuloni.

        • Anne 7.1.1.2
          22 November 2023 at 5:45 pm

          Either you are ignorant Scott or you are one of those "sociopathic idiots". The last I heard the unemployment rate is currently @3.6%. That suggests pretty much all the people who can work are working.

          A zero unemployment rate is non-achievable, but with the thousands who are likely to be tossed on the scrap-heap in the near future and the lack of jobs available due to an inevitable shrinking economy, are we going to see the unfortunates being harassed and demonised again as they were in the 1990s by a previous National government?

          • Sabine 7.1.1.2.1
            22 November 2023 at 8:14 pm

            You ignore the under-employment rate which as been sitting very stubbornly at around 10 – 11%.

            See here https://www.stats.govt.nz/indicators/underutilisation-rate/

            Under employment 10.4 % – up slightly

            this is the criteria.

            • do not have a job, but are available to work and are actively seeking employment – unemployed
            • are employed part time (fewer than 30 hours a week) and who both want and are available to increase the number of hours they work – underemployed
            • want a job and are available to work, but are not currently looking for a job – available potential jobseeker (unemployed)
            • are unavailable to start work but are looking for a job as they will be able to start work within the next month – unavailable jobseeker. (unemployed)

            -cursive mine.

            All but one of the categories listed is actually 'under-employed' in the sense that they are partimers/casual/seasonal and would like to get to full time.

            All the othrs are non employed people full time, either regular unemployed and looking , discouraged by a bad job market so no longer looking, or looking for a job in the future.

            We rejoice in a low official unemployment number while ignoring the underemployment which hides a whole bag of people who do not work at all, and who may or may not be looking for a job but are on assistance.

            A further interesting breakdown that we don't really want to mention either is the Gap between the sexes, women are harder hit them men

            (I assume that the government counts 'sex' as per gender self id rather then sex recorded at birth)

            Women – 12. 2 %

            Men – 8.6%

            The unemployment rate for women is also higher then for men.

            3.4 men vs 3.9 women

            Our current Employment rate 69.1 Percent – trending down slightly.

        • Barfly 7.1.1.3
          22 November 2023 at 5:52 pm

          It's simply an exercise in fucking sadism – I know a bloke who is autistic while also suffering chronic depression, panic attacks and PTSD and brainless arseholes would like him to go through a steady diet of rejection and failure to satisfy their need for people like him to look for work this will inevitably lead to clinical depression and very high suicidal ideation. Some arseholes don't understand or care that there are people whose mental health conditions are such that harassing them to look for work that they can't do anyway will fuck them up worse than what they are.

    • observer 7.2
      22 November 2023 at 1:41 pm

      It is National's explicit policy to cut benefits, including for disabled people, as demonstrated here:

      Election 2023: Christopher Luxon grilled by AM's Ryan Bridge on whether beneficiaries will be better off under National or Labour | Newshub

      (of course we don't know what the agreed coalition policy will be, but given the 3 parties involved it is unlikely that National will be prevented from doing this)

    • bwaghorn 7.3
      22 November 2023 at 3:51 pm

      They will just make those who can work take the jobs that are on offer

      If your on a benefit and able shouldn't you any way?

      • Visubversa 7.3.1
        22 November 2023 at 4:14 pm

        And how do you know that they are not? Do you have any evidence that there are no sanctions for people who turn down employment opportunities without reasonable excuse, or who do not make enough effort to get work?

        One of my relatives was briefly on the Jobseekers benefit after a family disruption but was very well case managed by the relevant WINZ Officer and had 2 part time jobs within a month or so. One of the part time jobs became full time and he was able to stop getting the benefit.

        Another friend had 2 jobs in Rest Homes, one in the morning shift and one in the evening shift. She got a top up benefit because they were both part time and minimum wage. She got the top up as she was looking for full time work. She eventually found a full time job.

        The one benefit covers quite a wide range of needs and eligibilities and if it is just compared to the old Unemployment or Sickness benefits the numbers can look quite out of proportion which gives the ignorant opportunities to moan and complain.

        • bwaghorn 7.3.1.1
          22 November 2023 at 5:06 pm

          I think I got the wrong end of scotts stuck , I thought he was proposing that those that can work shouldn't be encouraged to take any available job .

          It seems he's possibly our the other end ,that short of being nearly dead you should be sanctioned into work ,

          I'm of the belief that some will need alot of help to get functioning, and sanctions won't do it except for a small minority. Also there's probably a %that will never work and their benefits are just a cost of a decent society.

    • Patricia Bremner 7.4
      22 November 2023 at 5:20 pm

      Scott, that is so shallow.

      Step 1They have already changed the benefit amount budgeted, lowering the 4 year amount by 2 billion dollars. Luxon said "As it has always been done by the CPI, not wages." So already from April benefits will be lower.

      Unfortunately that is poverty, as the advice from the inquiry group WEAG said benefit payments needed to be raised as pensions are as a proportion of the average wage to keep pace with true costs.

      Those of us who have observed right wing governments know austerity is their mantra. Austerity for the less fortunate, and tax breaks for the already fortunate.

      Rolling-on-gravel, we hear you. Most who come here want this Government gone as their aims are selfish and uncaring.

  8. Sandra Le Cron 8
    22 November 2023 at 1:39 pm

    Dodgy Dave and Nasty Nicola will make sure that those who can work and want to work will be well rewarded for their efforts. There are too many loafers dipping their fingers into the state coffers at the moment and that is the first thing that needs sorting.Let's get our society aspirational again!

    • Patricia Bremner 8.1
      22 November 2023 at 5:23 pm

      Aspiring to what? Being a nasty Landlord?
      Who are the Loafers dipping their fingers?
      So Landlords getting tax breaks are not loafers? Those who work for any Ministry are?
      What a strange view..Don’t forget 90 day trials lots of poorly paid migrants and backpackers to push wages back down again. less than 4% unemployed. Wow!! So where are all the lazy people?
      Perhaps you mean the sick the dying the retired the disabled???

  9. Ad 9
    22 November 2023 at 2:42 pm

    Well we now get the explicit calculation that Hamas and Israel make between the life of Israeli women, distinct from Israeli children (since it’s only 80 women and children being released from their kidnappers), distinct from Israeli men (who apparently aren’t being released), when weighed precisely against 150 mostly women and children released back into Israel.

    That is one cold calculus, on both sides.

    Israel will also allow 300 aid trucks to enter Gaza per day for four days.

    "Israel and Hamas have reached an agreement enabling the release of some hostages captured by the Palestinian militant group during its Oct. 7 attack on the country, Axios and Haaretz reported Tuesday, citing those familiar with the deal."

    https://www.huffpost.com/entry/israel-hamas-hostages-deal_n_655cbecfe4b0662eb43ba01e

    If this holds and is implemented it will be a real win for those rescued and gives hope that there will be more.

    Also if it holds it will be a massive diplomatic success for Qatar.

    Here's hoping for more of this.

    • SPC 9.1
      22 November 2023 at 4:57 pm

      The deal will see Hamas release 30 children, eight mothers and 12 other women …. . There will be a temporary cease-fire that will begin with four days and be extended by an another day for every 10 additional hostages released by Hamas

      Israel is expected to release about 150 Palestinians, mostly women and children. Israel will also allow 300 aid trucks to enter Gaza per day during the pause in fighting in the Palestinian enclave.

      https://www.huffpost.com/entry/israel-hamas-hostages-deal_n_655cbecfe4b0662eb43ba01e

      It might be for two weeks – the 10 per day, then it is 150 for 150.

      There are c240 hostages.

      At 300 trucks per day – 1200 trucks. 10 more days, 3000 trucks.

      They need shelter, food, water, medical supplies and fuel/power in the south.

      And a hospital ship off coast.

      Deal is designed to encourage more hostage releases

      Yolande Knell

      Middle East correspondent, in Jerusalem

      This long-expected deal has just been signed off.

      While it initially allows for 50 women and child hostages to be freed in batches by Hamas in exchange for a four-day pause in fighting, the deal has evidently been structured to encourage further releases.

      The incentive is a longer pause in fighting: The release of every additional 10 hostages will result in one additional day in the pause, the Israeli government statement says.

      That clause is an important one for the hostages families, some of whom had told me they didn't want to see a partial deal.

      https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-middle-east-67481139

      • ianmac 9.1.1
        22 November 2023 at 5:29 pm

        Israel is expected to release about 150 Palestinians, mostly women and children.

        And I believe that Israel is holding many many hundreds more in prison. How come that is not in the general public?

        • SPC 9.1.1.1
          22 November 2023 at 5:36 pm

          Many – so it's thousands. There are those who committed crimes of violence and got prosecuted (unlike some of the settlers) and there are those interned without trial (political activists). The PA also arrests political activists/dissidents.

          After the 150 – 150 stage – Hamas should seek the release of all those interned without trial for the 100 hostages they still have … and maybe those in that category held by the PA (and any in that category they have in Gaza) …

  10. Joe90 10
    22 November 2023 at 4:17 pm

    Afghanistan with oil.

    Samantha Berkhead

    @samberkhead

    Russian Senator Margarita Pavlova says the country should stop encouraging girls to get higher education in order to solve its demographic crisis: “This search for oneself drags on for many years, and as a result, reproductive function is losts.”

    https://twitter.com/samberkhead/status/1724182098460713076

    Despite its last-minute scheduling, the meeting at a bookstore in Russia’s westernmost city of Kaliningrad still drew about 60 people, with many outraged by a lawmaker’s efforts to ban abortions in local private clinics.

    The weeknight turnout surprised and heartened Dasha Yakovleva, one of the organizers, amid recent crackdowns on political activism under President Vladimir Putin.

    “Right now, there is no room for political action in Russia. The only place left is our kitchens,” Yakovleva, co-founder of the Feminitive Community women’s group, told The Associated Press. “And here, it was a public place, well-known in Kaliningrad, and everyone spoke out openly about how they see this measure, why they think it’s unjustified, inappropriate.”

    https://apnews.com/article/abortion-russia-women-rights-feminism-fc5eab75b5e3d028aeb1f70ec8a9a2b1

  11. Francesca 11
    22 November 2023 at 8:24 pm

    This kind of shit doesn't help

    Ex Obama official harassing a food vendor

    • joe90 11.1
      23 November 2023 at 8:04 pm

      Seldowitz was a 30 year career public servant, a Deputy Director in the US State Department's Office of Israel and Palestinian Affairs from 1999 to 2003, and worked for three presidents but sure, the black guy.

      /

      • Francesca 11.1.1
        24 November 2023 at 7:18 am

        What on earth is your point Joe.?

        What black guy?

        Anyway he’s been arrested for hate crime , but sure, the black guy?????
        Aah , I see , You’re talking about Obama, the most recent president he worked for .Somehow you’re attempting to insert a sly little suggestion of racism?
        The racism is all yours mate , Obama’s policies were more meaningful than his skin colour

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