Pro-Israeli apologist-comedians angry about human rights protest
Claim Israeli films “in no way a propaganda arm” for Israeli regime
Just over three years ago, a few months before the murderous Israeli assault on Gaza’s captive population (“Operation Cast Lead”) human rights and justice activists protested against the Toronto Film Festival allowing itself to be used as a theatre for a cynical propaganda exercise by the Israeli state. Upset at this outrageous display of democratic dissent, a group of extreme supporters of the Israeli state went public with their love for the Holy State….
WASHINGTON – A number of Hollywood stars circulated a letter Tuesday protesting a petition calling for a protest over the Toronto International Film Festival for its Tel Aviv-themed event.
The letter, which appeared simultaneously in the Los Angeles Times and the Toronto Star was signed, among others, by Jerry Seinfeld, Sacha Baron Cohen, Natalie Portman, Jason Alexander and Lisa Kudrow.
The letter, which was paid for by Jewish organizations in Los Angeles and Toronto, said, “Anyone who has actually seen recent Israeli cinema, movies that are political and personal, comic and tragic, often critical, knows they are in no way a propaganda arm for any government policy.”
Film festival protesters, which included culture critic Naomi Klein, and directors John Greyson and Richard Fung, said the Israeli films presented at the festival promote Israel’s recent publicity campaign, which seeks to show Israel and Tel Aviv as enlightened, liberal places, without conducting a dialogue on their treatment of Palestinians.
The Toronto festival’s management did not give in to pressure, and showed all ten films in the City of City event, which spotlighted Tel Aviv. Among them were Ephraim Kishon’s “Big Dig,” Assi Dayan’s “Life According to Agfa,” and Keren Yedaya’s “Bride of the Sea.”
Meanwhile, Jane Fonda, who had initially opposed the spotlight on Tel Aviv at the festival, Tuesday released a statement that she had changed her mind.
“I signed the letter without reading it carefully enough, without asking myself if some of the wording wouldn’t exacerbate the situation rather than bring about constructive dialogue,” Fonda wrote on the huffingtonpost.com. She added that the suffering of both sides should be articulated.
This is worrying. Govt querying whether Chief Justice Sian Elias should hear the Maori Water rights claim. Fran O’Sullivan in NZ Herald 22.12.12. I speculate this will be just the start of a govt move to disregard any result from the hearing if it is positive for the Maori Council claim.
Note also Bill English starting to query the legitimacy of the Maori Council. All part of a pr build-up which will allow the Govt to ignore a positive outcome for the Maori Council !
“Should Chief Justice Sian Elias recuse herself from the upcoming Supreme Court hearing on the Maori water rights claim? ………..
“It would be a big call to challenge the Chief Justice, who has (in fact) presided over at least three Supreme Court hearings in which the Maori Council has been a plaintiff without facing any challenge from the Executive. But Cabinet ministers are understood to have asked Crown Law to look at whether grounds do in fact exist for a challenge, or a request to be made to her to stand aside…………….
“She successfully acted for the council on several high-profile Treaty of Waitangi claims against the Crown in the late 1980s through to the mid-1990s.
“Some Cabinet ministers take the view that because of this strong and lengthy relationship as one of the council’s prime legal advocates, she should recuse herself from the upcoming appeal by the Maori Council against High Court judge Ron Young’s judgment effectively clearing the way for the Government to sell down its shareholding in Mighty River Power.
“At first blush it would seem unlikely Elias would take this step.
…………………………………
“But there have been few …. who have dared to publicly question her role in presiding on such cases.
“When Elias has stood aside it has been when a direct personal conflict has arisen. For instance, when she scratched herself from a Supreme Court case involving jockey Lisa Cropp who had been riding one of the judge’s horses……….
“The water rights case will go straight to the Supreme Court for a full-court hearing on January 31. The single ground for appeal is whether Young was right to dismiss the council’s application to review the Government’s decisions on the sell down of Mighty River Power because of outstanding claims to water rights.
“At Government level there is also concern over the very legitimacy of the Maori Council.
Cabinet ministers such as Bill English – who was second respondent in the council’s High Court action – are sceptical over the council’s standing.
“He contends that it doesn’t really represent the Maori leadership of today…………..”
” The asset sales are a major part of the Government’s fiscal programme………..”
1/ the legality of asset sales, as the owners consent was not sought (all tax payers -referendum)
2/ any validity of building fixed assets around natural resources which is anchored in the treaty regarding access. Is access guarantied under private ownership? And what does this mean in small print?
3/ and really most important, does the government of the day has the right to override the law of the land? Does this then constitute a dictatorship (as they had in eastern Europe not so long ago)?
As citizen of any country these questions would be utmost important. Surprised that the judiciary does not provide advise to parliament before this hits the headlines.
and really most important, does the government of the day has the right to override the law of the land? Does this then constitute a dictatorship (as they had in eastern Europe not so long ago)?
We have seen our country’s governance overturned in large measure, and under constant assault by whatever the latest government is. In this modern age can we have the same approach to democracy and government that we started with in the 1800s??
Since then quite a lot of history and technology has passed by us and through us, like the incessant neutrinos, which we didn’t know much about till recently. We know a lot of new stuff – are we capable of applying that information and fostering some new thinking quickly before all that we built in the past has been carelessly dismantled by the tunnel-visioned and ideology- driven conmen and women who are putting themselves forward with confidence.
It’s not enough to step up to the country having been groomed like a show horse and announce that ‘You can trust me to do the right thing because I look good, and I have confidence in myself and my party. Vote for me even if I have never explained in understandable language what I think is The Right Thing” Our democracy is a sham and not resilient and robust enough to prevail against the being and getting obssessives – their obssession – wealth and consumer goods and power.
Agree that democracy is fragile, not just here in NZ. Having a lot of new technology is not necessary new knowledge. It just means doing the same faster, more efficient, more accurate etc. (looking towards novopay….. đ ). As for the show horse bit, any front person is just that. We all should know that by now. New technology gives any party the means to survey where they stand ever so faster, thus enabling promise answers before we had time to formulate our questions. Yes, this is also happening everywhere.
However, the one institution that ought to keep everything above board, the process clean and fair is the judiciary. The difference between so many consume driven democracies to this new development is the ease with which the law of the land is being called into question and at the same time nibbled on to favor special interest. THIS is a big worry, my friend. Because it is the living law that safeguards democracy. Even the “wild west” was won with a sheriff in town.
Foreign Waka the law of the land is being called into question and at the same time nibbled on to favor special interest. THIS is a big worry, my friend. Because it is the living law that safeguards democracy. Even the âwild westâ was won with a sheriff in town.
Agree. You know how to dig the spurs in pardner.
As promised yesterday (I always keep my word), the song I sent to Clare Curran.
I wrote it in a couple of hours after work one evening, and whilst not really being about her, it’s relevant and perfectly captures the moment in time I knew 100% I would never party vote Labour again.
Of course, I wouldn’t ever publish her reply. đ
I can’t sing or play a note on any instrument, and until last April, never written a proper song.
I’m the idiot savant with arguably more idiot than savant, so click the link – It’s only a little quickie. 2.16 of your time. You might even like it.
You’ll know that I’m right and you’ll wish I was so wrong.
The feelings you’ll get, like regret, they last far too long.
I can’t give you any more clearer lines.
I can’t give you any more clearer signs.
Could you feel it? The chemical drift. The chemical drift away.
Could you see it? My chemical twist. My chemical drift away.
I know what it’s like to be right and be so wrong.
The feelings you get, to forget, just takes so damn long.
So I don’t take any more some other time.
I don’t take any more deleted lines.
Did you feel it? The chemical shift. The chemical drifts away.
Did you see it? My chemical drift. My chemical drifts away.
You couldn’t steal it. The chemical gift. The chemical drifts away.
Now you’ve freed it. My chemicals drifts. My chemical drift away.
I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night, Alive as you or me.
Says I, “But Joe, you’re ten years dead,”
“I never died,” says he.
“I never died,” says he.
Ten years ago today Joe Strummer died. The foundation set up in his name, Strummerville, works to give young musicians in third world countries a voice. Today would be a good day to make a small donation, if readers felt inclined. Cheers.
Except that under MMP small parties are major parties. Look at the power that Peter Dunne has been wielding in recent years.
But even if we just look at Labour and National, I have to quote you to yourself đ
“My younger brother who has a life-long disability (and while he can paint roofs, you would not wish what he has on your worst enemy) says he can always tells when National is in power because WINZ or itâs equivalent of the day, go from being merely depressing to deal with ⌠to utterly miserly, malicous and mind-fucking.”
That’s a significant difference. I know what people are trying to do when they say there is no difference between left and right anymore. But I think it is a flawed strategy, partly because it denies the reality of people like your brother, and partly because it’s dishonest.
Yes there is a difference … you are quite right to quote my brother’s observations. They certainly go about the business of government differently.
But at a fundamental level there is not as much difference as they would like to pretend … Labour for instance shows no sign of being willing to reduce our carbon use by 10% the first year they get into power.
Nor challenge the power of money.
#9. Yes. Wrong and silly interpretation of something else more interesting.
I guess my problem with the line that left and right mainstream parties are the same is that it stops us from understanding what is different and the usefulness of still voting on the left. It also encourages people to not vote at all.
The other area where the difference is notable is community based funding. Lots of funding dries up under NACT, and returns under Labour. I think even more so under Labour/Greens. Making change is easier under a left wing govt than a right wing one.
I think it would be better for people to be more complex in what they say. I’ve found the recent discussions on ts about Labour, the left/right struggle within the party, and the degree to which different Labour govts are to the left or right of others very helpful. Understanding those subtleties helps us make decisions.
regardless of who is in power (small medium or large parties) the real problems never get fixed. All you have is a shift of a few degrees to the left of to the right every 3 years. I will no longer vote as in the big picture it is not going to fix the real problems. Why? I now realize that ‘the current System’ is the problem and the barrier to do what is required to fix things.
Increased life expectancy, social security, universal education etc etc demonstrate that elements of the current system are in fact the solution. I would need to be pretty well convinced that what you are serving up is at least as good as what we already have in terms of ability to deliver good outcomes.
Fomenting discontent about “the system” is counter-productive when it is “the system” that has produced a range of positive changes already. As for future changes, put in the hard yards that transform a progressive idea into an act of parliament.
The best analogy I can think of is what happened after the Roman Empire collapsed.
While at one level there was an objective reduction in the standard of living for a small minority of very wealthy Romans and their minions in the colonies who supervised the inlet end of the various ‘wealth pumps’ of the empire … for the vast majority of peasants and slaves nothing much changed.
And what came after was not a complete reversion to what came before the Romans and Greeks before them. Latin and the Classics were not forgotten. The Christian and Islamic empires various built upon this legacy … eventually resulting in the modern world.
The difference is the level of technological advancement that we have achieved.
As an example (albiet a little simplistic admittedly) …The entire world could move to using completely renewable energy but Money and its role in the current system is a barrier to doing this. Remove money and you still have the resources and technology to do this.
Yeah its a fair comment bloke, and one which has been evident while getting into the current state the world is now in. Unfortunately of current course that same system will be inverting on itself for many, and currently is in front of our eyes, and will continue to eject more people into, then from the bottom layers!
The system will eat itself, or should I say eat those, who the system does not want to cater for any longer!
I do agree that the present system, could be helpful if harnessed, but I do not see how that is possible, given the driving forces!
Spose we could all just keep voting every three year and hope for a miracle!
If nobody votes the system fails.
Does govt have a mandate if only 30% of eligible voters vote and of that number the winning party receives 16% of the vote?
It would be a difficult term if you are trying to push through policies with a mere 16% public support. It also shows up yet another flaw in the system
you can have all of those things and more under a new system but you can add to the list
massive reduction in crime
elimination of starvation
people having more free time to do the things that they are passionate about and spend more time with that are important to them (friends and family).
‘The system’ that you have so much faith in is the only thing man has ever build that he must then work for in order to survive. All other things that man has built make life easier not harder.
It is time we evolved again
Their are certain things that everyone on the entire planet should have an inalienable right to, all culminating in the ability to lead a happy and fulfilling life.
Food
Clothing
A safe loving home
an education
Money has evolved within the system it is time we evolved from needing to use it.
It has now become a barrier in order for people to be able to obtain the tings that they want and more importantly need to live the happy and fulfilling life that we ALL need.
If you designed the system from scratch around what people need and want with a view to having mechanisms in place to supply those things you would not even have money in the equation.
You would have a govt in an administrative role that is there to serve the people. Not to dictate to them as we have now.
I will no longer vote as in the big picture it is not going to fix the real problems. Why? I now realize that âthe current Systemâ is the problem and the barrier to do what is required to fix things.
Can’t change the current system without voting. Of course, you need to have a political party that will change the present system and there doesn’t appear to be one of those around.
agreed revolution does get a little bloody – it would be easier for an influential party to understand what is possible and provide a vision on how to get their. Certain smaller steps would need to be taken first to ‘adjust’ the political landscape. Such a party could introduce policy like feeding kids in schools thus helping to ensure the get a good education. Then perhaps a policy around housing to ensure that there are affordable homes and to get the message out that everyone should have the opportunity to have their own home… đ
“I will no longer vote as in the big picture it is not going to fix the real problems. ”
Well thanks mate for abandoning the most vulnerable people to a NACT future. Actually, forget thanks, fuck you.
It is much easier to make change under a left wing govt. If you choose to not vote, you are essentially acquiescing to NACT and allowing them free reign. You think it’s bad now? Give them another term or two.
The things I want to see fixed will not be fixed under a left wing govt either. The things I want to see fixed are fixable but not within the current system.
Furthermore the govt is their to represent the will of the people. There are many instances on both sides L&R where the complete opposite is true. If a party were advocating a move away from the current system to a new constitution and were to give people back the power (direct democracy) then I would vote. Until then you will remain forever locked in a cycle of shifting a couple of degrees to the left and then a couple of degrees to the right.
If I vote I am responsible for the mess they create and perpetuate as are you and whoever else votes and thus by doing so perpetuates a broken system.
I’m in no way responsible. I didn’t vote them in. In fact by not voting at all I didn’t support and therefore perpetuate the system unlike those who did vote.
I see you still haven’t learned the simple art of posting a comment without making a snide remark or name calling OTV…..
Not clutching anything… more have made the concious decision to no longer participate and support something I don’t believe in.
If the system was an alcoholic. You are saying yoeah its not ideal whilst handing the alcholic the bottle. I on the otherhand am simply refusing to supply the bottle.
I have informed a certain MP what I think is needed and policy that has some out could be sheer coincidence… alternately he may have listened. I have seen many things that lead me to believe we are getting closer to the world I want to see as more and more people waake up.
I did once clutch at the driven snow, I too got wet. Then I dried myself, Stood back from the situation figured out why it didn’t work and am now on a different path.
Less and less people aare voting each time around. More and more people are becoming disenfranchised with the system. For it to change, I believe both types of people are needed. Those like me who do not participate and those like you who do. Both need to be vocal about what they feel isn’t working.
One of two things will then happen.
The system will change (slowly) – and more people like me will start participating again.
Or
The system won’t change and more people like you will stop participating and the system will come to a point where change is forced upon it.
Either way there will be change.
One other thing. If the brave new world you’re advocating is based on the drivel in your “10 signs that you are fully awake” you have a problem, because I would be prepared to take up arms to defend what we have against any attempt to replace it with that bullshit.
The people who believe that garbage are too delusional and disorganised to ever represent a serious threat, but yes, in the vanishingly unlikely event that policy based on internet conspiracy memes and quasi-spiritual mumbo-pocus became the norm. Or any other bunch of fact-free, thought-free dogma.
By the way, before you can claim that I support the bogey-men you have to show that they exist. Good luck with that – your ten commandments barely even articulate the situation in the USA, let alone the South Pacific.
already read it but I didn’t see it as an instruction manual on how I should live my life…..
The path that has lead me to the conclusion that the ‘Bogeymen’ as you put it exist has been through research in reading books and the application of common sense and logic. None of it has been gleaned from websites. Their is much information and evidence to support it, you only have to look. Unfortunately doing so for many shatters their nice comfortable reality of what they think they know about the world. In fact the global elite and shadow govt count on the fact that you won’t want to step outside your comfort zone and have a look and then make up your own mind.
As for not understanding english OTV I asked…….
Wow so you would take up arms to defend the right to pre-emptive warâŚ..?
You would take up arms so that if you and your neighbour have fierce ideological disagreements you can consider them your enemyâŚâŚ?
You would take up arms to support the global elite in implementing one world control of the planetâŚâŚ?
You would take up arms to ensure that our media remains biased and would defend against having unbiased mediaâŚ.?
but I guess in the original I did leave off the question marks so if you need an out to answer than there it is, but the questions were not about whether the global elite and shadow govts exits, They were exactly as stated:
Question – So you would take up arms to defend the right to pre-emptive war? etc. etc. The normal and expected response is that you would either confirm that Yes you would take up arms for this or No you would not…….
Given that you haven’t supplied such a response the onlything we have to go on
is your orginal somewhat surprising statement.
“If the brave new world youâre advocating is based on the drivel in your â10 signs that you are fully awakeâ you have a problem, because I would be prepared to take up arms to defend what we have against any attempt to replace it with that bullshit.”
Which by itself is a resounding Yes to the questions I put to you and certainly not something I’d expect from someone that appears to support the left although to be fair I have never seen you state that either.
A few months ago grant Robertson signalled at an environment event with cunliffe that uncompromising dogma must change.
Shearer signals for a new direction.
Cunliffe states too loudly about fundamental change needed due the forth coming systemic problems.
Now we have Helen Clark commenting about climate change.
These people deal in facts not dogma by their nature, life history and education.
Now we have the weight of the Fabians guiding hands linking reputable academics and economist to the powers within labour.
We have in my local community rise of intra connected organisation all realising we need a new direction away from dogmatic ideology from within the left block and from the current paradyme.
The electorate is waking up to the need for a new direction, a new paradyme, a transition to a new system of equality, fairness and opportunity for all not just a few well connected.
It’s not socialism or Investment capitalism both are failed polarised systems.
labour need unity, harmony and reconnection to the electorate as fore front party in the red green brown coalition.
In true modern labour we must trust as time is pressing….too many starve now.
To understand a polli or any person one need historical reference to that person past and present to understand or predict future statement of viewpoints.
I think deep down within labour is a pragmatic progressive heart with a long tern vision or pathway.
Look for the next two years for labour to slowly signal change and adapt the electorate to what is needed….can’t scare the voter by radicalised messages that the imbedded tories and captured msm can manipulate.
Question.
Which labour poli was a teacher and union rep and promoted SOE to expand invest offshore?
Which party must capture both the centre voter and also the marginal turned off voter in the long term.
1: While it was an american slant, it did say major parties, of which Mana are not, and none of the NZ parties are going to challenge the system. Waiting to hear talk about controlling our sovereign monetary system/supply….waiting…waiting…waiting…
9: What can you offer evidentially, that says there is not – I always wonder whats up with people are unable to think past what has been the *agree/understood* limits of human knowledge!
Agree that the wording is not great, but certainly the points of interest around any such subject matter, numerous.
1. yes muzza, that’s a given. You missed my point though. I think framing the issue in that way marginalises the already marginalised by denying their reality, and fudges over what is a complexity. I’m not suggesting that people say the parties are significantly different, I’m saying we should be looking at the differences as much as the similarities.
9. “What can you offer evidentially, that says there is not â I always wonder whats up with people are unable to think past what has been the *agree/understood* limits of human knowledge!”
What evidence can you offer that you are not a figment of my imagination?
And if you think that I’m in agreement with the mainstream with regards to consensus reality you are mistaken.
There was a letter in the Dom/Post this morning from a Keith Williamson of Raumati Beach.
It was about Hekia Parata and says, among other things that “List MPs shouldn’t be eligible for Cabinet roles”.
My first thought was, in effect, “How stupid can you be”.
Then I thought about it and decided that it was a great idea and that it should be applied retrospectively.
Look at the advantages. Winston Peters would never have been Foreign Minister. Michael Cullen would never have been Minister of Finance. We must immediately recover any money they were paid as ministers and declare any laws put through the house under their lead as being null and void.
Even better is the effect this would have in the future. No Green MPs will be eligible for Cabinet office!
Yes, and Winston was member for Tauranga.
I was just trying to point out, sarcastically, how silly the letter writer was when they argue that losing in Poriru meant she has no mandate.
I simply do not understand the mind processes of people who argue that, in an MMP Parliament, losing in an electorate contest should disqualify one from Parliament.
Needless to say these *stories* are the lower end shennagigans which occur when the various intelligence/military centered factions, who control the show, then decided to outwardly exhibit the arm twisting and blackmail that goes on at the highests levels, by *outing* Petreaus, and his phillandering ways.
Kind of like how Hillary *apparantly* fainted, concussed herself, but didn’t go to hospital, or some shit like that.
Quite how anyone imagines humanity will slow its own decline with this foot on its own throat, I do not know!
Yes. Thanks for this, felix. It is another one for my collection. And still government’s don’t seem to see the problem of concentration of the news media ownership by big corporates – or they like it.
In a day that has seen news reports of poverty stricken kiwiâs in their hundreds lined up outside charity food depots and conversely politicians, the likes of Prime Minister John Key, holding out their hands for unwarranted pay-rises, another sinister story involving the evasive and forgetful John Key has surfaced.
Watched the vid in the link and the story those guys relate sounds absolutely plausible.
The moral of the story being to never take a politician at their word…never mind one who has a track record for being fast and loose with promises. And expect members of a Goon Squad to behave like goons.
Ok, then, point out the error in construction and rewrite it correctly, Moz. The only potential grammatical problem I see is the word ‘to’, which is not needed, but doesn’t hamper the sentence structure unduly.
‘their’ is spelled correctly, btw, so your ‘sic’ is an error. Nothing worse than a failed pedant, pal!
No, it applies to all politicians. Believe they’ll do something only when they actualy do it, not when they promise it.
And the use of the plural in the English language is an accepted way of avoiding needlessly gender-specific language. Otherwise, we would not be also cautioned against accepting the word of female politicians, just male ones.
Standing up for the politically correct mangling of the language, our good friend McFliper writes that “the use of the plural in the English language is an accepted way of avoiding needlessly gender-specific language.”
Of course, such punctiliousness is a sign of nothing but good intentions. However, people who care about the language and don’t want to see it hijacked by spurious gender-equality fanatics will find a way to write the same sentence without being badgered into using ridiculous and pathetic “alternatives”.
So instead of poor old Bill conscientiously and absurdly writing “never take a politician at their word”, which is patent nonsense, he could with just a little effort have come up with “never take the word of a politician”.
It’s easy if you try.
Alternatively, of course, you can keep observing the LooneyFem dictates from the 1970s.
I don’t think so, ‘never take a politician at their word’ sounds like commonly accepted usage to me. Usage defines language, not the other way around. This phrasing has been around long before people started feeling they should use he/she or his/her where gender is indefinite.
Personally I find ‘never take a politician at their word’ more elegant than ‘never take the word of a politician’. Bill always has a very nice and clear writing style to my eyes, whereas I find yours a little wordy. A rather conspicuously and abradingly verbose and prolixious style or, perhaps more accurately, if you will, a jejune grandiloquence which is both imperceptive and injudicious.
After, rightly, upbraiding me for flying off the handle and injudiciously challenging Bill’s use of “their” as a catch-all, our friend mike then has a go at my writing style….
Bill always has a very nice and clear writing style to my eyes, whereas I find yours a little wordy. A rather conspicuously and abradingly verbose and prolixious style or, perhaps more accurately, if you will, a jejune grandiloquence which is both imperceptive and injudicious.
Reading that friendly but stern admonition, I am sure I am not the only one to immediately recall the story of the Austrian emperor taking Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart aside and advising him that his music had “too many notes.”
“I am sure I am not the only one to immediately recall the story of the Austrian emperor taking Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart aside and advising him that his music had âtoo many notes.â”
I’m sure you are the only one. (The Mozart of blogging you ain’t.)
and moi brother? (before i take take the slater to task)
be quick (quick and the Dead); only got a wee credit. (and obviously, I can find you; I fought the Law… and I won) ha ha ha
Typical Slippery, the little shyster probably got a huge thrill out of the whole unsavory little episode made all the more delicious in that psychopath’s pea brain by Him having engineered the whole thing with His big mouth,
Personally, and not wanting to be overly critical of the judiciary, i think the judge got it wrong with placing both these 2 individuals on alcohol bans, christ sakes they are both unemployed and voted for the Slippery little shyster, a more fitting bail condition would have been for the judge to have them placed in the stocks and publicly stoned…
Just thought i would drop abit of info from one of our young people and how he views NZ’s
financial situation, this young guy was 20-25, we were waiting in que at the warehouse,
they were busy as, we got talking politics and the state of nz’s economy this young guy
said he just wants our debt to be paid and he did not like either national or labour,but he
thought Winston will have his vote in 2014, he said he is the only one that talks sense and
he is more experianced, he also said his friend was a teacher and also had trouble with
no-no-pay and he thought they should just go back to the old system, ,but good on him,he has a great handle on the political scene, we wished each other merry christmas and we were both off into the big blue yonder.
We should have more faith in our young people,they really are our future,they may have
limited voices, but they are watching and understanding politics.
First of all:
“we got talking politics and the state of nzâs economy this young guy
said he just wants our debt to be paid and he did not like either national or labour,but he
thought Winston will have his vote in 2014” — this provides no context to try and pass on any idea that this guy has any political understanding beyond, potentially, watching the 6pm nightly news. When his chosen solution to the current mounting unemployment, the selling out of our social contract etc etc is to ‘continue to reduce debt’ then he is merely parroting those wonderful guys who got us in this hole in the first place… and then to say he will vote Winston?
*sigh*
If you are going to try and tell a story about how our youth are engaging with politics, at least provide examples in context rather than just saying “we done talked the politic stuff and he seemed like he was capable of stringing some words together that weren’t ‘John’ and ‘Key'”
There was no story, it was an interesting encounter, i believe our young people have a voice, as i did when i was that age,it was interesting listening to him, he seemed capable of having his own views,if he wants to vote winston, surely, that is his democratic right,
Your attitude to my post is one of dismissing what could be a valuable insight into how
someone of that age group thinks and views politics.
Obviously the time was short and not all topics could be discussed.
It is important to hear and listen to the young potential voters,this is good politics.
Wishing you a nice christmas and all the best for 2013.
I think the point vv is making : here was a young man who has recognised politics affects everybody and he is willing to think about it. He’s young and a bit naive, but he’ll learn as he gets older and wiser. Hell, he sounds like he knows more than I did in my early twenties. Good for him.
Recognition to Chris Finlayson for the Te Atiawa and Ngati Koata settlements. He’s an effective capable National Minister in action, working closely at every step with Maori. Finlayson definitely deserves his QC.
Finlayson is a mere functionary in an ongoing process and deserves nothing, as a representative of those who offended against Taranaki Maori He has been well paid throughout the process,
The real ‘ups’ need be extended to those Taranaki Maori who have never let the flame of the torch be extinguished,those who are no longer with us but passed on the ‘take’ to the next generation never knowing whether their voices would ever be heard…
Britain once risked a reputation as the weak link in the trilateral AUKUS partnership. But now the appointment of an empowered senior official to drive the project forward and a new burst of British parliamentary ...
Australiaâs ability to produce basic metals, including copper, lead, zinc, nickel and construction steel, is in jeopardy, with ageing plants struggling against Chinese competition. The multinational commodities company Trafigura has put its Australian operations under ...
There have been recent PPP debacles, both in New Zealand (think Transmission Gully) and globally, with numerous examples across both Australia and Britain of failed projects and extensive litigation by government agencies seeking redress for the failures.Rob Campbell is one of New Zealandâs sharpest critics of PPPs noting that; "There ...
On Twitter on Saturday I indicated that there had been a mistake in my post from last Thursday in which I attempted to step through the Reserve Bank Funding Agreement issues. Making mistakes (there are two) is annoying and I don’t fully understand how I did it (probably too much ...
Indonesiaâs armed forces still have a lot of work to do in making proper use of drones. Two major challenges are pilot training and achieving interoperability between the services. Another is overcoming a predilection for ...
The StrategistBy Sandy Juda Pratama, Curie Maharani and Gautama Adi Kusuma
As a living breathing human being, youâve likely seen the heart-wrenching images from Gaza...homes reduced to rubble, children burnt to cinders, families displaced, and a death toll thatâs beyond comprehension. What is going on in Gaza is most definitely a genocide, the suffering is real, and itâs easy to feel ...
Donald Trump, who has called the Chair of the Federal Reserve “a major loser”. Photo: Getty ImagesLong stories shortest from our political economy on Tuesday, April 22:US markets slump after Donald Trump threatens the Fed’s independence. China warns its trading partners not to side with the US. Trump says some ...
Last night, the news came through that Pope Francis had passed away at 7:35 am in Rome on Monday, the 21st of April, following a reported stroke and heart failure. Pope Francis. Photo: AP.Despite his obvious ill health, it still came as a shock, following so soon after the Easter ...
The 2024 Independent Intelligence Review found the NIC to be highly capable and performing well. So, it is not a surprise that most of the 67 recommendations are incremental adjustments and small but nevertheless important ...
This is a re-post from The Climate BrinkThe world has made real progress toward tacking climate change in recent years, with spending on clean energy technologies skyrocketing from hundreds of billions to trillions of dollars globally over the past decade, and global CO2 emissions plateauing.This has contributed to a reassessment of ...
Hi,I’ve been having a peaceful month of what I’d call “existential dread”, even more aware than usual that — at some point — this all ends.It was very specifically triggered by watching Pantheon, an animated sci-fi show that I’m filing away with all-time greats like Six Feet Under, Watchmen and ...
Once the formalities of honouring the late Pope wrap up in two to three weeks time, the conclave of Cardinals will go into seclusion. Some 253 of the current College of Cardinals can take part in the debate over choosing the next Pope, but only 138 of them are below ...
The National Party government is doubling down on a grim, regressive vision for the future: more prisons, more prisoners, and a society fractured by policies that punish rather than heal. This isnât just a misstep; itâs a deliberate lurch toward a dystopian future where incarceration is the answer to every ...
The audacity of Don Brash never ceases to amaze. The former National Party and Hobsonâs Pledge mouthpiece has now sunk his claws into NZME, the media giant behind the New Zealand Herald and half of our commercial radio stations. Don Brash has snapped up shares in NZME, aligning himself with ...
A listing of 28 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 13, 2025 thru Sat, April 19, 2025. This week's roundup is again published by category and sorted by number of articles included in each. The formatting is a ...
“What I’d say to you is…” our Prime Minister might typically begin a sentence, when he’s about to obfuscate and attempt to derail the question you really, really want him to answer properly (even once would be okay, Christopher). Questions such as “Why is a literal election promise over ...
Ruth IrwinExponential Economic growth is the driver of Ecological degradation. It is driven by CO2 greenhouse gas emissions through fossil fuel extraction and burning for the plethora of polluting industries. Extreme weather disasters and Climate change will continue to get worse because governments subscribe to the current global economic system, ...
A man on telly tries to tell me what is realBut it's alright, I like the way that feelsAnd everybody singsWe are evolving from night to morningAnd I wanna believe in somethingWriter: Adam Duritz.The world is changing rapidly, over the last year or so, it has been out with the ...
MFB Co-Founder Cecilia Robinson runs Tend HealthcareSummary:Kieran McAnulty calls out National on healthcare lies and says Health Minister Simeon Brown is “dishonest and disingenuous”(video below)McAnulty says negotiation with doctors is standard practice, but this level of disrespect is not, especially when we need and want our valued doctors.National’s $20bn ...
Chris Luxonâs tenure as New Zealandâs Prime Minister has been a masterclass in incompetence, marked by coalition chaos, economic lethargy, verbal gaffes, and a moral compass that seems to point wherever political expediency lies. The former Air New Zealand CEO (how could we forget?) was sold as a steady hand, ...
Has anybody else noticed Cameron Slater still obsessing over Jacinda Ardern? The disgraced Whale Oil blogger seems to have made it his lifeâs mission to shadow the former Prime Minister of New Zealand like some unhinged stalker lurking in the digital bushes.The manâs obsession with Ardern isn't just unhealthy...itâs downright ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is climate change a net benefit for society? Human-caused climate change has been a net detriment to society as measured by loss of ...
When the National Party hastily announced its âLocal Water Done Wellâ policy, they touted it as the great saviour of New Zealandâs crumbling water infrastructure. But as time goes by it's looking more and more like a planning and fiscal lame duck...and one thatâs going to cost ratepayers far more ...
Donald Trump, the orange-hued oligarch, is back at it again, wielding tariffs like a mob boss swinging a lead pipe. His latest economic edict; slapping hefty tariffs on imports from China, Mexico, and Canada, has the stench of a protectionist shakedown, cooked up in the fevered minds of his sycophantic ...
In the week of Australia’s 3 May election, ASPI will release Agenda for Change 2025: preparedness and resilience in an uncertain world, a report promoting public debate and understanding on issues of strategic importance to ...
One pill makes you largerAnd one pill makes you smallAnd the ones that mother gives youDon't do anything at allGo ask AliceWhen she's ten feet tallSongwriter: Grace Wing Slick.Morena, all, and a happy Bicycle Day to you.Today is an unofficial celebration of the dawning of the psychedelic era, commemorating the ...
Itâs only been a few months since the Hollywood fires tore through Los Angeles, leaving a trail of devastation, numerous deaths, over 10,000 homes reduced to rubble, and a once glorious film industry on its knees. The Palisades and Eaton fires, fueled by climate-driven dry winds, didnât just burn houses; ...
Four eighty-year-old books which are still vitally relevant today. Between 1942 and 1945, four refugees from Vienna each published a ground-breaking â seminal â book.* They left their country after Austria was taken over by fascists in 1934 and by Nazi Germany in 1938. Previously they had lived in âRed ...
Good Friday, 18th April, 2025: I can at last unveil the Secret Non-Fiction Project. The first complete Latin-to-English translation of Giovanni Pico della Mirandola’s twelve-book Disputationes adversus astrologiam divinatricem (Disputations Against Divinatory Astrology). Amounting to some 174,000 words, total. Some context is probably in order. Giovanni Pico della Mirandola (1463-1494) ...
National MP Hamish Campbell's pathetic attempt to downplay his deep ties to and involvement in the Two by Twos...a secretive religious sect under FBI and NZ Police investigation for child sexual abuse...isnât just a misstep; itâs a calculated lie that insults the intelligence of every Kiwi voter.Campbellâs claim of being ...
New Zealand Firstâs Shane Jones has long styled himself as the âPrince of the Provinces,â a champion of regional development and economic growth. But beneath the bluster lies a troubling pattern of behaviour that reeks of cronyism and corruption, undermining the very democracy he claims to serve. Recent revelations and ...
Give me one reason to stay hereAnd I'll turn right back aroundGive me one reason to stay hereAnd I'll turn right back aroundSaid I don't want to leave you lonelyYou got to make me change my mindSongwriters: Tracy Chapman.Morena, and Happy Easter, whether that means to you. Hot cross buns, ...
New Zealandâs housing crisis is a sad indictment on the failures of right wing neoliberalism, and the National Party, under Chris Luxonâs shaky leadership, is trying to simply ignore it. The numbers donât lie: Census data from 2023 revealed 112,496 Kiwis were severely housing deprived...couch-surfing, car-sleeping, or roughing it on ...
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the week’s news with regular and special guests, including: on a global survey of over 3,000 economists and scientists showing a significant divide in views on green growth; and ...
Simeon Brown, the National Partyâs poster child for hubris, consistently over-promises and under-delivers. His track record...marked by policy flip-flops and a dismissive attitude toward expert advice, reveals a politician driven by personal ambition rather than evidence. From transport to health, Brownâs focus seems fixed on protecting National's image, not addressing ...
Open access notables Recent intensified riverine CO2 emission across the Northern Hemisphere permafrost region, Mu et al., Nature Communications:Global warming causes permafrost thawing, transferring large amounts of soil carbon into rivers, which inevitably accelerates riverine CO2 release. However, temporally and spatially explicit variations of riverine CO2 emissions remain unclear, limiting the ...
Once a venomous thorn in New Zealandâs blogosphere, Cathy Odgers, aka Cactus Kate, has slunk into the shadows, her once-sharp quills dulled by the fallout of Dirty Politics.The dishonest attack-blogger, alongside her vile accomplices such as Cameron Slater, were key players in the National Partyâs sordid smear campaigns, exposed by Nicky ...
Once upon a time, not so long ago, those who talked of Australian sovereign capability, especially in the technology sector, were generally considered an amusing group of eccentrics. After all, technology ecosystems are global and ...
The ACT Party leaderâs latest pet project is bleeding taxpayers dry, with $10 million funneled into seven charter schools for just 215 students. Thatâs a jaw-dropping $46,500 per student, compared to roughly $9,000 per head in state schools.Youâd think Seymour wouldâve learned from the last charter school fiasco, but apparently, ...
India navigated relations with the United States quite skilfully during the first Trump administration, better than many other US allies did. Doing so a second time will be more difficult, but Indiaâs strategic awareness and ...
The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi is concerned for low-income workers given new data released by Stats NZ that shows inflation was 2.5% for the year to March 2025, rising from 2.2% in December last year. âThe prices of things that people canât avoid are rising â meaning inflation is rising ...
Last week, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment recommended that forestry be removed from the Emissions Trading Scheme. Its an unfortunate but necessary move, required to prevent the ETS's total collapse in a decade or so. So naturally, National has told him to fuck off, and that they won't be ...
Chinaâs recent naval circumnavigation of Australia has highlighted a pressing need to defend Australiaâs air and sea approaches more effectively. Potent as nuclear submarines are, the first Australian boats under AUKUS are at least seven ...
In yesterday’s post I tried to present the Reserve Bank Funding Agreement for 2025-30, as approved by the Minister of Finance and the Bank’s Board, in the context of the previous agreement, and the variation to that agreement signed up to by Grant Robertson a few weeks before the last ...
Australiaâs bid to co-host the 31st international climate negotiations (COP31) with Pacific island countries in late 2026 is directly in our national interest. But success will require consultation with the Pacific. For that reason, no ...
Old and outdated buildings being demolished at Wellington Hospital in 2018. The new infrastructure being funded today will not be sufficient for future population size and some will not be built by 2035. File photo: Lynn GrievesonLong stories short from our political economy on Thursday, April 17:Simeon Brown has unveiled ...
The introduction of AI in workplaces can create significant health and safety risks for workers (such as intensification of work, and extreme surveillance) which can significantly impact workers’ mental and physical wellbeing. It is critical that unions and workers are involved in any decision to introduce AI so that ...
Donald Trumpâs return to the White House and aggressive posturing is undermining global diplomacy, and New Zealand must stand firm in rejecting his reckless, fascist-driven policies that are dragging the world toward chaos.As a nation with a proud history of peacekeeping and principled foreign policy, we should limit our role ...
Sunday marks three months since Donald Trumpâs inauguration as US president. What a ride: the style rude, language raucous, and the results rogue. Beyond manners, rudeness matters because tone signals intent as well as personality. ...
There are any number of reasons why anyone thinking of heading to the United States for a holiday should think twice. They would be giving their money to a totalitarian state where political dissenters are being rounded up and imprisoned here and here, where universities are having their funds for ...
Taiwan has an inadvertent, rarely acknowledged role in global affairs: itâs a kind of sponge, soaking up much of Chinaâs political, military and diplomatic efforts. Taiwan soaks up Chinese power of persuasion and coercion that ...
The Ukraine war has been called the bloodiest conflict since World War II. As of July 2024, 10,000 women were serving in frontline combat roles. Try telling themâfrom the safety of an Australian lounge roomâthey ...
Following Canadian authoritiesâ discovery of a Chinese information operation targeting their countryâs election, Australians, too, should beware such risks. In fact, there are already signs that Beijing is interfering in campaigning for the Australian election ...
This video includes personal musings and conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). From "founder" of Tesla and the OG rocket man with SpaceX, and rebranding twitter as X, Musk has ...
Back in February 2024, a rat infestation attracted a fair few headlines in the South Dunedin Countdown supermarket. Today, the rats struck again. They took out the Otago-Southland region’s internet connection. https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360656230/internet-outage-hits-otago-and-southland Strictly, it was just a coincidence – rats decided to gnaw through one fibre cable, while some hapless ...
I came in this morning after doing some chores and looked quickly at Twitter before unpacking the groceries. Someone was retweeting a Radio NZ story with the headline “Reserve Bank’s budget to be slashed by 25%”. Wow, I thought, the Minister of Finance has really delivered this time. And then ...
So, having teased it last week, Andrew Little has announced he will run for mayor of Wellington. On RNZ, he's saying its all about services - "fixing the pipes, making public transport cheaper, investing in parks, swimming pools and libraries, and developing more housing". Meanwhile, to the readers of the ...
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?W.B. Yeats, The Second Coming, 1921ALL OVER THE WORLD, devout Christians will be reaching for their bibles, reading and re-reading Revelation 13:16-17. For the benefit of all you non-Christians out there, these are the verses describing ...
Give me what I want, what I really, really want: And what India really wants from New Zealand isnât butter or cheese, but a radical relaxation of the rules controlling Indian immigration.WHAT DOES INDIA WANT from New Zealand? Not our dairy products, thatâs for sure, itâs got plenty of those. ...
In the week of Australia’s 3 May election, ASPI will release Agenda for Change 2025: preparedness and resilience in an uncertain world, a report promoting public debate and understanding on issues of strategic importance to ...
Yesterday, 5,500 senior doctors across Aotearoa New Zealand voted overwhelmingly to strike for a day.This is the first time in New Zealand ASMS members have taken strike action for 24 hours.They are asking the government tofund them and account for resource shortfalls.Vacancies are critical - 45-50% in some regions.The ...
For years and years and years, David Seymour and his posse of deluded neoliberals have been preaching their âtough on crimeâ gospel to voters. Harsher sentences! More police! Lock âem up! Throw away the key. But when it comes to their own, namely former Act Party president Tim Jago, a ...
Judith Collins is a seasoned master at political hypocrisy. As New Zealandâs Defence Minister, she's recently been banging the war drum, announcing a jaw-dropping $12 billion boost to the defence budget over the next four years, all while the coalition of chaos cries poor over housing, health, and education.Apparently, thereâs ...
I’m on the London Overground watching what the phones people are holding are doing to their faces: The man-bun guy who could not be less impressed by what he's seeing but cannot stop reading; the woman who's impatient for a response; the one who’s frowning; the one who’s puzzled; the ...
You don't have no prescriptionYou don't have to take no pillsYou don't have no prescriptionAnd baby don't have to take no pillsIf you come to see meDoctor Brown will cure your ills.Songwriters: Waymon Glasco.Dr Luxon. Image: David and Grok.First, they came for the Bottom FeedersAnd I did not speak outBecause ...
The Health Minister says the striking doctors already “well remunerated,” and are “walking away from” and “hurting” their patients. File photo: Lynn GrievesonLong stories short from our political economy on Wednesday, April 16:Simeon Brown has attacked1 doctors striking for more than a 1.5% pay rise as already “well remunerated,” even ...
The time is ripe for Australia and South Korea to strengthen cooperation in space, through embarking on joint projects and initiatives that offer practical outcomes for both countries. This is the finding of a new ...
Hi,When Trump raised tariffs against China to 145%, he destined many small businesses to annihilation. The Daily podcast captured the mass chaos by zooming in and talking to one person, Beth Benike, a small-business owner who will likely lose her home very soon.She pointed out that no, she wasn’t surprised ...
Nationalâs handling of inflation and the cost-of-living crisis is an utter shambles and a gutless betrayal of every Kiwi scraping by. The Coalition of Chaos Ministers strut around preaching about how effective their policies are, but really all they're doing is perpetuating a cruel and sick joke of undelivered promises, ...
Most people wouldn't have heard of a little worm like Rhys Williams, a so-called businessman and former NZ First member, who has recently been unmasked as the venomous troll behind a relentless online campaign targeting Green Party MP Benjamin Doyle.According to reports, Williams has been slinging mud at Doyle under ...
Illustration credit: Jonathan McHugh (New Statesman)The other day, a subscriber said they were unsubscribing because they needed “some good news”.I empathised. Don’t we all.I skimmed a NZME article about the impacts of tariffs this morning with analysis from Kiwibank’s Jarrod Kerr. Kerr, their Chief Economist, suggested another recession is the ...
Letâs assume, as prudence demands we assume, that the United States will not at any predictable time go back to being its old, reliable self. This means its allies must be prepared indefinitely to lean ...
Over the last three rather tumultuous US trade policy weeks, I’ve read these four books. I started with Irwin (whose book had sat on my pile for years, consulted from time to time but not read) in a week of lots of flights and hanging around airports/hotels, and then one ...
Indonesia could do without an increase in military spending that the Ministry of Defence is proposing. The country has more pressing issues, including public welfare and human rights. Moreover, the transparency and accountability to justify ...
Former Hutt City councillor Chris Milne has slithered back into the spotlight, not as a principled dissenter, but as a vindictive puppeteer of digital venom. The revelations from a recent court case paint a damning portrait of a man whose departure from Hutt City Council in 2022 was merely the ...
The Government must support Northland hapĹŤ who have resorted to rakes and buckets to try to control a devastating invasive seaweed that threatens the local economy and environment. ...
New Zealand First has today introduced a Memberâs Bill that would ensure the biological definition of a woman and man are defined in law. Â âThis is not about being anti-anyone or anti-anything. This is about ensuring we as a country focus on the facts of biology and protect the ...
After stonewalling requests for information on boot camps, the Government has now offered up a blog post right before Easter weekend rather than provide clarity on the pilot. ...
More people could be harmed if Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey does not guarantee to protect patients and workers as the Police withdraw from supporting mental health call outs. ...
The Green Party recognises the extension of visa allowances for our Pacific whÄnau as a step in the right direction but continues to call for a Pacific Visa Waiver. ...
The Government yesterday released its annual child poverty statistics, and by its own admission, more tamariki across Aotearoa are now living in material hardship. ...
Today, Te PÄti MÄori join the motu in celebration as the Treaty Principles Bill is voted down at its second reading. âFrom the beginning, this Bill was never welcome in this House,â said Te PÄti MÄori Co-Leader, Rawiri Waititi. âOur response to the first reading was one of protest: protesting ...
The Green Party is proud to have voted down the Coalition Governmentâs Treaty Principles Bill, an archaic piece of legislation that sought to attack the nationâs founding agreement. ...
A Memberâs Bill in the name of Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter which aims to stop coal mining, the Crown Minerals (Prohibition of Mining) Amendment Bill, has been pulled from Parliamentâs âbiscuit tinâ today. ...
Labour MP Kieran McAnultyâs Members Bill to make the law simpler and fairer for businesses operating on Easter, Anzac and Christmas Days has passed its first reading after a conscience vote in Parliament. ...
Nicola Willis continues to sit on her hands amid a global economic crisis, leaving the Reserve Bank to act for New Zealanders who are worried about their jobs, mortgages, and KiwiSaver. ...
Today, the Oranga Tamariki (Repeal of Section 7AA) Amendment Bill has passed its third and final reading, but there is one more stage before it becomes law. The Governor-General must give their âRoyal assentâ for any bill to become legally enforceable. This means that, even if a bill gets voted ...
Abortion care at WhakatÄne Hospital has been quietly shelved, with patients told they will likely have to travel more than an hour to Tauranga to get the treatment they need. ...
Thousands of New Zealandersâ submissions are missing from the official parliamentary record because the National-dominated Justice Select Committee has rushed work on the Treaty Principles Bill. ...
Todayâs announcement of 10 percent tariffs for New Zealand goods entering the United States is disappointing for exporters and consumers alike, with the long-lasting impact on prices and inflation still unknown. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Fernanda PeĂąaloza, Senior Lecturer in Latin American Studies, University of Sydney Pope Francisâ journey from the streets of Flores, a neighbourhood in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to the Vatican, is a remarkable tale. Born in 1936, Jorge Bergoglio was raised in a ...
By Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist In recent weeks, Bougainville has taken the initiative, boldly stating that it expects to be independent by 1 September 2027. It also expects the PNG Parliament to quickly ratify the 2019 referendum, in which an overwhelming majority of Bougainvilleans supported independence. In a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Fitz-Gibbon, Professor (Practice), Faculty of Business and Economics, Monash University For most of this federal election campaign, politicians have said very little about violence against women and children. Now in the fourth week of the five-week campaign, Labor has released ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Karinna Saxby, Research Fellow, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne Lee Charlie/Shutterstock Last week, the federal government announced a $10 million commitment to make Medicare more inclusive for LGBTQIA+ Australians. It aims to improve their ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Fiona Macdonald, Policy Director, Centre for Future Work at the Australia Institute and Adjunct Principal Research Fellow, RMIT University Lordn/Shutterstock The Fair Work Commission has found award pay rates in five industrial awards covering a range of female-dominated occupations and industries ...
Greenpeace spokesperson Amanda Larsson says, "There comes a time when we have to stand up to the forces that conspire to put life on Earth at risk, and this is one of those moments. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matthis Auger, Research Associate in Physical Oceanography, University of Tasmania NASA ICE via Flickr, CC BY Beneath the surface of the Southern Ocean, vast volumes of cold, dense water plunge off the Antarctic continental shelf, cascading down underwater cliffs to the ...
Report by Dr David Robie – CafĂŠ Pacific. – COMMENTARY: By Caitlin Johnstone Pope Francis has died after using his Easter Sunday address to call for peace in Gaza. I donât know who the cardinals will pick to replace him, but I do know with absolute certainty that there ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Carr, Associate Professor, Strategy and Australian Defence Policy, Australian National University In 2024, the National Defence Strategy made deterrence Australiaâs âprimary strategic defence objectiveâ. With writing now underway for the 2026 National Defence Strategy, can Australia actually deter threats to ...
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on April 22, 2025. How will a new pope be chosen? An expert explains the conclaveSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Darius von Guttner Sporzynski, Historian, Australian Catholic University Following the death of Pope Francis, weâll ...
New Zealand First is pushing for the term "woman" to be defined in law as "an adult human biological female" as the party vows to fight "cancerous social engineering" and "woke ideology". ...
The What is a woman? campaign last year called for âwomanâ to be defined as âan adult human femaleâ in all our laws, public policies and regulations and was signed by more than 23,500 people and presented to Parliament last August. We are still ...
We break down the smorgasbord of streaming services available in Aotearoa. Weâre spoiled for choice when it comes to streaming services in New Zealand, but as more and more services put their subscription prices up, itâs easy to wonder: who deserves my hard earned dollar? Which platform has the best ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Darius von Guttner Sporzynski, Historian, Australian Catholic University Following the death of Pope Francis, weâll soon be seeing a new leader in the Vatican. The conclave â a strictly confidential gathering of Roman Catholic cardinals â is due to meet in a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dominic O’Sullivan, Professor of Political Science, Charles Sturt University and Adjunct Professor Stout Research Centre, Victoria University of Wellington and Auckland University of Technology., Charles Sturt University Te PÄti MÄori’s Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Hana-RÄwhiti Maipi-Clarke lead a haka with Eru Kapa-Kingi outside ...
John Minto says the United Nations has repeatedly said there are no safe places in Gaza for Palestinian civilians, where even so-called âsafe zonesâ are systematically attacked as Israel terrorises the population to flee from the territory. ...
The billâs primary objective was to stoke racial divisions as a means of diverting social anger in the working class over the governmentâs escalating attacks on living standards and public services. ...
The New Zealand Flag should be flown at half-mast all day on Tuesday 22 April and again on Wednesday 23 April 2025. The Flag should be returned to full mast at 5pm Wednesday 23 April 2025. ...
The discovery that thousands of British women were brought out to Aotearoa as servants â considered âsurplusâ to the empireâs requirements at home â propelled journalist Michelle Duffâs new short fiction collection, which explores how womenâs bodies are valued.MilkIt is the month after I have my first baby. ...
The occupation follows a five-day protest camp of over 70 people, including tamariki and kaumÄtua, on the Denniston Plateau, the site of Bathurstâs proposed coal expansion. ...
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a 20-year-old second-year university student explains her approach to spending and saving. Want to be part of The Cost of Being? Fill out the questionnaire here.Gender: Female. Age: 20. Ethnicity: NZ European. Role: Iâm a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Naomi Oreskes, Professor of the History of Science, Harvard University President Donald Trump has issued an executive order that would block state laws seeking to tackle greenhouse gas emissions â the latest salvo in his administrationâs campaign to roll back United Statesâ ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Duncan Ian Wallace, Lecturer, Faculty of Law, Monash University f11photo/Shutterstock If youâve ever heard the term âwage slaveâ, youâll know many modern workers â perhaps even you â sometimes feel enslaved to the organisation at which they work. But hereâs ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Zareh Ghazarian, Senior Lecturer in Politics, School of Social Sciences, Monash University More than 18 million Australians are enrolled to vote at the federal election on May 3. A fair proportion of them â perhaps as many as half â will ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catherine Houlihan, Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology, University of the Sunshine Coast Jorm Sangsorn/Shutterstock If you ever find yourself stuck in repeated cycles of negative emotion, youâre not alone. More than 40% of Australians will experience a mental health issue ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Penny Van Bergen, Associate Professor in the Psychology of Education, Macquarie University If you have a child born at the start of the year, you may be faced with a tricky and stressful decision. Do you send them to school âearlyâ, in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dan Golding, Professor and Chair of the Department of Media and Communication, Swinburne University of Technology Lucasfilm Ltd⢠Premiering today, the second and final season of Star Wars streaming show Andor seems destined to be one of the pop culture defining ...
With global tariffs threatening NZâs economy, the PM is in the UK advocating for free trade while Nicola Willis prepares for a challenging budget at home, writes Catherine McGregor in todayâs extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here.A PM abroad Prime minister ...
Residents of a seaside suburb in Auckland have been campaigning to reverse the reversal of speed limit reductions on their main road, for fear the changes may end in a fatality. The Twin Coast Discovery Highway passes through a number of suburbs on the Hibiscus Coast. Like all major roads, ...
After Easter, an obscure kind of resurrection. West Virginia University Press has announced the reissue of a book they claim is “the earliest known work of urban apocalyptic fiction”, The Doom of the Great City (1860), by British author William Delisle Hay, set inâŚNew Zealand.The narrator tells ofthe destruction ...
A close friend and business associate of Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown, has gone from being an unpaid volunteer in the mayoral office, to a contractor paid more than $300,000 a year.Chris Mathews had managed Brownâs successful 2022 election campaign, and is now employed via his own company, to provide âspecialist ...
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It’s billed as the passport to the economy, but a cross-section of New Zealand’s population can’t access one.It’s the humble bank account, a rite of passage for most Kiwis, but for prisoners, refugees, and the homeless, among other vulnerable marginalised people, it’s in the too-hard basket.So, in a bid to ...
Pro-Israeli apologist-comedians angry about human rights protest
Claim Israeli films “in no way a propaganda arm” for Israeli regime
Just over three years ago, a few months before the murderous Israeli assault on Gaza’s captive population (“Operation Cast Lead”) human rights and justice activists protested against the Toronto Film Festival allowing itself to be used as a theatre for a cynical propaganda exercise by the Israeli state. Upset at this outrageous display of democratic dissent, a group of extreme supporters of the Israeli state went public with their love for the Holy State….
Seinfeld, Sacha Baron Cohen and Natalie Portman slam Toronto Film Festival protest
Jewish actors sign letter in L.A. Times and Toronto Star against protest of festival over homage to Tel Aviv.
by Itamar Zohar and Natasha Mozgovaya | Sep.16, 2009 | 1:29 AM |
http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/2.209/seinfeld-sacha-baron-cohen-and-natalie-portman-slam-toronto-film-festival-protest-1.7828
WASHINGTON – A number of Hollywood stars circulated a letter Tuesday protesting a petition calling for a protest over the Toronto International Film Festival for its Tel Aviv-themed event.
The letter, which appeared simultaneously in the Los Angeles Times and the Toronto Star was signed, among others, by Jerry Seinfeld, Sacha Baron Cohen, Natalie Portman, Jason Alexander and Lisa Kudrow.
The letter, which was paid for by Jewish organizations in Los Angeles and Toronto, said, “Anyone who has actually seen recent Israeli cinema, movies that are political and personal, comic and tragic, often critical, knows they are in no way a propaganda arm for any government policy.”
Film festival protesters, which included culture critic Naomi Klein, and directors John Greyson and Richard Fung, said the Israeli films presented at the festival promote Israel’s recent publicity campaign, which seeks to show Israel and Tel Aviv as enlightened, liberal places, without conducting a dialogue on their treatment of Palestinians.
The Toronto festival’s management did not give in to pressure, and showed all ten films in the City of City event, which spotlighted Tel Aviv. Among them were Ephraim Kishon’s “Big Dig,” Assi Dayan’s “Life According to Agfa,” and Keren Yedaya’s “Bride of the Sea.”
Meanwhile, Jane Fonda, who had initially opposed the spotlight on Tel Aviv at the festival, Tuesday released a statement that she had changed her mind.
“I signed the letter without reading it carefully enough, without asking myself if some of the wording wouldn’t exacerbate the situation rather than bring about constructive dialogue,” Fonda wrote on the huffingtonpost.com. She added that the suffering of both sides should be articulated.
http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/2.209/seinfeld-sacha-baron-cohen-and-natalie-portman-slam-toronto-film-festival-protest-1.7828
And Jane Fonda, as usual, was simply bewildered.
This is worrying. Govt querying whether Chief Justice Sian Elias should hear the Maori Water rights claim. Fran O’Sullivan in NZ Herald 22.12.12. I speculate this will be just the start of a govt move to disregard any result from the hearing if it is positive for the Maori Council claim.
Note also Bill English starting to query the legitimacy of the Maori Council. All part of a pr build-up which will allow the Govt to ignore a positive outcome for the Maori Council !
“Should Chief Justice Sian Elias recuse herself from the upcoming Supreme Court hearing on the Maori water rights claim? ………..
“It would be a big call to challenge the Chief Justice, who has (in fact) presided over at least three Supreme Court hearings in which the Maori Council has been a plaintiff without facing any challenge from the Executive. But Cabinet ministers are understood to have asked Crown Law to look at whether grounds do in fact exist for a challenge, or a request to be made to her to stand aside…………….
“She successfully acted for the council on several high-profile Treaty of Waitangi claims against the Crown in the late 1980s through to the mid-1990s.
“Some Cabinet ministers take the view that because of this strong and lengthy relationship as one of the council’s prime legal advocates, she should recuse herself from the upcoming appeal by the Maori Council against High Court judge Ron Young’s judgment effectively clearing the way for the Government to sell down its shareholding in Mighty River Power.
“At first blush it would seem unlikely Elias would take this step.
…………………………………
“But there have been few …. who have dared to publicly question her role in presiding on such cases.
“When Elias has stood aside it has been when a direct personal conflict has arisen. For instance, when she scratched herself from a Supreme Court case involving jockey Lisa Cropp who had been riding one of the judge’s horses……….
“The water rights case will go straight to the Supreme Court for a full-court hearing on January 31. The single ground for appeal is whether Young was right to dismiss the council’s application to review the Government’s decisions on the sell down of Mighty River Power because of outstanding claims to water rights.
“At Government level there is also concern over the very legitimacy of the Maori Council.
Cabinet ministers such as Bill English – who was second respondent in the council’s High Court action – are sceptical over the council’s standing.
“He contends that it doesn’t really represent the Maori leadership of today…………..”
” The asset sales are a major part of the Government’s fiscal programme………..”
There are three issues here really.
1/ the legality of asset sales, as the owners consent was not sought (all tax payers -referendum)
2/ any validity of building fixed assets around natural resources which is anchored in the treaty regarding access. Is access guarantied under private ownership? And what does this mean in small print?
3/ and really most important, does the government of the day has the right to override the law of the land? Does this then constitute a dictatorship (as they had in eastern Europe not so long ago)?
As citizen of any country these questions would be utmost important. Surprised that the judiciary does not provide advise to parliament before this hits the headlines.
Foreign waka 2.1
We have seen our country’s governance overturned in large measure, and under constant assault by whatever the latest government is. In this modern age can we have the same approach to democracy and government that we started with in the 1800s??
Since then quite a lot of history and technology has passed by us and through us, like the incessant neutrinos, which we didn’t know much about till recently. We know a lot of new stuff – are we capable of applying that information and fostering some new thinking quickly before all that we built in the past has been carelessly dismantled by the tunnel-visioned and ideology- driven conmen and women who are putting themselves forward with confidence.
It’s not enough to step up to the country having been groomed like a show horse and announce that ‘You can trust me to do the right thing because I look good, and I have confidence in myself and my party. Vote for me even if I have never explained in understandable language what I think is The Right Thing” Our democracy is a sham and not resilient and robust enough to prevail against the being and getting obssessives – their obssession – wealth and consumer goods and power.
Agree that democracy is fragile, not just here in NZ. Having a lot of new technology is not necessary new knowledge. It just means doing the same faster, more efficient, more accurate etc. (looking towards novopay….. đ ). As for the show horse bit, any front person is just that. We all should know that by now. New technology gives any party the means to survey where they stand ever so faster, thus enabling promise answers before we had time to formulate our questions. Yes, this is also happening everywhere.
However, the one institution that ought to keep everything above board, the process clean and fair is the judiciary. The difference between so many consume driven democracies to this new development is the ease with which the law of the land is being called into question and at the same time nibbled on to favor special interest. THIS is a big worry, my friend. Because it is the living law that safeguards democracy. Even the “wild west” was won with a sheriff in town.
Foreign Waka
the law of the land is being called into question and at the same time nibbled on to favor special interest. THIS is a big worry, my friend. Because it is the living law that safeguards democracy. Even the âwild westâ was won with a sheriff in town.
Agree. You know how to dig the spurs in pardner.
As promised yesterday (I always keep my word), the song I sent to Clare Curran.
I wrote it in a couple of hours after work one evening, and whilst not really being about her, it’s relevant and perfectly captures the moment in time I knew 100% I would never party vote Labour again.
Of course, I wouldn’t ever publish her reply. đ
I can’t sing or play a note on any instrument, and until last April, never written a proper song.
I’m the idiot savant with arguably more idiot than savant, so click the link – It’s only a little quickie. 2.16 of your time. You might even like it.
Track four from the album Human (R)evolution @ http://www.al1en.org
Chemical Drift
You’ll know that I’m right and you’ll wish I was so wrong.
The feelings you’ll get, like regret, they last far too long.
I can’t give you any more clearer lines.
I can’t give you any more clearer signs.
Could you feel it? The chemical drift. The chemical drift away.
Could you see it? My chemical twist. My chemical drift away.
I know what it’s like to be right and be so wrong.
The feelings you get, to forget, just takes so damn long.
So I don’t take any more some other time.
I don’t take any more deleted lines.
Did you feel it? The chemical shift. The chemical drifts away.
Did you see it? My chemical drift. My chemical drifts away.
You couldn’t steal it. The chemical gift. The chemical drifts away.
Now you’ve freed it. My chemicals drifts. My chemical drift away.
I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night, Alive as you or me.
Says I, “But Joe, you’re ten years dead,”
“I never died,” says he.
“I never died,” says he.
Ten years ago today Joe Strummer died. The foundation set up in his name, Strummerville, works to give young musicians in third world countries a voice. Today would be a good day to make a small donation, if readers felt inclined. Cheers.
http://www.strummerville.com/
DJ and friend Don Letts is also doing a show in Joe’s honour:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0072pzt
“if you’re after getting the honey, then you don’t go killing all the bees”:
âif youâre after getting the honey, then you donât go killing all the beesâ:
Although, for some people, “killing all the bees” is a laughing matter….
10 signs that you are fully awake…..
http://www.activistpost.com/2012/09/10-signs-that-youre-fully-awake.html
Not a bad list, but number 1 is bullshit. No difference between ACT and Mana/Greens? Pull the other one.
Number 9 is just embarrassing. No wonder the mainstream doesn’t take people like that seriously.
errrm … I was thinking that neither ACT nor Mana/Greens are MAJOR parties.
No. 8 is indeed the logical end-game. All the big problems facing the world are global in nature, therefore their solutions have to be global as well.
At this point most people are still understandably frightened of this.
Except that under MMP small parties are major parties. Look at the power that Peter Dunne has been wielding in recent years.
But even if we just look at Labour and National, I have to quote you to yourself đ
“My younger brother who has a life-long disability (and while he can paint roofs, you would not wish what he has on your worst enemy) says he can always tells when National is in power because WINZ or itâs equivalent of the day, go from being merely depressing to deal with ⌠to utterly miserly, malicous and mind-fucking.”
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-15122012/comment-page-1/#comment-563096
That’s a significant difference. I know what people are trying to do when they say there is no difference between left and right anymore. But I think it is a flawed strategy, partly because it denies the reality of people like your brother, and partly because it’s dishonest.
And #9?
Yes there is a difference … you are quite right to quote my brother’s observations. They certainly go about the business of government differently.
But at a fundamental level there is not as much difference as they would like to pretend … Labour for instance shows no sign of being willing to reduce our carbon use by 10% the first year they get into power.
Nor challenge the power of money.
#9. Yes. Wrong and silly interpretation of something else more interesting.
nice summation of #9.
I guess my problem with the line that left and right mainstream parties are the same is that it stops us from understanding what is different and the usefulness of still voting on the left. It also encourages people to not vote at all.
The other area where the difference is notable is community based funding. Lots of funding dries up under NACT, and returns under Labour. I think even more so under Labour/Greens. Making change is easier under a left wing govt than a right wing one.
I think it would be better for people to be more complex in what they say. I’ve found the recent discussions on ts about Labour, the left/right struggle within the party, and the degree to which different Labour govts are to the left or right of others very helpful. Understanding those subtleties helps us make decisions.
regardless of who is in power (small medium or large parties) the real problems never get fixed. All you have is a shift of a few degrees to the left of to the right every 3 years. I will no longer vote as in the big picture it is not going to fix the real problems. Why? I now realize that ‘the current System’ is the problem and the barrier to do what is required to fix things.
“…the current Systemâ is the problem…”
Increased life expectancy, social security, universal education etc etc demonstrate that elements of the current system are in fact the solution. I would need to be pretty well convinced that what you are serving up is at least as good as what we already have in terms of ability to deliver good outcomes.
Fomenting discontent about “the system” is counter-productive when it is “the system” that has produced a range of positive changes already. As for future changes, put in the hard yards that transform a progressive idea into an act of parliament.
The best analogy I can think of is what happened after the Roman Empire collapsed.
While at one level there was an objective reduction in the standard of living for a small minority of very wealthy Romans and their minions in the colonies who supervised the inlet end of the various ‘wealth pumps’ of the empire … for the vast majority of peasants and slaves nothing much changed.
And what came after was not a complete reversion to what came before the Romans and Greeks before them. Latin and the Classics were not forgotten. The Christian and Islamic empires various built upon this legacy … eventually resulting in the modern world.
The difference is the level of technological advancement that we have achieved.
As an example (albiet a little simplistic admittedly) …The entire world could move to using completely renewable energy but Money and its role in the current system is a barrier to doing this. Remove money and you still have the resources and technology to do this.
Yeah its a fair comment bloke, and one which has been evident while getting into the current state the world is now in. Unfortunately of current course that same system will be inverting on itself for many, and currently is in front of our eyes, and will continue to eject more people into, then from the bottom layers!
The system will eat itself, or should I say eat those, who the system does not want to cater for any longer!
I do agree that the present system, could be helpful if harnessed, but I do not see how that is possible, given the driving forces!
Spose we could all just keep voting every three year and hope for a miracle!
If nobody votes the system fails.
Does govt have a mandate if only 30% of eligible voters vote and of that number the winning party receives 16% of the vote?
As far as I know 30% turnout is a legitimate way to form govt.
It would be a difficult term if you are trying to push through policies with a mere 16% public support. It also shows up yet another flaw in the system
you can have all of those things and more under a new system but you can add to the list
massive reduction in crime
elimination of starvation
people having more free time to do the things that they are passionate about and spend more time with that are important to them (friends and family).
‘The system’ that you have so much faith in is the only thing man has ever build that he must then work for in order to survive. All other things that man has built make life easier not harder.
It is time we evolved again
Their are certain things that everyone on the entire planet should have an inalienable right to, all culminating in the ability to lead a happy and fulfilling life.
Food
Clothing
A safe loving home
an education
Money has evolved within the system it is time we evolved from needing to use it.
It has now become a barrier in order for people to be able to obtain the tings that they want and more importantly need to live the happy and fulfilling life that we ALL need.
If you designed the system from scratch around what people need and want with a view to having mechanisms in place to supply those things you would not even have money in the equation.
You would have a govt in an administrative role that is there to serve the people. Not to dictate to them as we have now.
The system has served its purpose but is no longer doing so
(perhaps with the exception of Gay Marriage)
Can’t change the current system without voting. Of course, you need to have a political party that will change the present system and there doesn’t appear to be one of those around.
I believe that the system has been changed many times throughout history without voting đ
Revolution can work. Gets a little bloody though.
agreed revolution does get a little bloody – it would be easier for an influential party to understand what is possible and provide a vision on how to get their. Certain smaller steps would need to be taken first to ‘adjust’ the political landscape. Such a party could introduce policy like feeding kids in schools thus helping to ensure the get a good education. Then perhaps a policy around housing to ensure that there are affordable homes and to get the message out that everyone should have the opportunity to have their own home… đ
“I will no longer vote as in the big picture it is not going to fix the real problems. ”
Well thanks mate for abandoning the most vulnerable people to a NACT future. Actually, forget thanks, fuck you.
It is much easier to make change under a left wing govt. If you choose to not vote, you are essentially acquiescing to NACT and allowing them free reign. You think it’s bad now? Give them another term or two.
The things I want to see fixed will not be fixed under a left wing govt either. The things I want to see fixed are fixable but not within the current system.
Furthermore the govt is their to represent the will of the people. There are many instances on both sides L&R where the complete opposite is true. If a party were advocating a move away from the current system to a new constitution and were to give people back the power (direct democracy) then I would vote. Until then you will remain forever locked in a cycle of shifting a couple of degrees to the left and then a couple of degrees to the right.
If I vote I am responsible for the mess they create and perpetuate as are you and whoever else votes and thus by doing so perpetuates a broken system.
Cry-baby. If you don’t vote guess what? You’re still “responsible”.
I’m in no way responsible. I didn’t vote them in. In fact by not voting at all I didn’t support and therefore perpetuate the system unlike those who did vote.
I see you still haven’t learned the simple art of posting a comment without making a snide remark or name calling OTV…..
I see you are incapable of discussing politics without whining, like Bart Simpson that “I didn’t do it.”
Of refusing to participate unless we do things your way, and packing a sad when we don’t.
Cling hard to the purity of that driven snow you’re clutching.
PS: I feel your pain, PP. I really do. I used to clutch at the driven snow too. It melted. I got wet.
Eventually I cottoned on to the fact that the rules of the game weren’t going to change to suit me.
Not clutching anything… more have made the concious decision to no longer participate and support something I don’t believe in.
If the system was an alcoholic. You are saying yoeah its not ideal whilst handing the alcholic the bottle. I on the otherhand am simply refusing to supply the bottle.
I have informed a certain MP what I think is needed and policy that has some out could be sheer coincidence… alternately he may have listened. I have seen many things that lead me to believe we are getting closer to the world I want to see as more and more people waake up.
I did once clutch at the driven snow, I too got wet. Then I dried myself, Stood back from the situation figured out why it didn’t work and am now on a different path.
Less and less people aare voting each time around. More and more people are becoming disenfranchised with the system. For it to change, I believe both types of people are needed. Those like me who do not participate and those like you who do. Both need to be vocal about what they feel isn’t working.
One of two things will then happen.
The system will change (slowly) – and more people like me will start participating again.
Or
The system won’t change and more people like you will stop participating and the system will come to a point where change is forced upon it.
Either way there will be change.
One other thing. If the brave new world you’re advocating is based on the drivel in your “10 signs that you are fully awake” you have a problem, because I would be prepared to take up arms to defend what we have against any attempt to replace it with that bullshit.
“I would be prepared to take up arms to defend what we have against any attempt to replace it with that bullshit.”
Wow so you would take up arms to defend the right to pre-emptive war…..
You would take up arms so that if you and your neighbour have fierce ideological disagreements you can consider them your enemy……
You would take up arms to support the global elite in implementing one world control of the planet……
You would take up arms to ensure that our media remains biased and would defend against having unbiased media….
The world I want is pretty simple it’s one that is set up to satisfy the needs and wants of those living in it in a fair and equitable manner. I
Are you sure your not a closet right winger….?
The people who believe that garbage are too delusional and disorganised to ever represent a serious threat, but yes, in the vanishingly unlikely event that policy based on internet conspiracy memes and quasi-spiritual mumbo-pocus became the norm. Or any other bunch of fact-free, thought-free dogma.
By the way, before you can claim that I support the bogey-men you have to show that they exist. Good luck with that – your ten commandments barely even articulate the situation in the USA, let alone the South Pacific.
you’d make a good politician with the way you avoided each and every question.
start with the book Behold a Pale Horse ….that is of course if you are open minded enough to look at the possibilities….
Avoided? Is English your second language?
“…before you can claim that I support the bogey-men you have to show that they exist.”
I’m not defending myself against your delusional fantasies other than to note their fantastical nature.
PS: Start with the book “The Art of War”, that is of course if you are open minded enough.
already read it but I didn’t see it as an instruction manual on how I should live my life…..
The path that has lead me to the conclusion that the ‘Bogeymen’ as you put it exist has been through research in reading books and the application of common sense and logic. None of it has been gleaned from websites. Their is much information and evidence to support it, you only have to look. Unfortunately doing so for many shatters their nice comfortable reality of what they think they know about the world. In fact the global elite and shadow govt count on the fact that you won’t want to step outside your comfort zone and have a look and then make up your own mind.
As for not understanding english OTV I asked…….
Wow so you would take up arms to defend the right to pre-emptive warâŚ..?
You would take up arms so that if you and your neighbour have fierce ideological disagreements you can consider them your enemyâŚâŚ?
You would take up arms to support the global elite in implementing one world control of the planetâŚâŚ?
You would take up arms to ensure that our media remains biased and would defend against having unbiased mediaâŚ.?
but I guess in the original I did leave off the question marks so if you need an out to answer than there it is, but the questions were not about whether the global elite and shadow govts exits, They were exactly as stated:
Question – So you would take up arms to defend the right to pre-emptive war? etc. etc. The normal and expected response is that you would either confirm that Yes you would take up arms for this or No you would not…….
Given that you haven’t supplied such a response the onlything we have to go on
is your orginal somewhat surprising statement.
“If the brave new world youâre advocating is based on the drivel in your â10 signs that you are fully awakeâ you have a problem, because I would be prepared to take up arms to defend what we have against any attempt to replace it with that bullshit.”
Which by itself is a resounding Yes to the questions I put to you and certainly not something I’d expect from someone that appears to support the left although to be fair I have never seen you state that either.
A few months ago grant Robertson signalled at an environment event with cunliffe that uncompromising dogma must change.
Shearer signals for a new direction.
Cunliffe states too loudly about fundamental change needed due the forth coming systemic problems.
Now we have Helen Clark commenting about climate change.
These people deal in facts not dogma by their nature, life history and education.
Now we have the weight of the Fabians guiding hands linking reputable academics and economist to the powers within labour.
We have in my local community rise of intra connected organisation all realising we need a new direction away from dogmatic ideology from within the left block and from the current paradyme.
The electorate is waking up to the need for a new direction, a new paradyme, a transition to a new system of equality, fairness and opportunity for all not just a few well connected.
It’s not socialism or Investment capitalism both are failed polarised systems.
labour need unity, harmony and reconnection to the electorate as fore front party in the red green brown coalition.
In true modern labour we must trust as time is pressing….too many starve now.
Then perhaps Grant has listened after all…..
To understand a polli or any person one need historical reference to that person past and present to understand or predict future statement of viewpoints.
I think deep down within labour is a pragmatic progressive heart with a long tern vision or pathway.
Look for the next two years for labour to slowly signal change and adapt the electorate to what is needed….can’t scare the voter by radicalised messages that the imbedded tories and captured msm can manipulate.
Question.
Which labour poli was a teacher and union rep and promoted SOE to expand invest offshore?
Which party must capture both the centre voter and also the marginal turned off voter in the long term.
Hi Weka,
1: While it was an american slant, it did say major parties, of which Mana are not, and none of the NZ parties are going to challenge the system. Waiting to hear talk about controlling our sovereign monetary system/supply….waiting…waiting…waiting…
9: What can you offer evidentially, that says there is not – I always wonder whats up with people are unable to think past what has been the *agree/understood* limits of human knowledge!
Agree that the wording is not great, but certainly the points of interest around any such subject matter, numerous.
1. yes muzza, that’s a given. You missed my point though. I think framing the issue in that way marginalises the already marginalised by denying their reality, and fudges over what is a complexity. I’m not suggesting that people say the parties are significantly different, I’m saying we should be looking at the differences as much as the similarities.
9. “What can you offer evidentially, that says there is not â I always wonder whats up with people are unable to think past what has been the *agree/understood* limits of human knowledge!”
What evidence can you offer that you are not a figment of my imagination?
And if you think that I’m in agreement with the mainstream with regards to consensus reality you are mistaken.
There was a letter in the Dom/Post this morning from a Keith Williamson of Raumati Beach.
It was about Hekia Parata and says, among other things that “List MPs shouldn’t be eligible for Cabinet roles”.
My first thought was, in effect, “How stupid can you be”.
Then I thought about it and decided that it was a great idea and that it should be applied retrospectively.
Look at the advantages. Winston Peters would never have been Foreign Minister. Michael Cullen would never have been Minister of Finance. We must immediately recover any money they were paid as ministers and declare any laws put through the house under their lead as being null and void.
Even better is the effect this would have in the future. No Green MPs will be eligible for Cabinet office!
Cullen was electorate mp in Dunedin but to free up time and concentrate his effort on the treasury bench he became. List mp.
Yes, and Winston was member for Tauranga.
I was just trying to point out, sarcastically, how silly the letter writer was when they argue that losing in Poriru meant she has no mandate.
I simply do not understand the mind processes of people who argue that, in an MMP Parliament, losing in an electorate contest should disqualify one from Parliament.
Apologies if this has already been posted, but jeebers: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/dec/20/bernstein-murdoch-ailes-petreaus-presidency
Hey Felix,
Nice work, you’re cottening on.
Needless to say these *stories* are the lower end shennagigans which occur when the various intelligence/military centered factions, who control the show, then decided to outwardly exhibit the arm twisting and blackmail that goes on at the highests levels, by *outing* Petreaus, and his phillandering ways.
Kind of like how Hillary *apparantly* fainted, concussed herself, but didn’t go to hospital, or some shit like that.
Quite how anyone imagines humanity will slow its own decline with this foot on its own throat, I do not know!
Yes. Thanks for this, felix. It is another one for my collection. And still government’s don’t seem to see the problem of concentration of the news media ownership by big corporates – or they like it.
Hard to know what to make of this, but the usual players are involved, and it fits the trend of behaviour
Watched the vid in the link and the story those guys relate sounds absolutely plausible.
The moral of the story being to never take a politician at their word…never mind one who has a track record for being fast and loose with promises. And expect members of a Goon Squad to behave like goons.
“The moral of the story being to never take a politician at their [sic!] word…”
Your sentence is politically correct in an absurd and discredited way, but a grammatical nonsense.
Your message is excellent, however. Keep it up!
Ok, then, point out the error in construction and rewrite it correctly, Moz. The only potential grammatical problem I see is the word ‘to’, which is not needed, but doesn’t hamper the sentence structure unduly.
‘their’ is spelled correctly, btw, so your ‘sic’ is an error. Nothing worse than a failed pedant, pal!
What renders the sentence nonsensical is the use of the word “their” instead of “his”.
But you know that, of course.
No, it applies to all politicians. Believe they’ll do something only when they actualy do it, not when they promise it.
And the use of the plural in the English language is an accepted way of avoiding needlessly gender-specific language. Otherwise, we would not be also cautioned against accepting the word of female politicians, just male ones.
Standing up for the politically correct mangling of the language, our good friend McFliper writes that “the use of the plural in the English language is an accepted way of avoiding needlessly gender-specific language.”
Of course, such punctiliousness is a sign of nothing but good intentions. However, people who care about the language and don’t want to see it hijacked by spurious gender-equality fanatics will find a way to write the same sentence without being badgered into using ridiculous and pathetic “alternatives”.
So instead of poor old Bill conscientiously and absurdly writing “never take a politician at their word”, which is patent nonsense, he could with just a little effort have come up with “never take the word of a politician”.
It’s easy if you try.
Alternatively, of course, you can keep observing the LooneyFem dictates from the 1970s.
Bullshit Morrissey, “their” is applied to the indefinite singular to denote possession. It’s nothing to do with gender or feminism or the jews.
FFS if you’re going to lecture people on grammar you could at least learn some.
If it was good enough for Jane Austen, Lord Byron and Charles Dickens it’s good enough for me.
http://www.crossmyt.com/hc/linghebr/austheir.html#X1a
Fair enough. As they say in parliament, I withdraw and apologize.
Did you have to apologise with a bloody ‘z’ though? đ
I make a point of writing clearly and simply, my friend, and you know that perfectly well, having followed my oeuvre for the last couple of years.
I don’t think so, ‘never take a politician at their word’ sounds like commonly accepted usage to me. Usage defines language, not the other way around. This phrasing has been around long before people started feeling they should use he/she or his/her where gender is indefinite.
Personally I find ‘never take a politician at their word’ more elegant than ‘never take the word of a politician’. Bill always has a very nice and clear writing style to my eyes, whereas I find yours a little wordy. A rather conspicuously and abradingly verbose and prolixious style or, perhaps more accurately, if you will, a jejune grandiloquence which is both imperceptive and injudicious.
After, rightly, upbraiding me for flying off the handle and injudiciously challenging Bill’s use of “their” as a catch-all, our friend mike then has a go at my writing style….
Bill always has a very nice and clear writing style to my eyes, whereas I find yours a little wordy. A rather conspicuously and abradingly verbose and prolixious style or, perhaps more accurately, if you will, a jejune grandiloquence which is both imperceptive and injudicious.
Reading that friendly but stern admonition, I am sure I am not the only one to immediately recall the story of the Austrian emperor taking Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart aside and advising him that his music had “too many notes.”
I don’t give a monkey’s what some toff told Mozart. Orwell said to write simply and that’ll do for me.
“I am sure I am not the only one to immediately recall the story of the Austrian emperor taking Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart aside and advising him that his music had âtoo many notes.â”
I’m sure you are the only one. (The Mozart of blogging you ain’t.)
and moi brother? (before i take take the slater to task)
be quick (quick and the Dead); only got a wee credit. (and obviously, I can find you; I fought the Law… and I won) ha ha ha
Typical Slippery, the little shyster probably got a huge thrill out of the whole unsavory little episode made all the more delicious in that psychopath’s pea brain by Him having engineered the whole thing with His big mouth,
Personally, and not wanting to be overly critical of the judiciary, i think the judge got it wrong with placing both these 2 individuals on alcohol bans, christ sakes they are both unemployed and voted for the Slippery little shyster, a more fitting bail condition would have been for the judge to have them placed in the stocks and publicly stoned…
WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF WHALEOIL
Slater dishes it out to Standard regular
This morning I ventured out of my comfort zone and signed onto the notorious “Gotcha” blog run by Cameron “Whaleoil” Slater.
Within minutes I was cowering in the ditches, having drawn hostile fire after just four posts….
“Well if you don’t like my readers, or my blog you can fuck off.” —Whaleoil
Gotta say: that guy is no L. Prent.
http://gotcha.co.nz/
Stop giving him any link love (even no follow links help him) then by making sure you don’t type in the URL without breaking it up.
“LINK LOVE”.
I like it!
Just thought i would drop abit of info from one of our young people and how he views NZ’s
financial situation, this young guy was 20-25, we were waiting in que at the warehouse,
they were busy as, we got talking politics and the state of nz’s economy this young guy
said he just wants our debt to be paid and he did not like either national or labour,but he
thought Winston will have his vote in 2014, he said he is the only one that talks sense and
he is more experianced, he also said his friend was a teacher and also had trouble with
no-no-pay and he thought they should just go back to the old system, ,but good on him,he has a great handle on the political scene, we wished each other merry christmas and we were both off into the big blue yonder.
We should have more faith in our young people,they really are our future,they may have
limited voices, but they are watching and understanding politics.
First of all:
“we got talking politics and the state of nzâs economy this young guy
said he just wants our debt to be paid and he did not like either national or labour,but he
thought Winston will have his vote in 2014” — this provides no context to try and pass on any idea that this guy has any political understanding beyond, potentially, watching the 6pm nightly news. When his chosen solution to the current mounting unemployment, the selling out of our social contract etc etc is to ‘continue to reduce debt’ then he is merely parroting those wonderful guys who got us in this hole in the first place… and then to say he will vote Winston?
*sigh*
If you are going to try and tell a story about how our youth are engaging with politics, at least provide examples in context rather than just saying “we done talked the politic stuff and he seemed like he was capable of stringing some words together that weren’t ‘John’ and ‘Key'”
There was no story, it was an interesting encounter, i believe our young people have a voice, as i did when i was that age,it was interesting listening to him, he seemed capable of having his own views,if he wants to vote winston, surely, that is his democratic right,
Your attitude to my post is one of dismissing what could be a valuable insight into how
someone of that age group thinks and views politics.
Obviously the time was short and not all topics could be discussed.
It is important to hear and listen to the young potential voters,this is good politics.
Wishing you a nice christmas and all the best for 2013.
I think the point vv is making : here was a young man who has recognised politics affects everybody and he is willing to think about it. He’s young and a bit naive, but he’ll learn as he gets older and wiser. Hell, he sounds like he knows more than I did in my early twenties. Good for him.
That is why I have always said that NZF has a constituency…
Poll question you won’t see on Stuff
Did the PM say he was going to pay for the guys’ dinner at the Green Parrot ?
Yes ? or No ?
sorry muzza, not sure how i missed your post above
Recognition to Chris Finlayson for the Te Atiawa and Ngati Koata settlements. He’s an effective capable National Minister in action, working closely at every step with Maori. Finlayson definitely deserves his QC.
Finlayson is a mere functionary in an ongoing process and deserves nothing, as a representative of those who offended against Taranaki Maori He has been well paid throughout the process,
The real ‘ups’ need be extended to those Taranaki Maori who have never let the flame of the torch be extinguished,those who are no longer with us but passed on the ‘take’ to the next generation never knowing whether their voices would ever be heard…
I predict next year a brief intensification of matters and affairs. Being the last fling, already past its date.
Strike me down if I’m wrong but there is a change in the air. A change to the peaceful and goodness