Open mike 24/03/2016

78 comments on “Open mike 24/03/2016 ”

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1. Tony Veitch (not the partner-bashing 3rd rate broadcaster) 1

   24 March 2016 at 6:33 am

   Gone by 2030!

   Human extinction in 14 years?

   Nah! Surely impossible?

   Well, Guy McPherson seems to think so.

   He believes we’ve entered a phase of rapid climate change, which will result in a 4 degrees C rise in temperature, and that humans have never existed beyond a 3.3 degree range above the average.

   “The climate situation is much worse than I’ve led you to believe, and is accelerating far more rapidly than accounted for by models. Even the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention acknowledges, in a press release dated 6 June 2013, potentially lethal heat waves on the near horizon.”

   “An increasing number of scientists agree that warming of 4 to 6 C causes a dead planet. And, they go on to say, we’ll be there much sooner than most people realize.”

   “Director of the Central Intelligence Agency of the United States John Brennan delivered a speech 16 November 2015 at the Opening Session of the Global Security Forum 2015, held at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He addressed climate change, and I apologize for his misogyny in these lines: “Mankind’s relationship with the natural world is aggravating these problems and is potential source of crisis itself. Last year was the warmest on record, and this year is on track to be even warmer. Extreme weather, along with public policies affecting food and water supplies, can worsen or create humanitarian crises. Of the most immediate concern, sharply reduced crop yields in multiple places simultaneously could trigger a shock in food prices with devastating effect, especially in already-fragile regions such as Africa, the Middle East and South Asia. Compromised access to food and water greatly increases the prospect for famine and deadly epidemics.”

   http://guymcpherson.com/climate-chaos/see-how-far-weve-come/
   (A very long article, but impeccably referenced.)

   So, if this is the case, what can we expect in the next 14 or so years? All that follows is speculation: there is no way of knowing how much, or how little, may come true.

   a) an increasing number of extreme weather events.

   So, more droughts and, paradoxically, more floods. More heat waves and, perhaps, more severe hurricanes and cyclonic storms.
   ‘500 year floods’ will happen with increasing frequency, destroying crops and communities.
   Severe and prolonged droughts will result in widespread crop failures.
   Food shortages will occur in urban areas, resulting in riots and the breakdown of civil order. These events will be particularly acute where urbanisation is highly dense, such as in Western Europe, parts of North America, China and India.

   b) an epidemic of infectious and deadly diseases

   So, more infectious diseases and epidemics sweeping the world and killing millions of people.
   Large areas of the tropical world will become disease-prone areas, with ‘no-go’ zones.
   Agencies like NZ’s MFAT will warn people against travel to such areas, with a resulting collapse of tourism travel.

   c) rising sea levels (and perhaps more rapidly than we think!)

   http://www.musther.net/nzslr/

   A fascinating series of maps showing NZ under various sea level scenarios. Rapid climate change and rapid sea level rises could overwhelm our efforts to keep ahead of the changes!
   Billions of dollars worldwide spent on futile attempts to stop or retard coastal erosion.
   The disappearance of island nations such as the Maldives and Kiribati, and of huge parts of countries like Bangladesh and the Netherlands.
   Internal migration in many countries world wide, including NZ, away from low-lying coastal areas.

   d) an increasing number of crop failures.

   “Large-scale crop failures like the one that caused the recent Russian wheat crisis are likely to become more common under climate change due to an increased frequency of extreme weather events, a new study shows.”

   https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101007092817.htm

   Increasing famines due to crop failures, with millions of deaths.
   The rise and rise in the number of climate refugees as millions attempt to flee famines.
   The rise of economic nationalism as countries close borders to refugees.
   The collapse of tourism and its replacement by the movement of people seeking a place where existence is at least possible.
   New Zealand is already perceived as a place where the worst effects of climate change might be possibly avoided: expect to see increasing numbers of ‘boat people’ [and 1%ers] trying to get here.
   A resulting collapse in ‘commercial or corporate’ farming and the revision to more immediate ‘food’ crops, such as market gardens.

   e) temperatures simply too hot for humans to survive.

   “Extreme heat waves cause the most harm among elderly people and young children. City dwellers are at particular risk because of elevated temperatures in cities, known as the “urban heat island effect” due to the magnifying effect of paved surfaces and the lack of tree cover.
   In the United States, an average of 400 deaths per year are directly related to heat, and an estimated 1,800 die from illnesses made worse by heat – including heat exhaustion, heat stroke, cardiovascular disease, and kidney disease. Deadly heat waves swept across most of the nation in 2006, hitting California the hardest; the state saw an additional 16,000 emergency room visits during the two-week heat wave.”
   http://www.nrdc.org/health/climate/heat.asp
   So, summers simply too hot to be comfortable, with resulting deaths from heat stroke and other complications. Large parts of the world too hot to be outside during the day!
   f) and by about 2020, expect to see the 1%ers begin to build climate domes to protect themselves from the consequences of their own actions!
   The collapse of welfare agencies such as those associated with the United Nations – catastrophes just too big to manage or alleviate.
   The subsequent collapse of globalisation and the retreat of nation states to within their own borders in an effort to feed their own people.
   The rise of extremism in all its various religious and political manifestations.
   Do I believe Guy McPherson? I desperately don’t want to accept his model. My God, there are kids born yesterday who will only be just 14 or so when the shit hits the fan – though it is unlikely to be that dramatic. What I do think is that life will be an increasingly difficult struggle for all humans in the near future.
   The NZ government must, first of all, accept that climate change is real and that its consequences should NOT be minimised or dismissed. Second, that plans, or at least discussions, should be initiated to at least begin to prepare for the worst possible scenario.
   If Guy McPherson is right, we haven’t got much time left!
   • One Two 1.1

     24 March 2016 at 8:14 am

     Most human beings are already struggling, have been forever, and its not only due to climate

     There are many more pressing threats, than the uncertain outcomes of ‘climate change’

     Posts like this ignore appear to ignore the wider picture, entirely
     • maui 1.1.1

       24 March 2016 at 8:27 am

       McPherson I think cherry picks his data in a very complex science. He also creates fear based responses like geo engineering which would only compound our problems.
       • One Two 1.1.1.1

         24 March 2016 at 8:34 am

         Geo-engineering has been developed & ‘tested’ over many decades

         It was written about in mainstream science journals back in the 1950s
       • weka 1.1.1.2

         24 March 2016 at 8:38 am

         +1. In the past when I’ve listened to him, he comes across as someone stuck in their own version of The One True Way. He believes that humans are going to go extinct and then he presents that as fact instead of his belief. That’s dangerous, not least because if people believe him why would they change? If it’s too late, why go through the pain of shifting to a post-carbon life?

         There is no doubt our situation is precarious, and we are fast running out of time. MacPherson is part of the problem not part of the solution. Tony, if you are considering he might be right, what does that mean for you?

         (and is MacPherson still flying around the planet and using more than his fair share of fossil fuels to promote his work?).
         • Tony Veitch (not the partner-bashing 3rd rate broadcaster) 1.1.1.2.1

           24 March 2016 at 10:55 am

           I do not wish to think he’s right!
           But, I also don’t think we should minimise the problem.
           If Labour can run a conference on the Future of Work, which is important and worthwhile, then perhaps the Greens could sponsor a conference on the Future of the Planet!
           At the very least, we should be talking strategies/thinking of ways to actively combat climate change – certainly not holding oil exploration meetings!
       • pat 1.1.1.3

         24 March 2016 at 8:40 am

         I note he is accused of cherry picking and it is potentially disastrous to implement unproven geo engineering responses, however, his arguments are not fundamentally refuted and it highlights the fact that what is being done is essentially nothing….is that a logical response?
         • weka 1.1.1.3.1

           24 March 2016 at 8:54 am

           Of course not. But what MacPherson is doing doesn’t help. If it’s too late, why would we change?
           • Sabine 1.1.1.3.1.1

             24 March 2016 at 9:03 am

             Well, Why are we not changing then.
             Cause i look outside my window, and i don’t see the world changing. I see lip service being paid, i see trees being cut down, i see cow shit in water, fertilizers used to grow stuff where naturally it would never grow, i see bio-engineering our food is commonplace and I in the meantime the world is heating up, tick tick tick…..and the buckets flows over.

             My point in all of that, if species are to go extinct due to global warming, coastal flooding, acidification of the oceans and the likes, why would we human assume that we can ‘science’ our way out of it, and why would we assume that we would not ‘go extinct’. On the ground of whats? Our intellectual superiority? Look where that got us too, ….
             • weka …

               24 March 2016 at 9:16 am

               I don’t assume any of those things, and neither do many of the people I know.

               I see things changing. People are far more aware of the problem with cc than even five years ago, and people are starting to get out there and do something. It’s not fast enough, but it’s not nothing either.
             • TC …

               24 March 2016 at 11:09 am

               Yup watch ‘chasing ice’. A former cc sceptic scientist documenting glacial retreats.

               If glaciers are the canary in the climate coalmine then the bird seems to have flown.
           • pat 1.1.1.3.1.2

             24 March 2016 at 9:03 am

             I would suggest that it appears the worlds governments may have concluded exactly that (@Weka)
             • weka …

               24 March 2016 at 9:18 am

               I’m not so sure about that. I think it’s more likely they’re still in denial.
         • maui 1.1.1.3.2

           24 March 2016 at 9:10 am

           I would say good climate scientists have got better things to do than debate with a guy who says we’re all going to die within 15 years.
           • pat 1.1.1.3.2.1

             24 March 2016 at 9:39 am

             Lol..except some “good climate scientists” have supported his conclusions….it appears to me he is simply at the worst case scenario end of the impact spectrum.
             If you consider that over 50% of the worlds population now live in cities and have something like 6 days food security then 15 years is a very long time…there are many weaknesses within our global model that could conceivably cause a rapid decline….and there is no denying the massive enviromental changes occurring as we speak, many already exceeding the predictions of the recently developed models.
             • Chooky …

               24 March 2016 at 10:32 am

               Thomas Mann thinks McPherson is a bit extreme. This is worth watching too…and it doesn’t pull any punches.

               ‘Understanding climate change: A conversation with Michael Mann’

               https://www.rt.com/shows/big-picture/321538-global-warming-climate-change/

               “Thom goes over the basics of what global warming is, what’s causing it, and how we can stop it with climate scientist Michael Mann, author of the book “Dire Predictions: Understanding Climate Change.”
             • weka …

               24 March 2016 at 10:33 am

               “it appears to me he is simply at the worst case scenario end of the impact spectrum.”

               I would have way less of a problem with MacPherson if he was honest about that and presented his theory as a theory rather than fact.
2. locus 2

   24 March 2016 at 8:29 am

   He is a symptom of what happens when collective consciousness has divided and subdivided so many times within this neoliberal psychosis that we no longer know how to make alliances, build coalitions and have each other’s backs or stand with each other when the going gets rough.

   An outstanding summary from Eve Ensler of how Trump represents the inevitable outcome of a malignant hatred fuelled political system
3. Puckish Rogue 3

   24 March 2016 at 9:19 am

   That’s (soon to be) Sir John Key and his legacy will be the only four term leader elected under MMP
   • saveNZ 3.1

     24 March 2016 at 11:26 am

     Nightmares are free, Puckish Rogue
   • Chooky 3.2

     24 March 2016 at 12:17 pm

     that should kill the reputation of the Queen’s honours system dead

     … and cement it as a cronyist list of male crooks…a list made up by cronyist male crooks

     …now PR get out your cooking sherry and have drink to that
4. Stuart Munro 4

   24 March 2016 at 9:27 am

   If it happened that would be his only legacy.

   Look on Key’s works ye mighty and despair.
5. adam 5

   24 March 2016 at 10:07 am

   Sheesh crushing wins by Sanders.

   Reading more, it looks like Arizona Primary is rightly being called a Disaster. Election called while people still voting, democrats given independent voting forms, the fix in for Latino, and a really poorly run vote.

   Not that it means anything – the establishment are going with Hilary. She is there only hope.

   Utah

   Democratic result: Bernie Sanders crushed Hillary Clinton, winning about 80 percent of the vote compared to her 20 percent or so. Again, a Sanders win was expected, but the extent of the landslide he got is surprising.

   Idaho

   Democratic result: Bernie Sanders’s enormous win in Idaho nearly matched his win in Utah — he got 78 percent of the vote to Clinton’s mere 21 percent. When all of Tuesday’s results are combined, Sanders will likely pick up somewhat more delegates than Clinton. But he’ll still trail her in pledged delegates overall by 300 or so.

   http://www.vox.com/2016/3/22/11284564/when-do-polls-close-results-utah-arizona-idaho

   http://usuncut.com/politics/bernie-blasts-arizona-voting-disaster-calls-the-fiasco-a-disgrace/
   • weka 5.1

     24 March 2016 at 10:36 am

     What’s the story with the independents? Is that people not registered with either party but who should be able to vote in the primaries somehow?
     • adam 5.1.1

       24 March 2016 at 11:40 am

       If I understand it right, if you are given independent papers, that’s all you can vote for.

       You then can’t vote for a democrat or a republican.
       • weka 5.1.1.1

         24 March 2016 at 11:48 am

         hmm, ok I’ve misunderstood then. I thought I saw someone in Arizona saying they were refused a vote because they were an independent.
         • alwyn 5.1.1.1.1

           24 March 2016 at 1:31 pm

           Yes they would not have been allowed a vote if they were registered as an Independent.
           Arizona runs a “closed” system for the Presidential primary.
           http://www.fairvote.org/primaries#presidential_primary_or_caucus_type_by_state
           If you run your cursor over the map you will get the state details.
       • Andre 5.1.1.2

         24 March 2016 at 11:52 am

         There’s a lot of different permutations on who can vote in which primaries – way too many to try to cover in comments here.

         https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primary_election
6. saveNZ 6

   24 March 2016 at 10:44 am

   Ironic…

   Syrians rescue German far-right candidate from car crash wreckage

   http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/22/syrians-rescue-german-far-right-stefan-jagsch-from-car-crash-wreckage?utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=GU+Today+main+NEW+H&utm_term=163258&subid=13842748&CMP=EMCNEWEML6619I2
   • Expat 6.1

     24 March 2016 at 2:29 pm

     I saw the news article on TV last week, and reminded me of a visit to kiwiblog last year, nearly all the pundits were scathing of Germany taking 800k Syrian refugees, saying that it was a ticking time bomb.

     Another news article about the refugees, comparing Germany and Denmark (who took only 700 or so), that Germany had received the bulk of skilled refugees, the doctors and engineers, and the refugees that went to Denmark (who legislated to take the assets of refugees) received the ones with no skills and dependent on the state.
7. saveNZ 7

   24 March 2016 at 10:47 am

   “Rockefeller family charity to withdraw all investments in fossil fuel companies

   Started by John D Rockefeller – who made his fortune from oil – the fund singled out ExxonMobil, calling the world’s largest oil company ‘morally reprehensible’”

   http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/mar/23/rockefeller-fund-divestment-fossil-fuel-companies-oil-coal-climate-change
8. logie97 8

   24 March 2016 at 10:56 am

   Technology to replace jobs.

   This headline is no surprise. Politicians and the captains of industry promised us golden times from the ’80s, to expect more leisure time and expect a boom in service industries, as the microchips replaced the majority of jobs as we know/knew them.

   Of course, the reality has been redundancies and a general derision of the now growing pool of unemployed by those same captains of industry and their cheerleaders (conservative governments world wide.)

   So here’s a thought. Every time a company installs a new computer system, it must declare how many human positions it replaces and the company must be levied the equivalent in PAYE losses for the lifetime of that system and any subsequent system developments.
   • saveNZ 8.1

     24 March 2016 at 11:22 am

     @Logie(7

     If the government had a clue they would be using Technology to create jobs, not replace jobs!

     We could have a silicon valley here, we could have incredible engineering here, look at climate change solutions and patent them, etc etc.

     Instead the National government uses low wages and lazy immigration to keep making more stuff, cheaper and with government subsidised pollution and exporting it to someone else who adds the value.
     • Draco T Bastard 8.1.1

       24 March 2016 at 11:27 am

       We could have a silicon valley here, we could have incredible engineering here, look at climate change solutions and patent them, etc etc.

       QFT

       This is what I mean by increased productivity developing our economy. It’s also this automation that kills economies of scale.
     • Expat 8.1.2

       24 March 2016 at 2:45 pm

       saveNZ

       “If the government had a clue they would be using Technology to create jobs, not replace jobs!”

       The National govt has never been interested in Job creation, that’s a job for private industry, they just want to facilitate the businesses through low wages and conditions, only problem there is that the this model only serves to increase unemployment with less revenue circulating through the economy.

       There hasn’t been a National govt in the last 30 years that has provided low unemployment, high unemployment is a National party strategy, keep the serfs down.
   • Draco T Bastard 8.2

     24 March 2016 at 11:24 am

     I take it that you actually want to prevent that leisure time and improved living standards that automation promise us?
     • logie97 8.2.1

       24 March 2016 at 11:40 am

       I want the technologies that are increasing the dividends being enjoyed by shareholders) to support the increasing pool of “the great unwashed” that they are creating.
       Those being made redundant by automation are still being told to “get on your bike” and look for work by those very same shareholders.
       • Draco T Bastard 8.2.1.1

         24 March 2016 at 5:42 pm

         I want the technologies that are increasing the dividends being enjoyed by shareholders) to support the increasing pool of “the great unwashed” that they are creating.

         But your policy won’t do that. Instead it’ll force us to more hard labour.

         Those being made redundant by automation are still being told to “get on your bike” and look for work by those very same shareholders.

         Yes, I’m aware of that. The problem is neither the workers nor the automation but the rentier capitalists. Which means that we need to get rid of the rentier capitalists.
9. Draco T Bastard 9

   24 March 2016 at 11:22 am

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WaA8zqjBSk
   • Chooky 9.1

     24 March 2016 at 12:20 pm

     +100…YUS….and artists
   • gsays 9.2

     24 March 2016 at 12:46 pm

     cheers draco, should be compulsary viewing for anyone opposed to the ubi.

     went to the presentation he gave in wellys for the fabian society.

     it aint a left or right thing.
     it aint even an economic thing.
     it’s a tool for reducing inequality and perhaps the true way that a rising tide lifts all boats.
     • Chooky 9.2.1

       24 March 2016 at 2:41 pm

       +100 DTB and gsays… Yes ( now that I have had time to view this, and not be distracted by cats)

       … absolutely agree this is compulsory viewing especially for young people , women in unpaid caring work, the unemployed, artists…and what is left of the working class

       …in fact everyone who is not part of the 0.01 % crooks who own the wealth and control the people and the planet

       Professor Guy Standing ( Professor for Economic Security , University of Bath) is an articulate advocate for why the precariat absolutely requires a basic income …and for a redistribution of wealth

       He is really the equivalent of the old trade unionist and socialist…calling passionately for a return to an egalitarian, compassionate, just and humanitarian society…dignity and freedom for ALL
10. Poission 10

    24 March 2016 at 11:42 am

    The fatal attraction of rats and cats,and the limitations under the policeman’s hats.

    https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/03/160323142328.htm

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1690701/
    • Chooky 10.1

      24 March 2016 at 12:25 pm

      interesting …but does this mean that human males are more likely to have toxoplasmosis?…because they are overwhelmingly the ones who have the road rage in my experience

      ‘People with rage disorder twice as likely to have latent toxoplasmosis parasite infection’

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_rage

      …”A number of studies have found that individuals with road rage were predominantly young (33 years of age on average) and male (96.6%).[3]”

      Sansone, Randy A.; Sansone, Lori A. (July 2010). “Road Rage: What’s Driving It?”. Psychiatry 7 (7): 14–18. Retrieved 2015-11-02.

      http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2922361/
      • Expat 10.1.1

        24 March 2016 at 6:27 pm

        Chooky

        …”A number of studies have found that individuals with road rage were predominantly young (33 years of age on average) and male (96.6%).[3]”

        I had one last weekend, the guy stopped at a Stop sign in front of me and got out his car and tried to give me an earful, he falls directly into the group listed above (33 and male), he was an incompetent, inconsiderate driver who thought the road belongs to him alone, his girl friend got out of the car, I could see the embarrassment on her face as she gestured an apology for her boyfriends behavior, and asked him to get back in the car.

        Iv’e had several other incidents on the road, and each time it’s been a guy about 33, they seem to have serious anger issues.
        • Chooky 10.1.1.1

          24 March 2016 at 7:27 pm

          re..”a guy about 33″…yes I think so…at the invitation of the lawyer concerned, I once watched a prosecuting lawyer in Melbourne make the case against an Australian male in this age group….the accused had killed someone with a bottle in a fit of road rage…he would have been in his late twenties early thirties…and in my experience they do seem to be the most impatient and inconsiderate drivers… who speed, overtake dangerously and cut people off…in the USA my friend tells me you don’t engage with them or give them the fingers because they are likely to get a gun out of the glove box

          …i guess we are rather better off in New Zealand
    • Chooky 10.2

      24 March 2016 at 12:38 pm

      mmmeeeeoooow

      ‘Cuckoo for Kitty Cats? You Should Be! Health Benefits of Cats’

      http://www.crazycatladyconcoctions.com/health-benefits-of-cats/
11. Phineas 11

    24 March 2016 at 2:29 pm

    Free publicity for the National Party courtesy of the fuzz.

    “Police are investigating a complaint that Whanganui MP Chester Borrows drove his car into an anti-TPP protester”

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/299816/mp-accused-of-driving-into-protester
12. North 12

    24 March 2016 at 2:48 pm

    At minimum dangerous driving. Obvious assault whether physical contact made or not. Assault with weapon. This is very serious.
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11611165
    • Hayden 12.1

      24 March 2016 at 2:55 pm

      No it’s not. This is exactly the outcome she was after.
      • North 12.1.1

        24 March 2016 at 3:00 pm

        Who is “she” ?
      • North 12.1.2

        24 March 2016 at 3:07 pm

        Hayden please have some sense. The video evidence establishes that the car driver could have stopped. It shows that the car driver did not stop. Intended action. Did not stop. Resulting assault with weapon. Serious. Don’t fret……it just shows Man-Child PM’s “higher standards”.
        • Tautoko Mangō Mata 12.1.2.1

          24 March 2016 at 4:02 pm

          Twenty-one years ago, when Felix Geiringer was 19, he lay down in front of a cabinet minister’s limousine. The driver didn’t see him and the hot-headed Otago University maths undergraduate ended up with abrasions, a couple of cracked ribs and a conviction for behaving in a disorderly manner.

          His appeal to the High Court that he’d just been exercising his freedom of expression rights failed.

          That was 1991.

          http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/7415536/More-than-a-lawman

          The cabinet minister was Bill Birch. Have any labour Party done it too?
          • North 12.1.2.1.1

            24 March 2016 at 4:28 pm

            The key TMM…….driver didn’t see him. Look at the video here. The car nearly stopped, then proceeded. Having seen the people Driver nearly stopped the car. Driver then stopped stopping the car. Thereby wilfully applying force to the person of another. Mr Car Driver has no right to icebreaker his way through human beings, using a weapon and causing injury. Ensuring Paula Benefit’s timely delivery to airport is not a special reason in terms of any applicable law. This is very serious offending ! Demonstrable of Key’s “higher standards” governance.

            This ain’t far from Trump’s campaign manager roughing up some female reporter.

            Paula: “Ooh look protesters……quickly, run them over !”
            Chester: “Right on future leader, with you all the way !”
13. North 13

    24 March 2016 at 2:59 pm

    This infamy done with Paula Benefit in front passenger seat. More and more they are caracitures of themselves. A power clique rotting away…….
    • Hayden 13.1

      24 March 2016 at 3:01 pm

      Rotting away, polling nearly 50%.
      • Paul 13.1.1

        24 March 2016 at 3:13 pm

        And stand for nothing…apart from greed.
      • maui 13.1.2

        24 March 2016 at 4:15 pm

        Which only translates to about 1/3 of the country when you take into account non voters… who are actually people too ya know.
        • Expat 13.1.2.1

          24 March 2016 at 6:29 pm

          +1
14. Paul 14

    24 March 2016 at 3:16 pm

    The Herald allows Katherine Rich to pimp for Big Sugar.
    How does she sleep at night, shilling for greedy corporates who care more about profit that people?
    Does she have a conscience?

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11610731
15. North 15

    24 March 2016 at 3:17 pm

    Whatever…….the masters of the universe they bloatedly perceive themselves as. Rotting away. Adored by slimey little people below them who luv the E! Channel of it. It’s not completely unlike the Trump/Trumpites picture.
    • Hayden 15.1

      24 March 2016 at 3:58 pm

      Just listen to yourself mate!! Have you had your pills today?
      • North 15.1.1

        24 March 2016 at 5:07 pm

        Nah nah Hayden bro’……..never meant to say you’re with the slime bro’…….nah nah no way bro’. Eckshully…….why fucking not ?
16. b waghorn 16

    24 March 2016 at 3:25 pm

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/299770/mayoral-candidate-pulled-up-over-signs
    Right wingers are incabable of winning an honest contest it would seem.
    • rod 16.1

      24 March 2016 at 4:30 pm

      Perhaps she gets her arrogance from the Slippery one.
17. The Chairman 17

    24 March 2016 at 4:50 pm

    With Easter almost upon us, here’s an interesting fact:

    The Fairtrade label on a Dairy Milk bar is no guarantee it does not contain cocoa grown and harvested using exploitative child labour.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/78235708/cadbury-no-longer-offers-fairtrade-dairy-milk-easter-eggs
    • McFlock 17.1

      24 March 2016 at 5:28 pm

      Sounds like false advertising to me.

      Cadbury and mondelez are massive enough that if they made a decision to genuinely go to fair trade cocoa, it would shift the entire market, FT production would soar, and FT cocoa would become the norm, not the minority.

      And even with half measures, they reckon they can’t monitor their logistics chain to keep the two seperate? Yeah, right…
      • The Chairman 17.1.1

        24 March 2016 at 6:06 pm

        “Sounds like false advertising to me.”

        Indeed. Very misleading. But, evidently legal.
        • weka 17.1.1.1

          24 March 2016 at 7:41 pm

          Pretty good rule of thumb, if a big company is a doing ethics on the side, it’s unlikely to be ethical. Same applies to free range chooks too, companies that have a free range brand and conventional brand. Better to buy from the people who genuinely give a shit.

          Cadbury in the UK,

          Bought a 79p Dairy Milk? You just paid more than @CadburyUK paid in corporation tax for a whole year. #taxavoidance

          https://twitter.com/OLGCurtis/status/712372164347953152
          • Bill 17.1.1.1.1

            24 March 2016 at 8:16 pm

            From the stuff link

            “First and foremost, farmers must begin to make a better living from cocoa by increasing their productivity,” Melo said.

            Says it all really.
18. Chooky 18

    24 March 2016 at 5:48 pm

    Soooo…. the FBI needs the Israelis to crack an iphone but NSA can do it anyways…does this mean the FBI and the NSA are not talking to each other ….and does it mean the Israelis control NSA?

    ‘FBI using Israeli firm to crack San Bernardino iPhone without Apple’

    https://www.rt.com/usa/336948-fbi-israel-crack-iphone/

    …but Snowden who worked for NSA argues they can do it already:

    ‘That’s horse sh*t!’: FBI can already unlock iPhone without Apple’s help – Snowden
    https://www.rt.com/usa/335054-snowden-apple-fbi-fight/

    …and from Kathryn Ryan and Robbie Allan RNZ

    … “what’s all this fuss about unlocking the terrorist’s iPhone?”
    http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/201794523/new-technology-commentator-robbie-allan
19. Chooky 19

    24 March 2016 at 7:12 pm

    Bloody Oz racism…how dare they ?!…time to boycott OZ banks!

    ‘Detainee accuses prison guards of assault’

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/299840/detainee-accuses-prison-guards-of-assault

    “Former New Zealand soldier Ko Haapu, who has arrived back in New Zealand, says he was assaulted by guards while in detention in Australia.”
20. weka 20

    24 March 2016 at 7:33 pm

    BBC told to stop reporting/filming in UK parliament buildings a protest against disability cuts,

    https://twitter.com/GeorgeAylett/status/712778638006075392
21. ScottGN 21

    24 March 2016 at 8:03 pm

    Poor old David Cameron, he’s so knackered he has to go to Spain to recuperate from the disastrous week he’s had.
    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/12202655/David-Cameron-flies-to-Spain-after-a-tough-week-telling-his-own-MPs-he-needs-more-time-to-think.html
    • Rodel 21.1

      24 March 2016 at 10:46 pm

      Thanks ScottGN-
      To paraphrase ,’ Poor old John Key, he’s so knackered he has to go to Hawaii? to recuperate from the disastrous week he’s had.’
22. logie97 22

    24 March 2016 at 8:39 pm

    Someone tell Key that the reason for the big poll number in the second flag vote was nothing to do with people being interested in change.
    It was the majority telling him that they are sick of his corporate driven lifestyle.
    No-one gives a monkeys what his cronies think. They don’t give a hoot what the sports personalities think. Colin Meads and the like have had their day. They have been rewarded with their honours and that should have been enough.
    Congratulations to the Kiwi battler.
23. Gael 23

    24 March 2016 at 10:40 pm

    If Russian wheat crops have failed so badly and if they continue to do so maybe there is hope for dairy to convert back to wheat on the canterbury plains…
24. joe90 24

    25 March 2016 at 12:05 am

    This.

    In 1976, Republican Governor Jay Hammond started Alaska’s sovereign wealth fund (SWF), which has come to be called the Alaska Permanent Fund. The way it works is Alaska has a big pile of money that it uses to buy up the means of production (sometimes called stocks and bonds). Those investments yield returns and revenue for the state. Right now, Alaska plows that revenue into its universal basic income (UBI) program, which is called the Permanent Fund Dividend. The way it works is the state sends a check to every single Alaskan each year. Last year, it was $900, but in better years, it has been as high as $2000. For a family of four, that’s a $3,600 and $8,000 income boost respectively.

    The Alaska communist story gets more interesting than that though. The way Alaska builds the principal of the fund is in line with another of Myerson’s proposals: take back the land. You see, the oil wealth in Alaska happened to reside underneath public land. Instead of doing the red-blooded American thing and just giving all of that natural wealth that nobody creates away to oil companies, Alaska held on to its ownership and collects royalties from the oil. Those royalties are plowed into its SWF. So what you have in Alaska is a state that is leveraging publicly-owned natural resources to build a SWF that pays out a UBI. Or as conservatives on twitter call it: a communist hellscape.

    http://www.demos.org/blog/1/5/14/spectre-haunting-alaska%E2%80%94-spectre-communism

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