Open mike 25/07/2022
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7:14 am, July 25th, 2022 - 38 comments
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- Taiwan’s accession to Pacific trade pact would uphold economic order
The Indo-Pacific’s economic and security architecture is under strain. Strategic competition, supply chain fragility and the contesting of trade norms demand bold moves—greater efforts in strengthening diplomatic and economic ties and supporting the rules-based order. ...3 hours ago - Forging a stronger defence partnership in a time of strategic risk
Book clubs aren’t typically my thing. Like many tech CEOs, my calendar is a blur of calls across multiple time zones. But when David Tudehope from Macquarie Technology Group handed me a hardcopy of Freedom’s ...17 hours ago
- Hotel Rwanda: Paul Rusesabagina
Paul Rusesabagina was the manager of Hôtel des Mille Collines in Kigali when the Rwanda genocide began in April 1994. The movie Hotel Rwanda was inspired by his actions in preventing the massacre of over 1200 Hutu and Tutsi refugees hiding in the Hotel. He was awarded the Presidential Medal ...18 hours ago - More unnatural ACT policy
18 hours ago - The West should still look towards peeling Russia away from China
As tensions grow between China and the West, and Moscow drifts further into Beijing’s orbit, a strategic question is emerging. In 1971, the United States opened to Mao’s China to weaken the Soviet Union. Could ...19 hours ago
- Dismantling the state
The New Zealand state has traditionally taken an expansive role in our society, providing health, education, and welfare systems to enrich and enable all our people. But ACT's weirdo radicals want to change that, and are directing the weak National government into enacting their agenda of dismantling the state. There's ...19 hours ago - Chris Luxon’s Turbocharged Comms Disasters
Christopher Luxon’s neoliberal government is lurching from one communications disaster to another, making a complete mockery of their promise to govern with transparency and competence. The PM’s incessant bleating about “turbocharging the economy” is laughably detached from reality, while Ministers such as Brooke van Velden and Tama Potaka trip over ...21 hours ago - Mammoth Money Heist
Last year, Health Minister Shane Reti and Prime Minister Chris Luxon visited Auckland’s Ormiston private hospital to talk up privatisation.Everything was up for grabs, Luxon said - “schools, health, hospitals, roads, 3 Waters investment”1. The Prime Minister also inferred he was talking to finance related companies, echoing Former NZ Health ...22 hours ago - Tuesday 17 June
The Government is considering cutting sick leave entitlements for part-time workers. Brooke van Velden has introduced a new bill which legislate changes to personal grievances, the 30-day rule and the ability of workers to test their employment status in court. NZEI is considering legal action against the government’s decision to ...23 hours ago - Radical employment bill threatens every NZ worker
The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi is urging all political parties to vote against Brooke van Velden’s new Employment Relations Amendment Bill, as it will severely undermine workers’ rights. “This new Bill will legislate many of the attacks on workers’ rights signalled by Brooke van Velden, ...24 hours ago
- Update: On RNZ and Ruth Hill
Hi,Firstly, I just wanted to say thanks for all the outpouring of comments you left under yesterday’s story about Alex — and thanks to all of those who shared the article. It’s a huge help to my work when you share it. Again, here is the link to Alex’s story ...24 hours ago - Undersea mining push could echo in Antarctica
An executive order by the United States in April authorising expanded engagement in seabed mining reflects shifting approaches to the governance of critical mineral resources in areas beyond national jurisdiction. As legal frameworks evolve beneath ...24 hours ago
- Short and Silly
Morena, folks, I’m in a bit of a rush this morning with an appointment, so today it’s something short and silly.No, not your Miniature of Health, although Simeon certainly fits the description if that’s who came to mind. I’m talking about the grand Poobah, your Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon.Yes, our ...1 day ago - No guardrails: Australia’s messy rules for using the military on home soil
Australia needs clearer guidelines around domestic deployments. Australia’s constitution mirrors many key features of the United States, including a provision that allows federal troops to intervene domestically in states. But unlike the US, Australia has ...1 day ago
- Van Velden Continues Be A Cunt To Women Workers
Van Velden shows her inexperience — and the privilege of the MPs surrounding her — as she announces potential new sick leave for part time workers doing the types of jobs she wouldn’t deign to call “real work”. Her older, more established colleagues are equally sheltered, or equally uncaring. David ...1 day ago - 10 ways that Trump’s tax bill would undermine his energy promises
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections President Donald Trump has promised to reduce gas prices, improve energy security, create domestic manufacturing jobs, boost the economy, and ensure that Americans breathe the cleanest air. But by gutting the Inflation Reduction Act, or IRA, Congress’ big new budget bill would undermine all of these objectives – ...1 day ago - Israel is Lying About Iran’s Nuclear Weapons Capability
Israel’s unprovoked airstrikes on Iran, justified by baseless claims of Iran’s nuclear ambitions, expose a glaring double standard in global politics. While Israel, an undeclared nuclear power, operates beyond international scrutiny, Iran faces relentless pressure, even as a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), despite ...1 day ago
- The Israel-Iran war reveals the danger of a piecemeal approach to statecraft
Australia’s approach to the Israel-Iran war has so far been based on a flawed model of statecraft. It’s one that tends to balkanise problems into convenient buckets, to be tackled piecemeal, rather than recognising the ...2 days ago
- No aid without access: transforming Darwin into a regional humanitarian hub
As climate volatility increases and regional instability looms, Australia should consider developing Darwin into the Indo-Pacific’s leading humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) hub. This will require recognition of Darwin’s strategic value beyond defence, funding ...2 days ago
- Today in dysfunctional government
The big news this morning was that the Prime Minister thought the government he leads was going to steal your sick leave. But apparently even the ACT zealots could see that that would deeply unpopular, so they've "clarified" that the Prime Minister was wrong, and really they're just going to ...2 days ago
- Government turns its back on workers’ safety
The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi is dismayed by the Government’s decision to abstain from the new International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention on biological hazards that would strengthen worker protections. “This Convention provides a comprehensive framework for preventing and managing biological workplace health and safety issues,” ...2 days ago
- 90% of NZ Lawyers Linked to Panama Papers Still Practicing
Back in 2016, the Panama Papers ripped the veil off New Zealand’s squeaky-clean image, exposing our foreign trust regime as a playground for tax dodgers and money launderers. The leak of 11.5 million documents from Mossack Fonseca, a Panamanian law firm, revealed how Kiwi lawyers facilitated secretive trusts for the ...2 days ago
- 41 questions
I’m pretty tied up for the next couple of weeks so unless there are significant new developments (things like, for example, complying with the OIA) this will be my final post on events around the Orr resignation for the time being. We know from what the Reserve Bank did choose ...2 days ago - Thinking about Chinese Australians: how to mention the war
After the federal elections of 2022 and 2025, a certain supposed truth is taking root in Australian political discourse—namely, that discussion of potential conflict involving China is politically disadvantageous, because it is likely to have ...2 days ago
- Wish Giver
For paid subscribers - Van Velden steers WorkSafe toward a softer touch has an interesting revelation about Brooke Van Velden’s Worksafe reforms.Not only is the Minister transforming Worksafe from enforcement to a soft ‘advisor’ mandate, she “wants to see more prosecutions of workers” and “reduce the obligations on directors.”Think about ...2 days ago - Read About It
You've got the words to change a nationBut you're biting your tongueYou've spent a lifetime stuck in silenceAfraid you'll say something wrongIf no one ever hears it, how we gonna learn your song?Songwriters: Emily Sande / Benjamin Kohn / Iain James / Peter Kelleher / Stephen Manderson / Thomas Barnes.Morena, ...2 days ago - Mapping India-Pakistan military power
India strives to render Pakistan strategically irrelevant to better focus its attention on China. But neither Pakistan nor China has an interest in allowing that to happen. It’s an ongoing saga of which we saw ...2 days ago
- The Life and Death of Alex
Note: This story contains sensitive content, including discussion of eating disorders and disordered eating. Please read with caution.Hi,Last week, Radio New Zealand published a story about a 17-year old trans man who had tragically died, alone, in 2023.It was an extensive, detailed piece from journalist Ruth Hill — over 3500 ...2 days ago - Resources & Support For Trans Teens
Hi,In light of today’s piece about Alex, it’s important to share some places where support can be found.To prevent further loss of life, we need to help families support trans young people, ensure medical and social services are equipped to understand and respond to their needs, and resource community organisations ...2 days ago - Gordon Campbell On The West’s War Against Iran
Clearly, the world needs to stop talking about Israel’s right to defend itself, and start talking about the world’s need to defend itself against Israel. Gaza, Lebanon, Iran….these have become the stepping stones in Israel’s plan to expand its rule, unrivalled, over all the land between the river and the ...2 days ago - 2025 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #24
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The New Zealand Prime Minister, a Mr Christopher Luxon, pleads with the world to take him seriously. ...3 days ago - Why the Regulatory Standards Bill is dangerous to New Zealand’s democracy
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- No Kings
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..The latest two out of three polls for National are - to put it mildly - troubling.Fresh on the heels of Minister Nicola ‘NoBoats' Willis' austerity budget and the scrapping of thirtythree pay equity agreements to fund tax cuts for the already-rich, the public's appetite for this rightwing coalition government ...6 days ago - Trying to attract a stranded asset
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- Thursday 12 June
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Hi,I don’t think any Webworm readers will be surprised to know that I’m drawn to stories of narcissistic men getting away with terrible things for decades. Tickled was about a New Yorker pulling the strings from behind a computer. Mister Organ saw an over zealous parking attendant who liked to ...6 days ago - Adrian Orr Resigned Because of Nicola Willis’ Austerity
The abrupt resignation of Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr is a blaring siren that New Zealand’s economic foundations are being relentlessly jackhammered by Nicola Willis’ unyielding austerity obsession. Orr was effectively ousted after a fierce funding dispute with the Finance Minister, who appears determined to gut budgets left, right, and centre ...6 days ago
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- ECE funding review must centre tamariki
The Government’s review of Early Childhood Education funding, announced today, is a clear and appalling reflection of its priorities, with a ministerial group being directed to balance “quality and affordability for services”. ...20 hours ago - ERA changes hurt workers, pander to big business
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- Govt’s private hospital contracts little more than Band-Aid
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The Green Party is calling on the Prime Minister to stand up for workers’ rights for once and rule out reducing sick leave entitlements. ...2 days ago
- Out of Sight, Out of Mana- Rotorua Lakes Council’s Callous Attack on Homeless Whānau
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- Biodiversity credit won’t fix damage done by Luxon Govt
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- Government rightfully sued over illegal climate ‘plan’
Last week, world-leading climate scientists called out the Government’s approach to agricultural emissions. This week, climate lawyers have sued the Government because its Emissions Reductions Plans do not add up. ...1 week ago
- Te Pāti Māori Demands Safe Passage of Madleen to Gaza
Te Pāti Māori condemns the Israeli navy’s armed interception of the Madleen, a civilian aid vessel carrying food, medical supplies, and international activists to Gaza, including Greta Thunberg. Communications of the Madleen have been cut, and there is no knowing if the crew are safe and unharmed. This is the ...1 week ago
- Greens call for safe passage of Madleen and Government to sanction Israel
The Green Party is calling for the safe passage of the Madleen, a civilian aid vessel on course to Gaza, following the Freedom Flotilla being seized by the Israeli Military and urging the New Zealand Government to sanction Israel for its illegal occupation of Palestine. ...1 week ago
- Rich get much richer, driving inequality and poverty
The 2025 NBR Rich List makes immediately obvious the need for a fair tax system, says the Green Party. ...1 week ago
- Release: Manawatū Gorge replacement opens toll-free
Thanks to a successful community-led campaign backed by Labour, Lower North Island locals are today celebrating the toll-free opening of Te Ahu a Turanga – Manawatū Tararua Highway. ...1 week ago - Govt parent boost changes prioritise rich over poor
The Green Party is calling out the Government’s parent boost changes that benefit a wealthier minority while doing nothing to help reunite thousands of migrant families. ...1 week ago
- Release: Timid tariff response fails New Zealanders
The Government is failing New Zealanders by ‘being comfortable’ with a 10 percent tariff on all goods going into the US. ...2 weeks ago
- Green Party condemns decision to suspend Te Pāti Māori MPs
The Green Party condemns the unprecedented decision to suspend Te Pāti Māori co-leaders Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi for 21 days, and MP for Hauraki-Waikato Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke for 7 days. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Reserve Bank predicts more job losses
The Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Statement predicts a sluggish economy with higher inflation and more job losses. ...2 weeks ago
- Luxon must end climate denial speculation
The Greens welcome the open letter from world-leading climate scientists to the Prime Minister, urging his Government to abandon any plan to water down climate targets. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt’s budget balanced on the backs of low-income families
The Government is quietly leaving some of our poorest families hundreds of dollars worse off, ignoring warnings that changes to the accommodation supplement and public housing subsidies will disproportionately target disabled, older, Māori, Pasifika, and young people. ...3 weeks ago
- Democracy Denied: Te Pāti Māori Slam Govt for Silencing Māori and Tangata Tiriti on the Regulator...
Today, Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi slammed the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee’s refusal to extend the public submission period for the Regulatory Standards Bill, calling it a deliberate act to silence whānau, hapū, iwi, and community voices. Waititi had urged the Committee to extend the submission period by ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Mental health cuts lead to overwhelmed EDs
Workforce shortages that mental health Minister Matt Doocey tried to hide are now resulting in increasing pressure on our emergency departments as people needing help have nowhere else to go. ...3 weeks ago
- Te Pāti Māori Call on Te Whatu Ora to immediately Publish Gender Affirming Care Guidelines
Te Pāti Māori join health professionals, medical bodies, and community organisations across Aotearoa in calling on Te Whatu Ora to immediately release the updated Guidelines for Gender Affirming Healthcare. The guidelines were developed by medical professionals with expertise in this form of care and approved by Te Whatu Ora’s National ...3 weeks ago
- National direction changes mark dark day for people and planet
Today’s sweeping changes to environmental protections paint a damning picture of a government hellbent on profit at all costs, openly allowing more environmentally harmful activities under the guise of progress. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: National caves to ACT to ram through Regulatory Standards Bill
Once again National has caved to ACT by today agreeing to shorten the select committee process for the Regulatory Standards Bill. ...3 weeks ago
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Good Morning. It is a pleasure to be in Jakarta again today. Indonesia is an absolute priority for the New Zealand government, which is why we have now visited here four times since re-taking office as New Zealand Foreign Minister in late 2023. Indonesia is one of New Zealand’s oldest friends ...5 days ago - Foreign Minister visit strengthens ties with Indonesia
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ visit to Indonesia today has secured tangible progress in New Zealand’s relationship with Southeast Asia’s most populous nation. “Indonesia is an indispensable partner for New Zealand,” Mr Peters says. “Demonstrating our commitment to the relationship, this is our fourth visit to Indonesia in the past 18 ...5 days ago
- Joint Statement: By the Foreign Ministers of the Republic of Indonesia and New Zealand at the 12th J...
His Excellency Sugiono, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, and Rt Hon Winston Peters, Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand, convened the 12th meeting of the Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) on 13th June 2025 in Jakarta, Indonesia. The Ministers welcomed meeting in person, underscoring the importance ...5 days ago
- New modular units will expand bed capacity during hospital upgrades
At least four new rapidly deployable relocatable inpatient units will be rolled out across the country to ensure hospitals can continue delivering care to patients while major infrastructure projects are underway, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. “These new inpatient units – part of the Government’s $1 billion Budget 2025 investment ...5 days ago
- Skilled trades on fast track to residence
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"However, it is understood the former co-leader is trying to shore up his support, in part, by listening to the members who had voted against his leadership and reflecting on their concerns. Shaw was not available for comment on Sunday evening."
Listening and reflecting???
Rather than dismissing and denying?
He's the Green Gandhi!
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/129367816/pm-jacinda-ardern-throws-support-behind-james-shaw-as-he-mulls-green-coleader-race
Ya gotta wonder..in disbelief ! But agree re James Shaw !. And…Jacinda just reinforces my belief and estimation for her . A true Gem. : )
(oh re this Green “trouble” Within Labour…and on this very site..there are white-anters plotting. “Ardern Tanking” Ha . BS
Pretty sad that none of the current Green MPs have come out publicly for him.
Not much point being in politics if you can't figure out how to speak.
Marama has. Last I checked, she was an MP.
Wait to see how today goes. I'm sure they want to have a caucus meeting about it first. You know, party discipline and all that.
Missed that. Good to hear.
Shaw said they all met yesterday.
Shaw said on RNZ they had a caucus meeting yesterday. But anyway, the plotters of this high school common room coup got a cold dose of reality from the PM this morning. Jacinda gave a master class on RNZ in not interfering in Green party affairs whilst giving the anti-Shaw activists a giant two finger salute. No matter what happens, Shaw will retain his ministerial warrant until the next election.
Don’t see the connection between being a Minister and being a coleader.
Sure, you don't. Because you understand politics.
The general public don't. And that's what Jacinda cleared up for them.
What’s the connection? I can’t see a reason that the climate minister needs to be a coleader.
if you understand politics so well then just explain it.
I'm picking Ardern backing Shaw just makes the 25%ers think they are right in kneecapping Shaw
They would be foolish to get rid of James Shaw. He is the "sensible green one". Marama, Gloriz and Ricardo are hardly concerned with the environment and seem to only be concerned with increasing benefits. If James decides to stay on, I cant see Chloe challenging him for leadership (although one day she will be a co-leader I reckon). If James does decide to step down, surely Chloe would be a no brainer to take his place.
Marama not concerned about the environment, what a ridiculous thing to say. Do you understand that parties have spokespeople for different issues? They can't all be spokesperson for Climate Change.
The Green party is like two parties merged together and thus why they are referred to as watermelons by some. Green on the outside but red on the inside. Marama is clearly more of the red. She is clearly the more dominant co-leader too and rule changes regarding leadership clearly favour her.
People can hold environmental ideas at the same time as social ideas.
More to the point, how can you have one without the other. It's a deeply conflicted individual that thinks they can care for, and do the right thing for, the planet, and then turn around and fuck over their fellow inhabitants of that planet.
It is why I like the Green Party and switched my vote from Labour several elections ago.
It is much more difficult to care for the environment if you are struggling day to day to survive and feed your kids – lifting people out of poverty is better for all sorts of reasons but does include the ability to have some space to breathe and think about environmental issues.
Consumption obviously increases as you move out of poverty but it isn't a trade-off of one for the other.
Labour on the other hand seem wedded to neo-liberal growth and austerity for the poorest.
— Chico Mendes
don't know where you get your ideas about the GP, but it might help if you looked at their website, their history and the history of the Green movements. Social justice has always been part of that, do you know why?
Start here,
https://www.greens.org.nz/charter
If you believe that, I have a cycle bridge to sell you.
.
If only Woke Dogmatists within the Green Party would “listen and reflect” for the first time in their cosseted lives.
"If only…"
Well, they won't, will they, especially in response to witherings such as yours.
Perhaps you could take a different approach to achieve the change you hope for?
Prime Minister Orban of Hungary strongly yesterday discouraged 'race mixing'.
Viktor Orbán sparks outrage with attack on ‘race mixing’ in Europe | Hungary | The Guardian
With Hungary's population headed into accelerated decline, sure looks like they could do with some vigorous 'race mixing'.
Hungary Population 1950-2022 | MacroTrends
Get it on people.
Orban wants to be careful on this race mixing stuff, if the Hungarians had remained "pure" Magyars he'd look like a Mongolian herdsman.
No it is well known that the Hungarian intellectual elite were Martians.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Martians_(scientists)
Nicaragua's President Ortega: US/EU waging war to stop multipolar world
I guess the countries surrounding the US know this to be true better than most….
This palm oil issue has legs.
Indonesia is taking the EU to the World Trade Organisation court, as is Malaysia.
Both are chaired by Manzoor Ahmad, Pakistan's former permanent representative to the WTO. Members are Sarah Paterson, of New Zealand, and Arie Reich, of Israel.
What are EU′s options in palm oil row with Malaysia and Indonesia? | Asia | An in-depth look at news from across the continent | DW | 22.07.2022
Of course like New Zealand's coal imports, what the EU says it wants to do and what it actually does is completely different. EU need all the energy sources it can get its hands on, despite the obvious deforestation and carbon emissions.
Can Europe defeat a palm oil ′monster′ of its own making? | Human factor | DW | 22.08.2018
If the EU really does crash Palm Oil imports, will New Zealand's dairy industry still be able to import the waste kernels for dairy feed?
Maybe the farmers need to find that seaweed substitute a whole bunch faster.
Or farmers could just go back to farming 2-4 cows to the hectare and growing there own inputs
this
If NZ is still importing palm kernel to feed the diary cows – know that the palm kernel they are buying was always placed back on the ground under the palm trees to rot down and feed the next crops. I saw that first hand and am dismayed palm kernel was ever allowed to be imported into NZ to unsustainably boost the NZs dairy cows diet.
I have lodged questions about PKE and the threat it represents, to Environment Southland and The Southland Times. I will report back when those questions are aired, and, I hope, answered.
For those who are keeping track of the influence of Stonewall's Diversity Champion's programme in the UK, TENI in Ireland, ACON in Australia and ARC in Canada, I think this may be the NZ equivalent – including Ministries as clients and members.
Diversity Works NZ
Reading some of previous award blurbs, group think starts at recruitment, and is honed by bias training.
The diversity industry is booming.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/with-global-spending-projected-to-reach-15-4-billion-by-2026–diversity-equity–inclusion-takes-the-lead-role-in-the-creation-of-stronger-businesses-301413808.html
How successful is this spending is a relevant question.
https://time.com/5696943/diversity-business/
It's a bit more practical than that. The existence of the programmes at least in New Zealand is simply a criteria for doing business.
It's very hard to win any decent public sector contract without it.
And it's much harder to retain younger staff without it.
"it is very hard to win any public sector contract without it"………shows how these programmes have infiltrated our supposedly neutral public service.
Young workers I think you mean the ones who have come out of the universities with Arts degrees, but correct me if I am wrong.
Procurement is a perfectly acceptable place for policy implementation. The neutrality is in the evaluation of all bids.
Arts, Marketing, Engineering, Accounting … it's simply an expectation. And nothing wrong with arts degrees by the way.
Thanks Molly. That helps to explain why people are so invested in diverstity and inclusion training. Its an industry. And I read recently a great article about corporates and the Rainbow tick which stated words to the effect, that the corporates don't care about that community. It is corporate virtue signalling.
The link below is a fascinating take on this by a Swedish Trotkyite. The title is the give away. Among other things he is saying there are not enough jobs for all the arts graduates so these diversity and inclusion jobs are job creation for middle class graduates. Workers pay their taxes to fund this stuff.
https://rdln.wordpress.com/2022/07/21/understanding-wokeness-as-a-make-work-strategy-for-the-privileged-class/
That author sounds so old they have more in common with Orban and Trump than having any modern understanding of people under 40. People are just more complex now, more sensitive. It's neither good nor bad; it's just what it is.
Imho "diversity and inclusion training" can be beneficial, but it’s not for eveyone
Disclaimer: I derive no pecuniary benefits from that industry/service.
I think he has some interesting things to say. That doesn’t necessarily mean I am going to March for him.
“The neutrality is in the evaluation of all bids”…..as long as all bidders can tick the inclusion and diversity training. It sounds great doesn’t it. Who wouldn’t agree with inclusion and diversity. Problem is that it’s tick box diversity. Not diversity of thought. A public servant challenged the trainers in I and D regarding whether her sister who is a lesbian should to sleep with male bodied people and got pinged for it. This included the DCE meeting with her to tell her the trainers were very upset that she had used the term male bodied people and it wasn’t acceptable. So basically the I and D training is about right think.
btw I have an arts degree. It was ticket into more vocational training. So was helpful to me