Open Mike 29/04/2018

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, April 29th, 2018 - 158 comments
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158 comments on “Open Mike 29/04/2018 ”

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  1. Jenny 1
    29 April 2018 at 7:01 am

    The Zionists are not the only ones who kill Palestinians and get away with it with seeming impunity.

    From the very beginning of the Arab Spring in Syria, Syrian Palestinian refugees in Syria because they stood with the Syrian against Assad, have been a particular target of the regime.

    The tactic of aerial bombardment directed against the Syrian people in Homs, in Aleppo, in Douma, and first suffered by the Palestinian refugees in Latakia in march 2011, (where I stayed in 2010 and knew intimately) is now being directed against the Palestinian refugees in Yarmouk.

    The Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp in South Damascus which has been under a long term starvation siege by the Assad government.

    Is now under regime and Russian bombardment.

    Syria: Civilians in Yarmouk Camp need immediate help
    09 APRIL 2015

    The ICRC is calling on all involved in fighting to allow the immediate and unimpeded passage of urgent humanitarian aid and to permit civilians who wish to leave the camp for safer areas to do so at any time.

    “With the recent upsurge in fighting in and around Yarmouk the situation for civilians has deteriorated once again,” said Marianne Gasser, the head of the ICRC in Syria. “People were already worn down by months of conflict and constant shortages of food, water and medicine and they need urgent help.”

    Some families have managed to escape Yarmouk for the nearby district of Yelda. Since 3 April, the ICRC and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) have delivered 9,500 food parcels to families in Yelda, some of which had fled the camp…….

    …….The ICRC has not been able to enter Yarmouk Camp since October 2014, when it delivered medical and water purification supplies in collaboration with the SARC and the Palestine Red Crescent Society.

    UNRWA: “Yarmouk camp and its residents suffered from indescribable pain”
    Published : 27 April 2018

    UNRWA expressed in a statement it issued yesterday, its deep concern about the escalation of fighting and the fate of thousands of Palestinian refugees in Yarmouk camp and the surrounding areas.

    UNRWA Commissioner-General, Pierre Krähenbühl, said in his statement, a copy of which was received by the Action Group, that “Yarmouk and its people are in indescribable pain and living in suffering which has lasted over the years of conflict. We are extremely concerned with the fate of the civilians, including the Palestinian refugees, after over a week of dramatically escalating violence.”

    UNRWA also warned of the catastrophic consequences of the serious escalation in the fighting, which is affecting Yarmouk camp for Palestinian refugees in Damascus and its surrounding areas.

    • reason 1.1
      29 April 2018 at 8:05 am

      Syria is a country of approximatly 23 million people … Before thje start of the government overthrow attempts by western / and Israeli backed violent Sunni extremists.

      There were approximatly`500,000 palestinian refugees in Syria …. and 1.2 million Iraq refugees

      If New Zealand were to take comparable numbers in a ratio sense ,,,, we would need to take in 342 857 refugees,.. aproximatly

      342 857 would put quite a strain on New Zealand …. But Syria has the extra burden of usa / nato Sanctions …. described as sanctions of mass destruction … as similar ones killed half a million children in IRAQ … more than all the ‘weapons of mass destruction’ ever used … like nuclear bombs etc

      Starvation in Syria …. just like the 400 000 or more dead Syrians killed in our western backed Islamic uprising … lies firmly at the feet of NATO …and their ‘coalition of the killing’

      Sanctions are also good for the most cynical of propaganda ,,,,,, blame the victim 11 mins https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfXddo5JH_s

      Britain and the USa are making money out of their participation in the starvation and genocide they are waging on Yemen … they make Assad look like a schoolboy.

      • Wayne 1.1.1
        29 April 2018 at 8:13 am

        That poor innocent Assad really did nothing. His shooting of thousands of demonstrators at the beginning of the Arab spring is just a figment of the imagination.

        • reason 1.1.1.1
          29 April 2018 at 9:17 am

          Wayne …..A person who under the Geneva convention definition of war crimes passed after the Nazis were defeated …. Is a war criminal in my eyes.

          And thats before his participation in the killing of three year old girls and other children.

          And his ‘not knowing’ …. about the torture NZ participated in …

          Watch this video and make your own minds up about Wayne …. is he a war criminal / committed crimes against peace
          16 minutes 30 seconds https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiFgrXnSH4g

          I give him the trifecta …

          A racist ..,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.. “speak English or die”) with Wayne Mapp criticisng Statistics New Zealand’s decision to offer a joint English / Maori census form in some areas as politically correct bilingualism. According to Mapp,

          Warmongering … ” In the case of Iraq the case is clear. Iraq has been in continual defiance of UN resolutions. They possess weapons of mass destruction.” … mapp

          Criminal ..,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, “After the war, he claimed that our refusal to participate would ruin relations with Australia and the US, and that our refusal to participate in an illegal war of aggression would cost us a free trade agreement with the USA (guess they were wrong on that too). He even went so far as to demand that the government make a crawling apology to Australia and the US for being right about the war. ”

          Waynes remarks about Assad…. should take into account his record of calling dead children ‘ Taliban fighters’,… and his bullshit “Iraq has weapons of mass destruction”,

          The man loves war …. and couldn;t give a stuff about the arab or middle eastern victims ….

          as his history shows

          • One Two 1.1.1.1.1
            29 April 2018 at 10:05 am

            What drives Wayne to continue such a lame charade in the face of a well documented history of his own quotes and actions…

            Not even the humility or self awareness to slink off into obscurity…

          • James 1.1.1.1.2
            29 April 2018 at 11:17 am

            Couldn’t just address the point he made huh?

          • Wayne 1.1.1.1.3
            29 April 2018 at 3:39 pm

            You have seriously defamed New Zealand soldiers (and myself) by accusing them of being war criminals.

            As you know there is an Inquiry into this whole situation, which Inquiry I have encouraged.

            I suggest that you leave this matter to the Inquiry rather than making highly defamatory remarks in a situation where many people involved cannot effectively reply.

            • Wayne 1.1.1.1.3.1
              29 April 2018 at 5:11 pm

              My last comment (1.1.1.1.3) is specifically directed to reason, and to a lesser extent One Two.

              • One Two …
                29 April 2018 at 6:29 pm

                I’ll try to simplify this down even more for you, Wayne…(I’m speaking only my own views)…

                * You have a public profile consisting of words and actions which are documented as a matter of record…

                * Your comments on this site are a continuation of your documented public record…

                * Your ideological bent which is referenced through your documented public record is also played out through your handle on an incompatible left leaning blog site…

                * You ignore the legitimate comments reason has made about your documented public record…

                * You’re attempting to play the victim…

                What compels you to perform this charade is debateable…that you are seemingly oblivious to the damage your documented public service has done and continues to do lacks later stage life contrition or evidence of reticence…

                You frequent this site looking for something….trying unsuccessfully to relieve yourself of [something]…or possibly to find [something]…

                What you’re looking for can be found in any mirror…in private…

            • reason 1.1.1.1.3.2
              30 April 2018 at 7:56 am

              I put up a post with information about the 1.7 million refugees which were in Syria … Just before their country became the target of western backed Islamic extremists….

              If we took that same ratio of refugees into New Zealand … to proportionally match the 1.7 million Syria took in ….. we would have to let in 342,857 people …. aprox

              To put the scale of that number of refugees another way …. At our present annual quota and intake of refugees … Its over 450 years worth https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/on-the-inside/322576/nz%27s-refugee-numbers-an-awkward-topic-in-europe

              I also mentioned sanctions …. and how these quiet killers have been labeled as “sanctions of mass destruction” …. with up to 500 000 thousand Iraqi children made to suffer, starve and die through them … with Syrian people now suffering from this usa favored weapon of siege

              Wayne Mapp ignores the content of my post ….this long trail of mass suffering and killing of children … Seemingly oblivious to the concentration camp scale of victims …

              Not caring to comment on the over half a million needless deaths / murders of children …He instead parks a dump of steaming Assad is Hitler dribble.,,,

              Far more credible people and sources than him provide information,,, that leave Waynes outburst as honest looking …as his claiming 3 year old girls are “Taliban fighters”. James can read it too. https://gowans.wordpress.com/2016/10/22/the-revolutionary-distemper-in-syria-that-wasnt/

              Regardless … The main thing Waynes post showed me …… is how he ignored all the real suffering and death of children to dish up his stale old war propaganda.

              Waynes just demonstrated very clearly the level of his regret … regarding Fatima, his mystery dead three year old Afghanistan girl … the mystery being how she was misrepresented as a Taliban fighter

              I’m not sure what he thought he wrote …but what he showed was a complete lack of consideration or care … for all the other children or civilians killed, maimed or bereaved …. and His non existent concern for future victims…. From all the Waynes and Johns and donalds of this world.

              In my opinion …Wayne does not give a shit about foreign people, poor people .. or brown kids … he cares more for his reputation.

              *********

              I’m specifically calling you a war criminal … or wannabe war criminal Wayne … ” War of Aggression” is mentioned in the Geneva convention as the ultimate crime …. trade deals, consummated or not, … do not get you an exemption. Wayne

              I have a relative who is SAS … years and years ago at a funeral I asked him about Afghanistan … Summarizing his answer … ‘ it was a load of shit with poorly defined non achievable objectives ‘ … People like you are the threat to our military ,,, in both reputation and conduct, Wayne.

              Has any other poster or Author here at The Standard …. ever played a part in the killing or cover-up of a three year old child?.

              What reputation do those who have been involved in something as absolutely wrong as that deserve?

              Over this subject ..Wayne is like the stupid teenager driving at 140 kms around suburban streets ,,,, and running over a kid .

              Saying or feeling sorry does not help the parents much …. what the hell did the teenager / wayne think was going to be the end result of selfish stupid reckless behavior

              There are other aspects of Waynes dishonesty which I will raise later ….

        • Morrissey 1.1.1.2
          29 April 2018 at 9:31 am

          Are you pretending to support human rights, Wayne? You seem to have changed since your time in government.

          https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/90748732/former-defence-minister-wayne-mapp-says-civilian-deaths-in-afghanistan-were-an-accident

        • One Two 1.1.1.3
          29 April 2018 at 9:43 am

          https://www.globalresearch.ca/anti-syrian-propaganda-based-on-false-images-of-torture-danish-state-tv/5637801

          Why the need for misdirection (lies) in 2011….

          Wayne, your comments are pathetic…there is no other word for it…

          You’re an apologist at best, and accomplice at worst…to rogue states who commit war crimes…

          That’s what YOUR comments here suggest…

          • Tuppence Shrewsbury 1.1.1.4.1
            29 April 2018 at 1:04 pm

            I wish you’d stop promoting a disgusting rape denier around here. George Galloway is not someone whose arguments I care to listen too given his mansplaining downgrading of rape because it happened after consensual sex.

        • mikesh 1.1.1.5
          29 April 2018 at 10:25 am

          I’m reminded of the words of W.S.Gilbert:

          But many a king on a first class throne
          If he wants to call his crown his own
          must manage somehow
          to get through
          more dirty work than e’re I do

          from “I am a pirate king”
          in The Pirates of Penzance

        • Foreign waka 1.1.1.6
          29 April 2018 at 11:11 am

          Wayne, Assad is just a pawn. The issue is the gas pipeline that runs through Syria. The Arabs need to have this halted if the oil price is to clime – it is their only income and any additional fuel supply via Russia would be highly detrimental to the power they yield. Coupled with their religious fundamentalist nature, all bets are off. And the west supports this as it is in their interest to have the energy cake split by as fewer players as possible.
          In the end, nothing really has and ever will change – its about power and money. It does not matter in that “game” who gets killed, maimed and left behind starving an dying. Humans are just primitive creatures who have been handed the means of destroying the planet many times over. The yard bullies are in charge right now and reason has left the building.

        • Ed 1.1.1.7
          29 April 2018 at 12:05 pm

          Frank Macskasy presents a superb timeline to expose the ” mendacities of the mainstream media” in Syria.

          In his usual manner he thoroughly destroys the lies of the corporate press.

          Any yet you Wayne and Jenny believe these lies.

          https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2018/04/29/syria-the-mendacities-of-the-mainstream-media-part-rua/

    • Draco T Bastard 1.2
      29 April 2018 at 12:13 pm

      From the very beginning of the Arab Spring in Syria, Syrian Palestinian refugees in Syria because they stood with the Syrian against Assad, have been a particular target of the regime.

      So, as guests in the country they tried to overthrow the government and are now complaining that there’s consequences to that?

      The Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp in South Damascus which has been under a long term starvation siege by the Assad government.

      You do understand that there’s a war on right? And that in wars there happens to be shortages?

      And that this war was seemingly encouraged by the US?

      Assad is no saint but I think you’ll find that the Syrians and refugees would be a hell of a lot better off if the US hadn’t started a civil war there.

  2. reason 2
    29 April 2018 at 7:19 am

    Libya Until recently was a modern evolving society …with the highest standard of living on its continent … and it attained this after spending most of last centuary being one of the poorest countries in the world

    Gaddafi in a bloodless coup,,, ousted a corrupt monarchy and BP oil ….taking over a country Beset by poverty, slums, cholera, malnutrition and other third world ills and hardships for his people .

    Using Libyian resources for the benefit of Libyans in a form of socialism … The largest improvements in quality of life ,,,, were achieved in the shortest period of time … than any other example / country in the world that I can find.

    Achievements such as …. went from one of the poorest nations in its continent into the richest nation….it also gained the highest Human Development Index, the lowest infant mortality and the highest life expectancy.

    “Health care is [was] available to all citizens free of charge by the public sector.

    infant mortality rates had decreased from 105 per 1000 live births in 1970 to an Infant mortality rate 14.0

    Confirmed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), undernourishment was less than 5 %,

    Took literacy from 25% up to 87% under with 25% earning university degrees.

    University education was free.

    Gross primary school enrollment ratio was 97% for boys and 97% for girls (2009) .
    (see UNESCO tables

    The pupil teacher ratio in primary schools was of the order of 17 (1983 UNESCO data)

    Went from a country beset with cholera and unsafe water problems …. to a very low percentage of people without access to safe water (3 percent), health services (0 percent) and sanitation (2 percent) … and was investing in the largest
    irrigation project in the world

    With regard to Women’s Rights,………… World Bank data point to significant achievements, “In a relative short period of time … passed in 1970 was an equal pay for equal work law…

    In secondary and tertiary education, girls outnumbered boys by 10%.” (World Bank Country ….. child marriages were banned and the minimum legal age to marry placed at 18. ……Since 1973, Libyan women have had equal rights in obtaining a divorce. There were also gender-friendly women’s laws passed on marriage and divorce.

    Such freedoms for women were hated by ‘rebels’ …. aka british sponsored Islamist extremists such as the Manchester based Libyan Islamic Fighting Group….

    “TWENTY-TWO innocent lives were lost on May 22, 2017, when a suicide bomber detonated his device at the Manchester Arena after an Ariana Grande concert.

    Family and friends of victims as young as eight paid heartbreaking tributes to their loved ones in the wake of the attack which left the nation shocked and in mourning. ” https://medium.com/insurge-intelligence/the-manchester-bombing-as-blowback-the-latest-evidence-83ec2127801d

    “The Manchester Bombing: Blowback from British state collusion with jihadists abroad Three quarters of all foreign fighters in Libya came from Manchester. Now that one of their number has returned to bomb the same city, apparently under the influence of ISIL, remarkably few are questioning the British foreign policy decisions David Cameron took while in power.”

    What happened to Libya was the destruction of it as a modern state .,… It is now a blood soaked lawless failed state … a Islamic extremist bolt hole …. with women living in fear…. and Libyans of black African decent being ethnically cleansed … or sold into slavery.

    Refugees are further abused …”Nearly half the women and children interviewed had experienced sexual abuse during migration,” the report says.” “Often multiple times and in multiple locations.” …..”Libya, as the funnel through which so many journeys pass, has earned itself a shocking reputation as the epicentre of abuse” …

    “None of this would be possible if not for … the involvement of a NATO coalition that included the United States.” As in Iraq and Afghanistan, the lesson of Libya is that regime change through military intervention can have catastrophic consequences. That lesson should be taken far more seriously.

    “The evidence suggests that British actions in three different theatres — Libya, Iraq and Syria — cannot be viewed in isolation:

    In Libya, US and UK led intervention destroyed the functioning state and created a vacuum allowing hardline Islamist fighters to consolidate their foothold in the country. This paved the way for the empowerment of ISIS. The direct line between Libyan and Syrian Islamist rebels fuelled jihadism in both countries.

    In Iraq, US and UK led intervention also destroyed the existing state infrastructure and fuelled an Islamist insurgency which incubated al-Qaeda in Iraq and culminated in the emergence of ISIS.

    In Syria, US and UK covert action, again in partnership with Gulf states such as Qatar, and Turkey, has had the effect of augmenting the role of al-Qaeda in the rebel movement.

    This combination of Anglo-American policies across the region has contributed to further instability and the rise of violent jihadism. In fact, an even stronger conclusion may be warranted based on the evidence of the extent of UK covert and overt action in the region in alliance with states consistently supplying arms to terrorist groups: that agencies of the British government itself have, in some senses, become part of the broader ‘terrorist network’ with which the British public is now confronted.”

    What happened in Libya and Iraq was despicable butchery accomplished with murderous dishonesty ..

    Libya 23 minutes///
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfXddo5JH_s

    the same tactics, the same Islamist extremism … Almost achieved the same result in Syria …. Until Russia reversed the Sunni extremists expansion … protecting normal Syrians from ethnic cleansing in NATOs latest disaster / NATOs newest Islamic State.
    https://www.bitchute.com/video/hUaWa8L9YPXL/

    • Draco T Bastard 2.1
      29 April 2018 at 12:34 pm

      In Libya, US and UK led intervention destroyed the functioning state…

      That seems to have been the goal.

      It’s easier to steal a countries wealth when there’s not a strong state government to stop it.

  3. Tamati Tautuhi 3
    29 April 2018 at 7:51 am

    Would be interesting to see the statistics on Libya and Iraq pre USA Invasion and post USA Invasion ?

    • Zorb6 3.1
      29 April 2018 at 8:08 am

      You have to appreciate that madmen like Saddam and Gaddaffi had to be removed,because they were jealous of the freedom and democracy of the west.
      Now they are free and democratic.

      • Ed 3.1.1
        29 April 2018 at 8:52 am

        Libya is neither free nor democratic today.
        It is also no longer a state.
        It is a group of fiefdoms run by jihadi headchopping warlords.

        But I sense you knew that.

      • Ed 3.1.2
        29 April 2018 at 8:53 am

        Does the leader of Saudi Arabia ‘need to be removed ‘?

      • Andrea 3.1.3
        29 April 2018 at 6:27 pm

        Zorb6: You’re having a laugh, right? “had to be removed,because they were jealous of the freedom and democracy”

        If it wasn’t sarcasm… ?

        The great USof A where voters are routinely kicked off the electoral roll.
        The lesser Great Britain where legitimate Windrush imigrants are being bullrushed from YarlsWood on chartered planes and even their own diplomats have trouble bringing in their own child born overseas.

        Democracy? Nothing but a stamp on the loo paper.

        • In Vino 3.1.3.1
          29 April 2018 at 8:27 pm

          Like Draco above, I think it was obvious sarcasm. I sniggered!
          But there you are.

  4. AsleepWhileWalking 4
    29 April 2018 at 8:31 am

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/356187/the-working-poor-driving-up-demand-for-food-parcels-sallies

    The majority of people asking for food parcels have never had to ask for help before, the Salvation Army says.

    Community Ministries spokesperson Lindsay Andrews said the high cost of everyday living was creating a “working poor”.

    “We’re seeing across the country 336 new families presenting each week so that equates to 60 percent of the families requesting help and given that a number of these are not on benefits, that’s quite concerning.”

    One word: housing

    • Ed 4.1
      29 April 2018 at 8:47 am

      Another word – Neoliberalism

      • Tamati Tautuhi 4.1.1
        29 April 2018 at 10:44 am

        Neoliberalism is another word for feudalism ask Roger Douglas or Ruth Richardson, they were key proponents of this ideology ?

        Refer to the Monte Perelin Society and the Bilderberg Group ?

        • Grant 4.1.1.1
          29 April 2018 at 1:03 pm

          *Mont Pelerin

        • greywarshark 4.1.1.2
          29 April 2018 at 2:55 pm

          I don’t think it’s right that neoliberalism is same as feudalism.
          The people expected to be heard when they went to the leaders in feudalism. While Europe etc. worked out how to run their societies and who was going to be in control there were big wars. Here is an interesting quote about it. I don’t know if you think that this is akin to neoliberalism:

          The 17th century saw very little peace in Europe – major wars were fought in 95 years (every year except 1610, 1669 to 1671, and 1680 to 1682.)[10] The wars were unusually ugly. Europe in the late 17th century, 1648 to 1700, was an age of great intellectual, scientific, artistic and cultural achievement. Historian Frederick Nussbaum says it was:

          prolific in genius, in common sense, and in organizing ability. It could properly have been expected that intelligence, comprehension and high purpose would be applied to the control of human relations in general and to the relations between states and peoples in particular. The fact was almost completely opposite.

          It was a period of marked unintelligence, immorality and frivolity in the conduct of international relations, marked by wars undertaken for dimly conceived purposes, waged with the utmost brutality and conducted by reckless betrayals of allies.[11]

          The worst came during the Thirty Years’ War, 1618-1648, which had an extremely negative impact on the civilian population of Germany and surrounding areas, with massive loss of life and disruption of the economy and society.

          Gosh there is so much to learn about the past while we watch with dismay, society’s wheels drop off today.

          Here is some more interesting perhaps pertinent stuff:

          Brief listing of major trade periods
          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_history_of_the_world#Middle_Ages

          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_international_trade#Middle_Ages

    • savenz 4.2
      29 April 2018 at 11:31 am

      It’s not just housing, it’s neoliberalism. The private sector has failed and so have the PPP and COO schemes. You should not try to profit from the basics, housing, electricity, food, water, transport.

      It takes $34 on cash fare for a family of 4 to go 2 states return in Auckland. Or you pay an extra $40 for 4 HOP cards to get it down.

      People have no electricity for days because of underinvestment and the reliance of making a ‘pay as you go’ infrastructure around Auckland which can mean anyone building a house pays around $25k for all the transformers, cables, meters, private pillars and then somehow doesn’t own it, but ‘rents’ if off Vector. Likewise with Vector and the trees somehow it’s more efficient to have 1 million people without cherry pickers and electricity qualifications to be liable to maintain the trees around electricity lines… also easier to make tradies do years of expensive study and then find out that they have no experience and it’s cheaper to get in someone from overseas for cash and then if it all goes wrong, the councils can pick up the tab for remedial work.

      People are at the Salvation Army because even if you work full time, wages are so out of whack with the cost of living that it becomes difficult to survive and you need to constantly go around looking for subsidies whether it be WFF, accomodation, community services card, not paying donations at schools, food parcels, emergency grants and so forth. All that takes up a lot of time and pretty hit and miss. I’d like to see that someone employed is able to support a family on one income… like in the old days… now some people can’t support a family on 2 incomes.

      Wages need a serious rethink…. with the new minimum wage increases you get $660 less taxes… that is no longer enough to live on with everybody from private companies to COO’s to councils to government wanting more money.

      The high paid jobs are not there, and our best and brightest have to leave NZ or work at a fraction of what they should be on, to stay in NZ. Meanwhile the system does everything possible to bring down most people’s wages in real terms.

      Universities closing libraries, hospitals outsourcing hospital meals, the list goes on… we are losing jobs or making people get less in the same job, while somehow the prices for all the services keep going up to pay for all the middle men often with top heavy corporations like Serco, keeping this rout going.

      And with the houses, resources are concentrated on luxury hotels, private retirement villages, luxury apartments, renovating houses into luxury houses. Those focusing on the bottom end like in Tauranga, well they were condemned before even being lived in… and time to start again.

      With the amount of low waged or asset rich but cash poor coming into NZ who are also qualifying for subsidies and competing with the existing poor, it’s hard to make it all work.

      Something is wrong.

  5. Cinny 5
    29 April 2018 at 8:38 am

    Reports are coming out of Gaza that the people have lost their fear, the situation is that bad, they have nothing left, they’ve had enough.

    A reporter who has been covering the situation in Gaza for years says she has never seen the people so desperate.

    “Their situation is so miserable in Gaza. I’ve been reporting from the Gaza Strip for years and it’s never been this bad.”

    Five Fridays of protests… and the death toll is at least 45 Palestinian demonstrators, with more than 6,000 wounded, including medical professionals and journalists since the mass movement began on March 30. There have been no Israeli casualties.

    Israeli officials have accused Gaza’s rulers Hamas of instigating the protests, but not a single rocket has been fired from the Gaza Strip since the demonstrations began.

    UN are condemning Israel for their actions, but from what I can see no one is taking any action, how long will this go on for?
    It’s always talk, talk, then nothing, nada. I see it as systematic genocide.

    https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/04/israeli-forces-kill-palestinians-wound-955-gaza-protest-180427170725104.html

    • Ed 5.1
      29 April 2018 at 12:23 pm

      Roger Waters is excellent in this interview on the situation.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7jcvfbLoIA

      • Cinny 5.1.1
        29 April 2018 at 2:45 pm

        Thanks for the link Ed, I thoroughly enjoyed that interview, insightful and honest.

    • Draco T Bastard 5.2
      29 April 2018 at 12:40 pm

      UN are condemning Israel for their actions, but from what I can see no one is taking any action, how long will this go on for?

      It’s already been going on for seven decades – with help from the West. I don’t see that changing any time soon.

      • Cinny 5.2.1
        29 April 2018 at 2:46 pm

        Ikr, but now it really seems to be at breaking point.

        Somethings going to give very soon.

        • Draco T Bastard 5.2.1.1
          29 April 2018 at 5:35 pm

          It wouldn’t surprise me. People that are invaded and oppressed as Palestine has been usually bite back eventually.

        • McFlock 5.2.1.2
          29 April 2018 at 6:04 pm

          Trouble is that the only “give” at this stage will be a forced relocation into Egypt of roughly two million people.

          I strongly suspect that this is BB’s objective.

  6. Jenny 6
    29 April 2018 at 9:04 am

    What about Libya?

    What about Iraq?

    Does what happened in Libya and Iraq, justify the genocide committed by Assad regime against the Syrian people, and the Palestinian refugees in Latakia and Yarmouk?

    Isn’t this the same Whataboutery argument that is used by the Zionists to justify their butchery of the Palestinians in Gaza?

    These are actually attempts to change the conversation to an unrelated topic; we can call it “whataboutery”. “What about Syria?” the Zionists ask. What about China? What about women? And so on.

    These crude distractions have become even harder to sell over the past year, with Israel’s open embrace of US President Donald Trump and his cohort of white supremacists, hard-right Zionists and even Nazi-aligned figures like former advisor Sebastian Gorka.

    What happened in Libya and Iraq was despicable butchery accomplished with murderous dishonesty ..

    Libya 23 minutes///
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfXddo5JH_s

    the same tactics, the same Islamist extremism … Almost achieved the same result in Syria …. Until Russia reversed the Sunni extremists expansion … protecting normal Syrians from ethnic cleansing in NATOs latest disaster / NATOs newest Islamic State.
    https://www.bitchute.com/video/hUaWa8L9YPXL/

    reason

    “Palestinians and the Syrian War: Between Neutrality and Dissent”
    January 29, 2017

    by Samar Batrawi

    When the uprisings in Syria unravelled in 2011, most Palestinians wanted to remain neutral, haunted by the memory of what happened to Palestinians in Jordan in the 1970s, Lebanon in the 1980s, Kuwait in 1991, and Iraq in the early 2000s. Joining any opposition to the Syrian regime came with high risks, even within the framework of the popular movement, with which many young Palestinians identified. This identification is unsurprising: The integration of Palestinians into Syrian society meant that they, too, were subject to the social control enforced by the Assad regime throughout the country. Arresting and torturing dissidents was a common practice long before the spirit of the Arab uprisings reached the Syrian streets in 2011. Therefore, while Bashar al-Assad’s anti-Western and anti-Zionist rhetoric made him seem a trustworthy ally to Palestinians, in practice the lives of Syrian Palestinians were no better nor worse than his other subjects.

    U.N. Denies That Syria Image Was Faked

    • One Two 6.2
      29 April 2018 at 9:58 am

      Does what happened in Libya and Iraq get ignored so US/UK/ISRAEL/FRANCE/SAUDI can destroy and occupy another sovereign nation..

      Jenny, your comments are filled with ill thought hypocrisy and a lack of love and empathy for those who are dying…those on the ‘other side’ of the discussion…those who you repeatedly ignore while you push your one wheeled cart around this site..

      Taking a side is endorse death, injury and misery…that is what you are doing..
      Perhaps unwittingly…perhaps not…

      SHAME!

      • Jenny 6.2.1
        29 April 2018 at 10:29 am

        One Two, or maybe some of you other supporters and apologists for Syrian fascism and genocide, might like to explain away Saydnaya.

        Just outside of Damascus.

        Everyone knows where it is.

        Why have none of your embedded regime stooges and self promoting little Lord Haw haws, asked for a guided tour?

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hif5UiHzZhw

      • Stuart Munro 6.2.2
        29 April 2018 at 10:32 am

        I notice you constantly take the side of Assad. I tend to have more sympathy for those he bombs, gases, or drives out.

        • Ed 6.2.2.1
          29 April 2018 at 12:16 pm

          I notice you constantly take the side of the head chopping Jihadis. I tend to have more sympathy for those they bomb, gases, or drives out.

          Many critics of the bombing of Syria by the US, the UK and France are not taking sides.
          They just don’t want World War 3.

          • Stuart Munro 6.2.2.1.1
            29 April 2018 at 5:59 pm

            Actually, most of Assad’s victims are not “headchopping jihadis” – but you are so biased you lump the innocents in with them. This is why we will find no common ground.

            • Ed 6.2.2.1.1.1
              29 April 2018 at 9:42 pm

              No I have little time for cheerleaders for ISIS, al Nusra and the rest of ‘the alphabet soup’ of Jihadi headchoppers.

              • Stuart Munro …
                30 April 2018 at 1:45 am

                And no time whatsoever for the millions of refugees created by Assad’s regime. But lots of time for the saccharine propagandists of RT and their dubious mouthpieces.

                • Ed …
                  30 April 2018 at 6:21 am

                  If the Guardian and the BBC tells you something enough times, do you believe it?

                  “War is peace.
                  Freedom is slavery.
                  Ignorance is strength.”

                  We live in 1984.

        • One Two 6.2.2.2
          29 April 2018 at 3:09 pm

          There is some very dim bulbs who comment here, Stuart…

          I’ve told you multiple times that a primary difference between myself and the likes of you and Jenny….is that I do not take sides…the two of you are openly and unashamedly bias…

          The two of you can’t wrap your narrow bandwidth around such a concept….so you continue with the line that is the opposite of what I state in comments…

          See if you can widen your narrow bandwidth just enough to let that get into your head…

          I’ll help you out…again…

          Posting a link does NOT alter the fact that I do not, and will not take a side…

          I do have disdain for those such as yourself and jenny who seek to offer validation of illegal foreign invation, occupation and destruction of sovereign nation…after nation…after nation…

          Pause to see if you can understand why distain for the position shared by yourself and Jenny, exists…

          And if that is beyond your narrow bandwidth…it is likely that you have problems over and above the ignorance born out of prejudice…

          • McFlock 6.2.2.2.1
            29 April 2018 at 4:29 pm

            I do not take sides

            I’m always impressed about how you are just as quick to criticise people’s hubris when they say what bad things the US etc are up to as when others criticise Assad and Russia. You jump on both sides equallol, can’t finish that line. You’re just as partisan as everyone else, doofus.

          • Stuart Munro 6.2.2.2.2
            29 April 2018 at 6:01 pm

            Yes yes – you do not take sides but somehow always support Assad – you’re not fooling anyone except yourself – and maybe Ed.

            • One Two 6.2.2.2.2.1
              29 April 2018 at 6:13 pm

              Nah, Stu…you’re repeatedly making a fool of yourself while I walk through your childish commentary…

              I’ve explained it to you so many times, you obviously have a deficiency…

              Your interpretation of what constitutes support is your own twisted view…

              I support a sovereign nations absolute right to defend itself against illegal, serial foreign invaders….against any invaders actually…

              That’s not supporting Assad….see if you can figure out why…

              • Jenny …
                29 April 2018 at 7:39 pm

                Well actually…..

                Going with the ‘regime change’ conspiracy theory, sort of shows you support the Assad regime’s narrative.

                Which in my opinion, identifies you as a hard out Assad supporter. (But without the guts to admit it).

                Am I wrong?

                • One Two …
                  29 April 2018 at 8:31 pm

                  Jenny, you have passion and what does appear to be an honest desire to highlight the plight of peoples who are suffering around the world…

                  Your comments regarding Syria, are one sided, overly simplistic and indicate that you have barriers preventing you from acknowledging what are mainstream documented happenings inside Syria…

                  That you repeatedly and undoubtedly, willingly ignore mainstream acknowledgement of ‘western backed rebels’ being funded, armed, trained and supported by international law breaking, UN charter violating sponsors, is unfortunate to observe…

                  So while you’re ignoring those same sponsors of ‘moderate rebels’ long and document history of regime change/creating failed states…I’ve not raised the subject because I do not pretend to know what is really going on…

                  But if I were to engage with you at your level using simplistic, lopsided evaluation techniques…regime change/failed state would be the position I would take….because that’s what a simplistic view of history, including recent history indicates is being attempted since 2011 in Syria…

                  But I’m not saying that’s what is going on…because Syria, is a complex situation….and I will not endorse either or sides…

                  To your question…not only are you wrong…you are showing yourself to be a ‘well meaning idiot’….

                  • Ed …
                    29 April 2018 at 9:43 pm

                    Jenny is blind to the faults of the opposition.
                    I admire your viewpoint.

                    • One Two …
                      29 April 2018 at 10:12 pm

                      Jennys position appears to be in direct conflict with her efforts to highlight injustice and atrocities…there are not many reasons why she would take that position…

                      There will be atrocities carried out by every faction involved in the conflict…openly ignoring that truism is dangerous energy to play with…

                      It’s natural to wish to know whats actually going on…but that’s not possible except through the mediums created by the efforts of others….what we the people are left with is speculation based on constants such as ‘previous form’ and motive…

                      The honest thing to do is at least pay respect to injustice and atrocities on all sides…

              • Stuart Munro …
                30 April 2018 at 1:49 am

                Not so – at least I have the honesty to take a position – that for all their many faults the west is on the whole more reliable than Putin’s spin.

                Your constant pretentions of superiority would fare better were they supported by evidence other than your wishful thinking.

                • Ed …
                  30 April 2018 at 6:13 am

                  On what basis is the West reliable?
                  Because the BBC and the Guardian told you so?

                  Did you miss the lies about WMD, the lies about Kuwait, the lies about Ukraine, the lies about Libya, the lies about Vietnam……

                  You’re a sucker propaganda from the military industrial complex.

            • Ed 6.2.2.2.2.2
              30 April 2018 at 6:35 am

              Posted by lettuce yesterday night.

              https://thestandard.org.nz/grotesque/#comment-1479648

          • mauī 6.2.2.2.3
            29 April 2018 at 9:44 pm

            ‘I do not take sides’. Well said One Two, I greatly respect your viewpoints. You only take the side of truth imo 🙂

            • One Two 6.2.2.2.3.1
              29 April 2018 at 10:21 pm

              Hi Maui, I enjoy your perspectives…and I appreciate your comments…

              Truth is such a mystery…the truth I adide is that humans are not it…babies are close to pure truth…after that…less so by the day without constant self reflection and the awareness to make necessary changes…and not be scared to do so…continually…

              That’s about the best any adult human can do IMO…

              Be well…

              • Stuart Munro …
                30 April 2018 at 2:03 am

                I take the side of the people under the bombs and under the gas clouds. That makes Assad an enemy.

                You implicitly support the bombers.

                It’s not morally tenable.

                Atrocities are litmus tests – when you no longer react you’ve lost your moral compass.

                • Ed …
                  30 April 2018 at 6:09 am

                  It makes both warring groups the enemy as both sides are killing civilians.

                • One Two …
                  30 April 2018 at 9:27 am

                  Stuart, you are so terribly confused…

                  You simply can’t grasp the concept that taking sides is the wrong thing to do…it is the opposite of what you need to be doing…what we all need to be doing…

                  There is no morality to be found in war and atrocity in the M.E…there are only varying degress of atrocity and human suffering…

                  Rise above the primitive lizard brain and understand that by taking a side, is to be part of the problem…and a barrier to any solution…

                  When you can understand that simple concept…life as you believe it to be will have a very different perspective for you…

                  Good luck on the journey….

                  Edit: don’t equate not taking sides with no longer caring…that’s not what it’s about…it is about having more measured thinking so that you are no longer in reaction mode…step back…evaluate….respond…not react…

              • Ed …
                30 April 2018 at 6:10 am

                Reflection.
                So important.

      • Bill 6.2.3
        29 April 2018 at 10:54 am

        Nice informative piece on France and Libya over at The Intercept.

        Sarkozy’s dodgy dealings with Gaddafi aside, the fact that the French foreign minister had offered Tunisia’s Zine El Abidine Ben Ali the use of France’s security forces to help quash protests is kinda illuminating.

        Sarkozy had found his administration out of step when the Arab Spring broke out in Tunisia. He had a strong relationship with Tunisian dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, and when security forces fired on massive street protests in January, instead of condemning the violence, Sarkozy’s foreign minister offered to share the “savoir-faire” of France’s security forces “in order to settle security situations of this type.”

        • One Two 6.2.3.1
          29 April 2018 at 3:21 pm

          Yes, Bill

          It’s such a sordid history which some on the site either do not read about, or willfully ignore…

          I suspect the Sykes Picot Agreement is unheard of in certain quarters on these boards…

      • Ed 6.2.4
        29 April 2018 at 12:14 pm

        Have you read Frank Macskasy on the daily Blog?
        Quite a thorough denunciation of the lies propagated.

  7. Morrissey 7
    29 April 2018 at 9:37 am

    Fora Pruitt.

    The National Government inflicted the notorious Waikato University crackpot Jacqueline Rowarth on us to antagonize the conservation movement. The Trump regime pulled the same trick with Scott Pruitt…

    https://www.democracynow.org/2018/4/27/you_really_should_resign_lawmakers_slam

  8. Tamati Tautuhi 8
    29 April 2018 at 10:47 am

    …back in the old days in the agricultural industry we were told Round Up was less toxic than table salt ?

  9. Pete 9
    29 April 2018 at 10:59 am

    David Seymour has finally made the Big Time and given true substance to their policies and philosophies. Dancing with the Stars.

    If I were clever I’d get the reds under the bed dancing Cossacks and superimpose Seymour “Dancing with the Csars.”

    • mary_a 9.1
      29 April 2018 at 11:23 am

      A gem of a comment Pete (9) Love it. A good laugh for the day 🙂 I remember Muldoon’s dancing Cossacks well.

      • Graeme 9.1.1
        29 April 2018 at 1:14 pm

        https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/video/dancing-cossacks

        “National was trying to turn voters against the Labour government by suggesting that the latter’s recently introduced compulsory superannuation scheme might lead to Soviet-style Communism (conveniently ignoring the fact that the Cossack peoples had traditionally been opponents of the Bolsheviks).”

        The voiceover said that the superannuation fund would dominate the economy, which would be laughable in today’s open, global, economy. But in Muldoon’s “fortress New Zealand”…. well, history shows what happened. And from the success of our current superannuation funds we can only wonder where New Zealand would be now if Labour had won that election.

        • patricia bremner 9.1.1.1
          29 April 2018 at 5:26 pm

          That cartoon was supplied by the American Hanna Barbera ..USA influencing the election? You betcha!!

          • Graeme 9.1.1.1.1
            3 May 2018 at 9:05 am

            From the link I posted –

            ” In the first campaign held after the introduction of colour TV, National’s advertising agency, Colenso, engaged the famous American cartoon studio Hanna-Barbera to produce a colourful, animated advert.”

            Probably more like Colenso shopped around for the best outfit and naturally got the best offer from the purveyors of the American Dream. The script would have been right up their alley.

  10. ropata 10
    29 April 2018 at 11:39 am

    Great piece over at Public Address about Stormy Daniels’ lawyer Michael Avenatti and his prediction that Trump will not serve out his term

    https://publicaddress.net/hardnews/the-remarkable-rise-of-michael-avenatti/

    https://youtu.be/-vYVDPbL_EA

    • veutoviper 11.1
      29 April 2018 at 1:54 pm

      That is amazing! What beautiful flowers and yet they signal that the plant will now die.

      Thanks so much for sharing it. Seeing it today of all days was rather symbolic, on a very sad day as my dog died last night – a little white troublemaker – probably my last dog ever sadly. He was a little 6kg Maltese who thought he was the size of his former best friend who he had to protect – my Rottweiler/Mastiff cross who at his biggest weighted in at 67kg, who would run away if you said boo and who died two years ago.

      Now I will remember him (and the big boy) and this amazing plant all together.

      • Macro 11.1.1
        29 April 2018 at 2:01 pm

        Oh so sad to hear about your little dog VV – they are such good companions. Was he a little white troublemaker with a capital T? We had decided no more animals after our little Honeybear – but a nephew who was moving house and needed a new home for his puss cat (the new home did not permit animals) donated Princess Lollabout to us. 🙂

        And thanks Joe for the pic – I enjoy all your posts but this is a special treasure.

      • Ad 11.1.2
        29 April 2018 at 2:24 pm

        Big tough night there Veuto.
        Very sorry to hear it.

      • joe90 11.1.3
        29 April 2018 at 2:37 pm

        Sorry to hear about your loss VV.

        The dog is a gentleman; I hope to go to his heaven, not man’s.

        ~ Mark Twain

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7-PfzpQcJs&feature=youtu.be

      • Cinny 11.1.4
        29 April 2018 at 2:48 pm

        Hugs VV.

      • mary_a 11.1.5
        29 April 2018 at 3:43 pm

        Condolences for the sad loss of your little dog veutoviper (11.1) Our loving and loyal pets, particularly dogs, certainly leave a massive void in our lives and our hearts when they are gone. The best friends we will ever have.

        Hang on to those wonderful memories. The companionship and devotion of a dog is something very precious and wonderful. But you already know that vv.

        Take good care.

      • gsays 11.1.6
        29 April 2018 at 3:57 pm

        My condolences VV.
        I am reminded of a Rudyard Kipling poem, The power of the dog.

        https://m.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/power-dog

      • McFlock 11.1.7
        29 April 2018 at 4:32 pm

        always hurts, that.

      • patricia bremner 11.1.8
        29 April 2018 at 6:10 pm

        Hello V V. So sorry to hear of your companion’s passing.
        Your story about your wee dog reminded us of a dear wee Australian terrier we cared for for friends. We loved Molly as she was fearless.
        We arrived at the dog park and Molly tried to see off a huge Great Dane who gave her “the regal stare” totally unruffled by 5/6 kgs of bravado.
        They leave a huge painful hole, and then you remember the happy times.
        A friend, like you, said no more. Then went to the local SPCA described a small gentle house trained dog. They rang her two months later and she took Loxie home. Loxie was a tiny ” bitsa” who settled on her lap and is a loved 5 year old in her second chance home. Hugs xx Trish.

      • Ankerrawshark 11.1.9
        29 April 2018 at 9:37 pm

        Very sorry to hear about your dog Veuto

        It is devastating to lose a beloved pet

  12. Ad 12
    29 April 2018 at 2:51 pm

    Great to see the EU ban all nicotinoids for good.

  13. joe90 13
    29 April 2018 at 3:15 pm

    Berner cultists get their racist out, because black people who weren’t Sanders fans aren’t quite progressive enough for them.

    .

    For almost a year now, a very vocal segment of Bernie Sanders supporters have harassed and stalked black activists, journalists and contributors on Twitter and other social media sites. Behind this campaign was the fact that a lot of black voters didn’t vote for Bernie, which was met with incredible anger by a part of the Bernie left.

    Instead of analyzing why POC were critical of Bernie, or why Bernie refused to campaign among POC, they started to harass and intimidate black Twitter users.

    The list of victims to this aggressive crowd of Bernie supporters is long by now: Joy Ann Reid, Donna Brazile, Jehmu Greene, Neera Tanden, Kamala Harris, Maxine Waters, Yamiche Alcindor, Zerlina Maxwell, and less known Twitter users: Angry Black Lady (Imani Gandy), T_FisherKing, Mr Dane/ Mr Weeks, Sir James, Ange_Amene, Bravenak and many, many more.

    What these people have in common is that

    A: they’re POC,

    B: they’re at times very critical of Bernie Sanders.

    This in itself is enough for ongoing extreme harassment, stalking, threats, intimidation and worse.

    On top of this, a number of LGTB activists/ writers have met the same fate: be critical at Bernie Sanders at your own peril.

    […]

    The user @Jamie_Maz who in November went through Joy’s old blog posts through the so called WayBack machine never mentioned other blog posts, never mentioned there was more ‘homophobic’ content.

    Now let me be absolutely clear: I do not have any evidence whether or not Joy Ann Reid’s recently surfaced blog posts were altered, added or whether or not they are genuine. That is also not the subject of this article: the subject is the excessive campaign to get Joy Ann Reid fired by the Bernie left.

    I saw the same user @Jamie_Maz post the recently ‘found’ blog posts and at first this just led to great enthusiasm among the Bernie crowd on Twitter. The idea that they found something damaging on Joy Ann Reid was absolutely fantastic to this crowd of Bernie supporters: #FireJoyReid!

    Let’s be absolutely clear: this campaign isn’t coming from trump supporters, or breitbart or right wing racists, this is coming from the racist Bernie left.

    Although I have no evidence one way or the other it would NOT surprise me at all when in the end we find out this Bernie crowd altered the screenshots, because let’s face it: a crowd who contacts people’s employers with anonymous letters (as in the case of Humorless Kev), who starts internet campaigns to get people fired and posts racist pictures would be very willing to do this

    https://medium.com/@investigator_21314/the-lynching-of-joy-ann-reid-by-the-bernie-left-c7de005a19fb

    • Bill 13.1
      29 April 2018 at 3:21 pm

      If you want an intelligent and thoroughly researched piece on Joy Reid, then Glen Greenwald’s piece is where I’d suggest you want to be going. (Unless he’s to be avoided because “racist Bernie left”?)

      • joe90 13.1.1
        29 April 2018 at 3:30 pm

        Yeah, Cernovich and Prosobiec are going after Reid, too.

        But I’m sure that’s just a coincidence.

        /

        • Bill 13.1.1.1
          29 April 2018 at 4:41 pm

          All I’m seeing in the piece you provided is the “dead centre” lashing out. Again.

          Shades of the anti-Momentum, anti- Corbyn bullshit to it all.

          Anyway. I saw the name and was reminded of the Greenwald piece and thought it worth linking.

          • joe90 13.1.1.1.1
            29 April 2018 at 5:15 pm

            Looks to me like the author’s calling out the cult kiddies enmity for progressives who dare opt for pragmatic incrementalism, rather than their own burn the fucking house down shtick.

            btw, thread calling Greenwald on his disingenuous claptrap.

            Now that my friend @JoyAnnReid has apologized, my friend @ggreenwald is now pretending denial of authorship and hacking claims by Joy is now and was always "the *only* issue" and asserts her "anti-LGBT bigotry" was "never the issue."And, unfortunately, Glenn is lying.Thread. pic.twitter.com/KSSsnuD0wS— Leah McElrath (@leahmcelrath) April 28, 2018

            https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/990311780038660096.html

            • Bill 13.1.1.1.1.1
              29 April 2018 at 5:40 pm

              You read the piece Joe, yes?

              It basically revolved around the issue of denial and hacking claims. And Greenwald, in relation to her previous phobic writings, has the following as the second para

              Most people, at least in the media, seemed quick to accept Reid’s apology — and they were right to do so. People have the right to change their beliefs as they and the society around them grow, learn, and evolve. That process should be encouraged, not stigmatized. Politics, at its core, should be about persuading people to repudiate misguided and destructive beliefs and adopt ones that are more reasoned, humane, and just. And when that happens, it should be celebrated, not scorned.

              And later…

              If, in response to these new even-uglier posts, Reid had done what she did in December — acknowledged they were hers, owned her mistakes, apologized for the hurt she caused, and explained that she no longer holds these views — the reaction would have almost certainly been the same. Though many would likely be a bit bothered by just how deeply bigoted these writings were, few would hold them against her now. I know I would have reacted the same: If someone repudiates past beliefs and changes their views, they should be judged by their current viewpoints, not ones they held a decade ago.

              So sure. He was writing disingenuous claptrap and the “radical centre/dead centre” isn’t consumed by hate these day for just about anyone who doesn’t “toe the line” or is otherwise seen as representing a threat to their (and their world view’s) fading prominence.

              • joe90 …
                29 April 2018 at 6:03 pm

                McElrath notes how @ggreenwald pushed out the idea @JoyAnnReid is homophobic and transphobic as recently as December of 2017, but revised his position to denial of authorship and hacking claims by Joy is now and was always “the *only* issue” and asserts her “anti-LGBT bigotry” was “never the issue.”.

    • Bewildered 13.2
      29 April 2018 at 5:06 pm

      I raised this point yesterday, my observation it is a left phenomena where intersectional politics trumps individualism and god help you if you identify with a particular supposed left wing group be it black, lgbt, the arts and culture and you step out of the left play book with your own individual opinion Recent examples include Kanya West and Shsnia Twain, your examples been non Bernie black voters is also testament to this To me it’s actually quite racist to expect because you are of a certain colour, sexual orientation you must think and vote s particular way or face vitriol and social media hate Not saying all left is like this as not all left on social media

  14. Rosemary McDonald 14
    29 April 2018 at 3:18 pm

    Bomber lets rip with righteous indignation at Sepuloni’s stalling tactics….and doesn’t hold back with criticism of those ace patch-protectors at the PSA.

    https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2018/04/29/new-government-response-to-msd-sadism-is-just-not-good-enough/

    “We know MSD treat beneficiaries with sadism.

    We.

    Know.

    This.

    We know food parcels are soaring because MSD toxic culture means people will beg from Churches rather than go to WINZ.

    We know MSD are still spitefully cutting off welfare for Tinder dates.

    We know that the sadists at MSD chase beneficiaries through the courts for obscene debt they should never be forced to pay.

    We know that when one judge questioned MSD why they were chasing a beneficiary for $120 000 debt (most of which was penalties and interest) was because she might win Lotto…

    …it is unacceptable that the new Government apparently have no idea what to do next.

    There are two reasons why the new Government are not doing anything and it comes down to cowardice.

    The new government are too cowardly to take on the PSA over their toxic sadism culture and they are too cowardly to go up against right wing media and the bash a beneficiary culture we have in NZ.

    It is deeply disappointing to see such a lack of real political courage.”

    Methinks this government needs to stop seeing the task in terms of getting a container ship to alter course (the reference I think was on Carmel’s mind) and start acting.

    I am pretty sure Susan St. John and Sue Bradford have a few ideas….

    • Bewildered 14.1
      29 April 2018 at 8:10 pm

      MSD needs to strike a balance between preventing fraud and treating those who are entitled with dignity No easy job but probably have not got the balance right, all for recalibration but coming down like ton of bricks on fraudsters

    • Ad 14.2
      29 April 2018 at 8:23 pm

      I had dinner with one of the MSD Auckland senior managers last night.

      Minister Sepuloni simply isn’t on their radar yet.

      • Rosemary McDonald 14.2.1
        29 April 2018 at 9:09 pm

        “I had dinner with one of the MSD Auckland senior managers last night.”

        I do hope your digestion was not adversely affected Ad. Sitting at the same table, breaking bread with a sociopath.

        I could be being harsh…perhaps your dining pal is new to MSD? Parachuted into a senior management role very recently…. on a mission to begin the ‘culture change’?

        “Minister Sepuloni simply isn’t on their radar yet.”

        Assuming that means they don’t see her as a threat to the status quo, that its full steam ahead in the bene bashing business, I believe after her prevarication today they can rest easy.

        Plenty of time to kick a few more of the fallen…

        • Ad 14.2.1.1
          30 April 2018 at 7:06 am

          Dinner was awesome cheers.

          It’s Minister Sepuloni who is going to determine if there will be substantial reform or not. That is where accountability lies.

  15. Bewildered 15
    29 April 2018 at 5:12 pm

    If we get long lasting peace in Korea and demilitarisation does Donald trump deserve a Nobel peace prize You would argue so if Obama is the standard. Obama left us with Syria, a weak Iran deal and emboldened Russia with his softly softly let’s not upset any one You could argue the Donald no matter how unagreeable you find him his muscular diplomacy has been far more effective in driving peace

    • McFlock 15.1
      29 April 2018 at 8:46 pm

      Got to say the madman routine actually seems to have been a significant factor.

      If I were the committee I’d want to wait until his term is up, though, just in case he nukes somewhere for the hell of it.

      And then there’s the concept of giving a peace prize to someone who contributed to peace by threatening nuclear war, but that’s just semantics, really.

  16. James 16
    29 April 2018 at 6:03 pm

    Labour breaking promises.

    Well there is a shock. Over promising and not delivering.

    https://www.labour.org.nz/gp_fees

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12041822

    • McFlock 16.1
      29 April 2018 at 8:23 pm

      It’s ok. I don’t expect a tory to understand the concept that a genuine coalition of different political parties requires compromise, especially after Joyce’s fiscal trapdoor was discovered.

      • James 16.1.1
        29 April 2018 at 8:27 pm

        It’s ok I don’t expect a leftie to understand commitments or promises.

        It’s so mush easier to say slogans and go for feelz- it’s the adren government way.

        • McFlock 16.1.1.1
          29 April 2018 at 8:52 pm

          What, like Bridges’ non-bridges?

          Most people understand that election pledges are contingent on having the electoral power to follow through on them.

          “Adren”, eh? Good name. sounds cool and hip and much more active than your lot ever could be.

          • James 16.1.1.1.1
            29 April 2018 at 9:17 pm

            “Most people understand that election pledges are contingent on having the electoral power to follow through on them.“

            Labour stated (and still have on their website) that they WILL do this starting June this year.

            Simply put – they are making promises they cannot deliver and are showing themselves up to be exactly what a lot of us expected.

            • McFlock 16.1.1.1.1.1
              29 April 2018 at 9:30 pm

              Lol and if they’d updated the website before Clark’s announcement you’d say they were whitewashing history.

              Overall, as far as I can see this is about the first policy point they’ve clearly failed to achieve, and announced that failure well in advance. Not bad for a coalition partner.

          • Incognito 16.1.1.1.2
            29 April 2018 at 10:11 pm

            Do you feel the Adrenaline rush?

      • fireblade 16.1.2
        29 April 2018 at 9:31 pm

        It’s clear James and his National Party don’t understand how a real MMP coalition govt works. That’s why National is in opposition. Failiure to negotiate a coalition and still no mates.

        Yes James, before you niggle, I know National were in a coalition, but Act, United Future and the Maori Party were no more than National’s well trained lap dogs. Labour, NZ First and the Greens are working together to form policy, that’s how MMP is supposed to work.

        National and thier supporters need to realise that they can’t govern alone, otherwise National and Soimun will remain in opposition for a very long time.

    • Incognito 16.2
      29 April 2018 at 10:42 pm

      I’ve got news for you, James: National has failed to deliver on all its election promises so far. Arguably, they have been delayed, just like Labour’s election promise of cheaper doctors’ visits for all. Only problem is that National’s delay will be at least 3 years, possibly longer 😉

  17. Poission 17
    29 April 2018 at 6:40 pm

    how Tony Blair was able to call a public inquiry into the “suspected suicide” of David Kelly only minutes after being told of Kelly’s apparent death whilst on a long-haul flight, long before Dr Kelly had officially been declared a suicide victim, or the body confirmed as his.

    https://www.opendemocracy.net/uk/peter-oborne/inconvenient-book-miles-goslett-david-kelly-aaronovitch

  19. Jenny 19
    29 April 2018 at 8:03 pm

    Good news for protesters intent on disrupting the work of oil and gas exploration vessels.

    It seems that the heavy handed Andarko Amendment, that was supposed to protect the oil companies from protesters, has turned out to be a bit of a paper tiger.

    After some high level behind the scene negotiations. The Crown and Greenpeace have come to an agreement.

    Russel Norman and Sara Howel will agree to plead guilty, if the Crown agree to drop the case against Greenpeace.

    The understanding being, that both Russel and Sara will not face any penalties at all. and despite their guilty pleas, convictions will not appear on their records. ie Diversion.

    Tomorrow at 10am at the Napier District Court, to avoid putting them out, or inconveniencing them in anyway, both Sara and Russel will phone in their court appearance, and make their guilty plea by skype from Auckland. Another First.

    Related comments and posts:

    “Govt drops charges against Greenpeace”
    Greenpeace Friday, 27 April 2018, 9:16 am

    “Greenpeace Vs Simon Bridges”

    Thanks Guys!

  20. joe90 20
    29 April 2018 at 8:10 pm

    Sunday read.

    The History of the Shariʿa

    How Islam’s divine law emerged, evolved, and spread—then reached a crisis point.

    https://www.laphamsquarterly.org/roundtable/history-sharia

  21. joe90 21
    29 April 2018 at 9:23 pm

    Rapist’s descendants annoyed everyone keeps on bringing up all the rapes.

    .

    MANILA – A new memorial dedicated to the Philippines “comfort women” forced into Japan’s military brothels before and during World War II was removed Friday night, days after suspicions surfaced that it was being targeted for demolition.

    […]

    The issue of the comfort women, Japan’s euphemism for the girls and women, is a sensitive one for Japan, and the embassy had expressed concerns over the statue, one of many sprouting up in South Korea, the United States and elsewhere to memorialize an episode of history Japan would rather forget

    https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/04/28/national/politics-diplomacy/new-comfort-women-memorial-removed-thoroughfare-manila-pressure-japanese-embassy/

  22. Pat 22
    30 April 2018 at 12:23 am

    “Can civilisation prolong its life until the end of this century? “It depends on what we are prepared to do.” He fears it will be a long time before we take proportionate action to stop climatic calamity. “Standing in the way is capitalism. Can you imagine the global airline industry being dismantled when hundreds of new runways are being built right now all over the world? It’s almost as if we’re deliberately attempting to defy nature. We’re doing the reverse of what we should be doing, with everybody’s silent acquiescence, and nobody’s batting an eyelid.”

    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/apr/26/were-doomed-mayer-hillman-on-the-climate-reality-no-one-else-will-dare-mention

    think it realistic to note that this theme from an increasing number of informed individuals will become prevalent.

    • Draco T Bastard 22.1
      30 April 2018 at 1:44 am

      It’s almost as if we’re deliberately attempting to defy nature.

      It’s not ‘almost’. We are attempting to defy nature and reality to maintain a few people in wealth and luxury.

      think it realistic to note that this theme from an increasing number of informed individuals will become prevalent.

      It probably will but, with the help of the RWNJs in National and Labour (and similar parties around the world), probably after we’ve pushed the ecosphere to the point where we will no longer be able to live in it.

  23. eco maori 23
    30 April 2018 at 7:56 am

    The Am Show The closing of that Auckland park to save OUR great Kauri trees the atua of our forest is a big win for us greenies. If business go broke so be it they have had years to come up with plan B or C. We have had a big win in Europe with the banning of those insecticides and other chemicals that kill BEEs now we need to look into it .
    When my children were young 2nd 1 was less than 6 months old we stayed across the road from a vineyard our baby had rashes he had breathing problems off in a ambulance twice. As soon as we moved from this location his symptoms disappeared that tells one some thing about man made chemicals .
    This inquire on the treatment of children in state care should include church organization after all there is alot of evidence that there has been abuse of the mokopunas in the churches care all around the world and in NZ .
    As for Trump I will ease off maybe he should be given the credit for the deescalation of the tension in Korea and then he will not throw a spanner in the works and the peace and diplomacy will work .
    OUR Banks need to be investigated if the banks in Aussie are cheating than Our banks will be doing the same . They stereotype people and I say they will turn down people for loans just because they are brown. I am having a tussel with 2 of OURs Banks at the minute.
    Charter School are for the 1% the poor mokopunas that end up at these schools will have been targeted for sports and less than 5% of the roll .I want more REO taught in schools
    these charter schools will have better grades because they are getting the cream of the crop of mokopunas so one cannot fairly use those stats to justify the existence of these institutions. Ka kite ano

    • eco maori 23.1
      30 April 2018 at 5:28 pm

      Here’s a man who is learning Te reo
      Ka pai Jole

      https://i.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/columnists/103432641/joel-maxwell-learning-te-reo-has-made-me-whole-for-the-first-time-in-my-life could be whano with that Sir name Ka kite ano P.S I’m envious of him but I will learn te reo and I will have speach to Te whano

    • eco maori 23.2
      30 April 2018 at 6:48 pm

      Newshub Ka pai Paddy Gloriavale is not a nice sect especially if they can keep a mans family away from him did you know that most of the sandflies hierarchy are religious fanatics
      There you go I was talking about all the sacred sites around Aotearoa that need to be carefully examined buy trained archaeologist like that site that they found the half built Waka that site should be sifted to find other precious Maori relics.
      Many thanks to the Australians for taking steps to protect there precious Great Barrier Reef Man is nothing with out mother nature.
      The weekends sports was GREAT . Ka kite ano P.S thats another pukana to the sandflies they did not like what I wrote this morning

  24. eco maori 24
    30 April 2018 at 7:26 pm

    The Crowd goes Wild the sandflys have stuff with my computer I have a good post on it but it won’t load I told you the are upset Ka kite ano P.S. I will post my post with my pH it will be late but you will have a laugh

  25. Jenny 25
    30 April 2018 at 9:59 pm

    No probs Pat.

    Here’s a good write up of the case by Sam Hurley, NZ Herald court reporter.

    Greenpeace head Russel Norman pleads guilty to obstructing oil survey ship”
    New Zealand Herald, 30 Apr, 2018

    The former Green Party co-leader and Sara Howell swam in front of the Amazon Warrior as it searched for oil off the Wairarapa coast in April last year.

    They were charged under a 2013 amendment to the Crown Minerals Act, dubbed the “Anadarko Amendment”, by New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals, a division of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

    The amendment was designed to stop protests at sea around oil exploration and the case was the first time the amendment was enforced….

    …..Convictions were not entered against Norman and Howell as they seek a discharge without conviction and will be sentenced later this year.

    Overall a win, win for Greenpeace and a lose, lose, for the Anadarko Amendment on its first ever outing.

    With the fangs pulled from the Anadarko Amendment, a new campaign on the water can commence.

    The clock has started ticking on achieving a total ban on oil and gas exploration. The campaign that has begun achieving a halt in all new block offers, will finish with a campaign to shut down all deep sea oil and gas exploration

  26. Jenny 26
    1 May 2018 at 7:10 am

    Thank you Patricia.

    Here’s a good write up of the case by Sam Hurley, NZ Herald court reporter.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12042049

    Greenpeace head Russel Norman pleads guilty to obstructing oil survey ship”
    New Zealand Herald, 30 Apr, 2018

    The former Green Party co-leader and Sara Howell swam in front of the Amazon Warrior as it searched for oil off the Wairarapa coast in April last year.

    They were charged under a 2013 amendment to the Crown Minerals Act, dubbed the “Anadarko Amendment”, by New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals, a division of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

    The amendment was designed to stop protests at sea around oil exploration and the case was the first time the amendment was enforced….

    …..Convictions were not entered against Norman and Howell as they seek a discharge without conviction and will be sentenced later this year.

    Overall a win, win for Greenpeace and a lose, lose, for the Anadarko Amendment on its first ever outing.

    With the fangs pulled from the Anadarko Amendment, a new campaign on the water can commence.

    The clock has started ticking on achieving a total ban on oil and gas exploration. The campaign that has begun achieving a halt in all new block offers, will finish with a campaign to shut down all deep sea oil and gas exploration

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  • Have 308 people in the Education Ministry’s Curriculum Development Team spent over $100m on a 60-p...
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  • Can taxpayers be confident PIJF cash was spent wisely?
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  • Submission on “Fast Track Approvals Bill”
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  • Urgent changes to system through first RMA Amendment Bill
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  • Overseas decommissioning models considered
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  • Release of North Island Severe Weather Event Inquiry
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  • Justice Minister to attend Human Rights Council
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  • Patterson reopens world’s largest wool scouring facility
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  • Speech to the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective Summit, 18 April 2024
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  • Government to introduce revised Three Strikes law
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  • New diplomatic appointments
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  • Humanitarian support for Ethiopia and Somalia
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  • Arts Minister congratulates Mataaho Collective
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  • Supporting better financial outcomes for Kiwis
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  • Trade relationship with China remains strong
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  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
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  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
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  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
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  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
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  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
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  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
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  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
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  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
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  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
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