Should our future lie with NATO?
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3:23 pm, June 21st, 2022 - 62 comments
Categories: capitalism, China, climate change, defence, Europe, Pacific, Peace, Russia, Ukraine, uncategorized, us politics, war -
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Not content to stay in the North Atlantic, a NATO conference in Madrid is shortly about to reveal its next ten-year plan to contain China. Jacinda Ardern will be there, who knows why. Are we nailing our colours to a flag at half-mast?
Politik’s Monday newsletter reports:
Asked at her weekly press conference yesterday if her presence at the summit indicated New Zealand was moving closer to NATO, Ardern said: “No, it means we have been for the last roughly ten years a NATO partner. We’ve worked alongside NATO in other areas before, and of course, in this current war in Ukraine, you’ll have seen that New Zealand has, through the NATO trust fund, supported the distribution of aid and support. But again, we maintain the status that we’ve had for the last ten years.”
That is not quite how NATO sees it. We are in NATO’s sights, as shown by a preparatory document commissioned by Stoltenberg:
NATO should deepen consultation and cooperation with Indo-Pacific partners – Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea. This could be done using the existing NATO+4 Format or the NATO-Pacific Partnership Council, or through NATO engagement with the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, potentially including other regional states such as India, as appropriate. Such a format would seek to heighten coordination on managing the strategic and political implications of China’s rise
There has been very little discussion about the wisdom of this move. The question is, are we backing a lame horse, or even the wrong horse? What does this mean for our vaunted “independent foreign policy?’
The world is at an inflection point, economically as well as geopolitically. The so-called ‘liberal international order,’ oxymoronic in its terms, is changing fast. US hegemony is being replaced by a multi-polar world. This has been obvious economically for some time. NATO has been described as the military guardian of the neo-liberal order, explicitly recognised as under threat in the 2018 US Defense Strategy which designated China, Russia, Iran and North Korea as its competitors.
NATO was set up after WW2 to contain Soviet Russia; in the words of the UK’s Lord Ismay, its first Secretary-General, to keep the “United States in, Russia out, and Germany down.” In the light of recent events, it could be said to have failed in the second objective and over-achieved in the third. The US is not only in NATO but runs it and the UK now just follows along.
Russia’s challenge has come because it is fed up with the lack of any acknowledgment of the threat posed by NATO’s short-range missiles encroaching their borders after the US’ unilateral withdrawal from the INF treaty. The Special Military Operation is the promised ‘military-technical’ response to the lack of response to their security concerns. But in the West, history began on the 24th of February. Everything prior to that is cancelled.
If the main purpose of NATO has been to contain the Russian Federation, the successor of the Soviet Union, it is not doing a very good job. President Biden has wisely ruled out NATO intervention in Ukraine, preferring to fight the Russian incursion to the last Ukrainian with mostly obsolescent and cast-off equipment. NATO has been training Ukrainian forces since the 2014 Maidan coup, but they are proving to be no match for Russia’s strategy, even while heavily dug in to positions fortified over several years.
The NATO strategy now may be to try to string out the war for years, but this may in fact work to Russia’s advantage. As former Indian diplomat M. K. Bhadrakumar writes at Indian Punchline:
Ukraine is a test to destruction of both NATO and the EU, and the wider, western-dominated multilateral system they are both part of. NATO, in particular, has just been confronted by exactly the kind of situation that its founders expected—the exercise of Russian military power—and it did effectively nothing. No amount of hand-waving, no amount of sanctions or arms deliveries, can change that fact, which in turn changes everything. NATO and the EU can prolong the war, cause more suffering, and destroy many economies, including their own. But they can’t fundamentally affect the result, and the nature of their responses, beneath the surface posturing, demonstrates that they know this.
And another writing under the pseudonym Aurelian:
Fundamentally, the Western economies are facing a systemic crisis. The complacency that the reserve-currency-based US economy is impervious to ballooning debt; that the petrodollar system compels the entire world to purchase dollars to finance their needs; that the flood of cheap Chinese consumer goods and cheap energy from Russia and Gulf States would keep inflation at bay; that interest rate hikes will cure structural inflation; and, above all, that the consequences of taking a trade-war hammer to a complex network system in the world economy can be managed — these notions stand exposed.
Russia of course is well aware of these factors, as President Putin laid out in his speech to the St Petersburg International Economic Forum last week. NATO’s options in Europe do not look good, and there is evidence that behind the scenes some of the Europeans understand that and are trying to urge Zelensky to negotiate. Boris Johnson continues to bluster.
NATO’s strategy for the last ten years, doing nothing in Europe and failing in Afghanistan is not stellar. Calling up the same club that is sanctioning Russia, and as is widely noted is white, colonial or occupied does not augur well for its next iteration. It does not include the global south. As another commentator Graham Fuller, former Vice Chair of the National Intelligence Council at CIA, writes:
Indeed the West may come to look back at this moment as the final argument against following Washington’s quest for global dominance into ever newer and more dangerous and damaging confrontations with Eurasia. And most of the rest of the world–Latin America, India, the Middle East and Africa– find few national interests in this fundamentally American war against Russia.
Confronting Eurasia does not represent the future, and it should not represent our future. The NATO conference is clearly not business as usual, as Jacinda Ardern argues. NATO is not doing well at containing Russia, and it has no hope of containing China.
And of course our invitation to the party comes with a price. More money for useless weaponry that we are never going to use.
Instead, we should seek co-operation with all the countries in our region for the development of our economy and for the safety of our planet. We share enough issues with the south and east, starting with climate change.
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- Release: Melissa Lee missing in action on mediaThe action Melissa Lee promised to protect democracy and the media sector is missing, Media and Communications spokesperson Willie Jackson said. ...1 week ago
- Landlord Government leaves little hope for rentersThe Government’s announcement on tenancy rules prove that it does not care about renters. ...1 week ago
- Opportunity to build a more sustainable economyGreen Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...1 week ago
- Significant step forward in fixing cruel and unjust pastA significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...1 week ago
- Missed opportunity but NZ will surely one day recognise the right to a sustainable environmentNew Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...1 week ago
- Release: Don’t cut our lunches – clear message sent to GovernmentTens of thousands of people are demanding the Government commits to fully funding free and healthy school lunches. ...1 week ago
- Release: Govt makes U-turn on Suicide Prevention OfficeLabour welcomes the Government’s U-turn on the closure of the Suicide Prevention Office, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...1 week ago
- CCC issues warning over further climate delayToday’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...2 weeks ago
- Luxon targets lame and lousy example of leadershipIf talk is cheap, Chris Luxon’s “targets” are bankrupt. ...2 weeks ago
- Luxon targets are lousy example of leadershipIf talk is cheap, Chris Luxon’s “targets” are bankrupt. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Commitment to disability communities missing from Govt prioritiesMinister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...2 weeks ago
- Methane target review is dangerous duplicationThe Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Government must commit to school building project for disabled studentsThe Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: National must take mental health seriouslyMental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...2 weeks ago
- Referendums for Māori wards a racist step backwardsThe Government's imposed referendum on Māori wards is a racist step backwards for Māori representation, and disregards Te Tiriti o Waitangi. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Job losses at Health not worth it for tax cutsNew Zealand will feel the harm of the National Government’s reckless cuts to jobs at the health ministry for generations, says Ayesha Verrall. ...2 weeks ago
- Press release: No Māori initiatives in Government’s nothing planMāori are yet to see anything from this Government except cuts, reversals and taking our people backwards, Māori Development spokesperson Willie Jackson said. ...2 weeks ago
- Thirty six point PR spinThe Government’s ‘36 point’ plan for the next three months is as pointless as it is hollow. ...2 weeks ago
- Thirty six point PR spinThe Government’s ‘36 point’ plan for the next three months is as pointless as it is hollow. ...2 weeks ago
- Thirty six point PR spinThe Government’s ‘36 point’ plan for the next three months is as pointless as it is hollow. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Social housing off Government’s to-do listThe Coalition Government’s refusal to commit to ongoing funding for social housing is seeing the sector pull back on developments and families watch their dreams of securing a home fade away, says Labour Housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Less money in most people’s pockets this AprilChanges to minimum wage and benefit indexation means many New Zealanders will get less this year, as the Government gives a big tax break to landlords instead. ...3 weeks ago
- Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...9 hours ago - Government commits $20m to Westport flood protectionThe Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...15 hours ago
- Taupō takes pole positionThe Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...16 hours ago
- Cost of living support for low-income homeownersLocal Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...18 hours ago
- Government backing mussel spat projectThe Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...19 hours ago
- Government focused on getting people into workBenefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...22 hours ago
- Clean energy key driver to reducing emissionsThe Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...22 hours ago
- Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forwardThe Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...1 day ago
- Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic PartnershipPrime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...2 days ago
- Government consults on extending coastal permits for portsRMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...2 days ago
- Inflation coming down, but more work to doToday’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...2 days ago
- School attendance restored as a priority in health adviceRefreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...2 days ago
- Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sectorOceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...2 days ago
- Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International CongressAssociate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...3 days ago
- Removing red tape to help early learners thriveThe Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...3 days ago
- RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tapeChanges to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...3 days ago
- McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationshipTrade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...3 days ago
- Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister LeePrime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...3 days ago
- PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ tiesPrime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...4 days ago
- Antarctica New Zealand Board appointmentsForeign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner. The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...4 days ago
- Finance Minister travels to Washington DCFinance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...4 days ago
- Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlordsThe coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...4 days ago
- Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being consideredState Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...4 days ago
- New Zealand condemns Iranian strikesPrime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel. “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says. "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...4 days ago
- Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plansHundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...7 days ago
- Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand ChairHealth Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board. “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti. “I have asked her to ...7 days ago
- Roads of National Significance planning underwayThe NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...7 days ago
- Navigating an unstable global environmentNew Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States. “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...7 days ago
- NZ welcomes Australian Governor-GeneralPrime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...7 days ago
- Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for WinterAssociate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...7 days ago
- NZ and the US: an ever closer partnershipNew Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...1 week ago
- Joint US and NZ declarationApril 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...1 week ago
- NZ and US to undertake further practical Pacific cooperationForeign Minister Winston Peters has announced further New Zealand cooperation with the United States in the Pacific Islands region through $16.4 million in funding for initiatives in digital connectivity and oceans and fisheries research. “New Zealand can achieve more in the Pacific if we work together more urgently and ...1 week ago
- Government redress for Te Korowai o WainuiāruaThe Government is continuing the bipartisan effort to restore its relationship with iwi as the Te Korowai o Wainuiārua Claims Settlement Bill passed its first reading in Parliament today, says Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith. “Historical grievances of Te Korowai o Wainuiārua relate to 19th century warfare, land purchased or taken ...1 week ago
- Focus on outstanding minerals permit applicationsNew Zealand Petroleum and Minerals is working to resolve almost 150 outstanding minerals permit applications by the end of the financial year, enabling valuable mining activity and signalling to the sector that New Zealand is open for business, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “While there are no set timeframes for ...1 week ago
- Applications open for NZ-Ireland Research CallThe New Zealand and Irish governments have today announced that applications for the 2024 New Zealand-Ireland Joint Research Call on Agriculture and Climate Change are now open. This is the third research call in the three-year Joint Research Initiative pilot launched in 2022 by the Ministry for Primary Industries and Ireland’s ...1 week ago
- Tenancy rules changes to improve rental marketThe coalition Government has today announced changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to encourage landlords back to the rental property market, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “The previous Government waged a war on landlords. Many landlords told us this caused them to exit the rental market altogether. It caused worse ...1 week ago
- Boosting NZ’s trade and agricultural relationship with ChinaTrade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay will visit China next week, to strengthen relationships, support Kiwi exporters and promote New Zealand businesses on the world stage. “China is one of New Zealand’s most significant trade and economic relationships and remains an important destination for New Zealand’s products, accounting for nearly 22 per cent of our good and ...1 week ago
- Freshwater farm plan systems to be improvedThe coalition Government intends to improve freshwater farm plans so that they are more cost-effective and practical for farmers, Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay have announced. “A fit-for-purpose freshwater farm plan system will enable farmers and growers to find the right solutions for their farm ...1 week ago
- New Fast Track Projects advisory group namedThe coalition Government has today announced the expert advisory group who will provide independent recommendations to Ministers on projects to be included in the Fast Track Approvals Bill, say RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones. “Our Fast Track Approval process will make it easier and ...1 week ago
- 20,000 more on jobseeker benefits than this time last year
The government’s plan to get 50,000 people off jobseeker support by 2030 has had a rocky start, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Beneficiary numbers are up – and so are ...39 mins ago - All of the Raglan Roast cafes in Wellington, ranked from worst to bestRaglan Roast is a staple of Wellington coffee culture. But with five branches across the capital, which one is the best? I am a die-hard Raglan Roast fan. It’s consistently the most affordable cafe in Wellington, and one of the only places you can get a coffee after 3pm. So, ...3 hours ago
- Auckland uni students threaten rent strike over rising accommodation feesResidents of University of Auckland halls are being urged to withhold their accommodation fees from May 1, in a bid to force the university to take student concerns over rent hikes seriously. The University of Auckland is facing a strike from students over the cost of on-campus accommodation. The Students ...3 hours ago
- Warning of death from a million cuts as Oceans Secretariat dissolved
Shane Jones says people voted for change, but opponents say small cuts such as ending a special oceans secretariat are starting to add up The post Warning of death from a million cuts as Oceans Secretariat dissolved appeared first on Newsroom. ...3 hours ago - Defence deal to counter Beijing’s aggression in South China SeaNew Zealand and the Philippines have signed a new maritime security agreement and stated their concerns over activity in the South China Sea, as Chinese vessels continue to flout international law. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Philippines President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos committed to signing a Mutual Logistics Supporting Arrangement by ...3 hours ago
- Wellington’s ebb and flow of public servantsThe thousands of government “back-office” job cuts are causing widespread pain in the capital city. In today’s episode of The Detail, we speak to three journalists and a think tank researcher, looking at the larger picture around the cuts and what effect it will have on Wellington, a city that’s ...3 hours ago
- New Zealand transport planning has gone off the railsOpinion: The famed American architect and urban designer Daniel Burnham once said, “Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men’s blood!” Burnham wouldn’t have been referring to the transport plans in Aotearoa New Zealand over the past five years; projects so big they hadn’t the credibility to ...3 hours ago
- Daily crossword, Friday 19 AprilThe post Daily crossword, Friday 19 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...3 hours ago
- Brakes on transport and logistics sector as demand for freight slowsThe transport sector is currently in the slow lane The post Brakes on transport and logistics sector as demand for freight slows appeared first on Newsroom. ...3 hours ago
- Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 19 AprilLoading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 19 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...3 hours ago
- Financial literacy should be on all of usOpinion: With maths understanding at 42 percent for Year 8 students, there’s no doubt something has to be done. But how? The post Financial literacy should be on all of us appeared first on Newsroom. ...3 hours ago
- Missy rustles to stardom in CanadaHineaupounamu ‘Missy’ Nuku has been scaling mountains in Canada for her college basketball team, the Lakeland Rustlers. Alberta is currently home for the 20-year-old point guard, who is in her first year of a scholarship at Lakeland College, where she is studying for a business degree. She has certainly made ...3 hours ago
- Emissions fall again – now NZ needs to up the paceOfficial figures confirm New Zealand produced less climate pollution in 2022 than in any other year in the 21st century The post Emissions fall again – now NZ needs to up the pace appeared first on Newsroom. ...3 hours ago
- Grattan on Friday: Ethnic tensions will complicate the Albanese government’s multicultural policy ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra When ASIO boss Mike Burgess delivered his annual threat assessment earlier this year, he stressed the rising danger posed by espionage and foreign interference. “In 2024, threats to our way of life have surpassed ...8 hours ago - Group plans work to improve safety of female MPs
New research shows harassment of elected officials - especially women - is on the rise. ...10 hours ago - Ukraine warns of WW3 ahead of long-stalled Congress aid voteUkraine's Prime Minister says his country desperately needs the US to approve long-stalled security assistance. ...11 hours ago
- Crown lawyers attempt to block Waitangi Tribunal summons to Minister for ChildrenThe Tribunal had called on Minister for Children Karen Chhour to provide evidence at an urgent inquiry into the repeal of Section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. ...13 hours ago
- Luxon refuses to guarantee public consultation on AUKUS Pillar 2Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says it's "far too premature" to be confirming whether the public would be consulted on joining AUKUS Pillar 2. ...14 hours ago
- Visualising the 1800s or designing wedding invitations: 6 ways you can use AI beyond generating textSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By T.J. Thomson, Senior Lecturer in Visual Communication & Digital Media, RMIT University Midjourney image by T.J. Thomson As more than half of Australian office workers report using generative artificial intelligence (AI) for work, we’re starting to see this technology affect every ...14 hours ago
- Falls, fractures and self-harm: 4 charts on how kids’ injury risk changes over time and differs fo...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lisa Nicole Sharwood, Injury epidemiologist | Expert Witness, UNSW Sydney Sergey Novikov/Shutterstock Injuries are the leading cause of disability and death among Australian children and adolescents. At least a quarter of all emergency department presentations during childhood are injury-related. Injuries can ...14 hours ago
- Choice and control: will NDIS reforms mean people with disability don’t get to decide who they liv...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Di Winkler, Adjunct Associate Professor, Living with Disability Research Centre, La Trobe University Shutterstock/Ground Picture Many Australians with disability feel on the edge of a precipice right now. Recommendations from the disability royal commission and the NDIS review were released late ...15 hours ago
- Asbestos in playground mulch: how to avoid a repeat of this circular economy scandalSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Salman Shooshtarian, Senior Lecturer, School of Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University Salman Shooshtarian Asbestos has been found in mulch used for playgrounds, schools, parks and gardens across Sydney and Melbourne. Local communities naturally fear for the health of their ...15 hours ago
- Could Albanese’s bet on homegrown green industries be the boost our regions deserve?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Madeline Taylor, Senior Lecturer, Macquarie University Cloudy Designs/Shutterstock Right now, there’s a global race underway. The goal: bring back manufacturing and energy jobs as the energy transition speeds up. In 2022, America launched its mammoth Inflation Reduction Act and the ...15 hours ago
- Watch: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon won't say if government will consult public on joining ...Asked multiple times if the public will be consulted on joining the defence pact, Luxon repeatedly said that was yet to be worked through. ...15 hours ago
- Watch live: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon speaks in PhilippinesPrime Minister Christopher Luxon is speaking to reporters on the third leg of his Southeast Asia trip, from Manila in the Philippines. ...16 hours ago
- Māori lawyers call Shane Jones' Waitangi Tribunal comments 'inappropriate'The Māori Law Society says his comments breach the principle of the separation of powers and the Cabinet Manual. ...16 hours ago
- Abortions Increase 25% Since Law Change
Family First says that the latest abortion statistics make grim and upsetting reading, with a 25% increase in abortions since the decriminalisation of abortion in March 2020. According to an Official Information Act request received by Right to Life ...17 hours ago - Over Half Of New Zealanders Feel That The Country Is In Decline And That Our Society Is BrokenIpsos New Zealand's inaugural participation in a global study on populism reveals a pervasive sense of societal and economic decline among New Zealanders. MORE DETAILS AND FULL REPORT HERE Ipsos New Zealand's inaugural participation in a global study ...17 hours ago
- Australia’s new defence strategy is big on ideas, but lacks one key ingredient: well-trained soldi...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Layton, Visiting Fellow, Strategic Studies, Griffith University There have been a lot of defence announcements recently about buying new equipment, building up Australia’s manufacturing capabilities, creating local jobs, new legislation to support AUKUS and even a new defence chief. In ...18 hours ago
- What does Steve Smith’s Stateside signing mean for cricket in the US – and Australia?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Harcourt, Industry Professor and Chief Economist, University of Technology Sydney Steve Smith, one of this generation’s finest batters, has conquered much of the cricketing world during his career, and he now has set his sights on a new frontier: the United ...18 hours ago
- A love letter to Wellington: when i open the shop by romesh dissanayake, reviewedMadeleine Ballard reviews the debut novel from romesh dissanayake. when I open the shop, the debut novel by Naarm-based Aotearoa writer romesh dissanayake (Sri Lankan, Koryo Saram), is a narrative of grief. Devendra loses his mother, opens a noodle shop on The Terrace, grieves, and emerges changed. But just as ...18 hours ago
- Minister Concedes Contractors Will Be Hired To Do Work Of Axed Ministry Of Education StaffThe PSA can’t believe that the Minister of Education is happy for her ministry to hire contractors at the same time it is dismissing 565 workers. ...18 hours ago
- Attempt to bar diplomat from Myanmar military junta failsMyanmar community members applied to the courts to bar the diplomat from attending the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. ...18 hours ago
- LGNZ Welcomes Govt Earthquake-prone Buildings DecisionLGNZ has advocated for this decision as part of a remit led by Manawatū District Council. ...18 hours ago
- AUKUS Pillar 2 a 'fragrant, methane-wrapped bull***' – Bob CarrThe former Australian Foreign Minister has continued to warn New Zealand against joining the defence pact. ...19 hours ago
- Enforceable undertaking issued to abc accounting services limited after continued non-compliance.The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) has accepted an enforceable undertaking agreement from ABC Accounting Services Limited (ABC) under section 81 of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act 2009 (AML/CFT Act). ...19 hours ago
- REVEALED: RNZ’s Hypocrisy Over Fair Digital News Bargaining BillThe Taxpayers’ Union can reveal that Radio New Zealand (RNZ) spent $71,842.53 on Facebook advertising over the past 12 months, despite earlier this year coming out in support of the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill , which would force the likes ...20 hours ago
- Police rejected 'very good offer' – Mark MitchellPolice Minister Mark Mitchell says the pay offer rejected by police was the best the government could put forward under difficult financial circumstances. ...20 hours ago
- How can we have truth-telling without the Voice? Our research shows a way forwardSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Heidi Norman, Professor, Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture, Convenor: Indigenous Land & Justice Research Group, UNSW Sydney Shutterstock The Uluru Statement from the Heart set out the aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for “Voice, Treaty, Truth”, in ...20 hours ago
- NZ education scores must improve – but another polarising ideological pivot isn’t the answerSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bronwyn E Wood, Associate Professor in Education, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Getty Images You don’t need to look hard right now to see concerns about Aotearoa New Zealand’s education system. Declining performance in international testing has been ...20 hours ago
- An updated tally of the public sector job cutsThe coalition government has made it well known it expects departments to cut roles. We break down the numbers as they currently stand. Updated: 12pm, April 18 Before last year’s election, both National and Act made it clear that the public service was squarely in their crosshairs. Both parties, now ...20 hours ago
- Confessions of an unlikely petrolheadCheckered Flag director Natalie Wilson on her lifelong love of motorsport, and the allure of Pukekohe Park Raceway. One childhood summer when my world revolved around winning stuff off the radio, I bagged tickets to Western Springs Speedway and then to Waikaraka Park in what was a dream season for ...20 hours ago
- 'Ambitious' trade pledge headlines Luxon's Thailand stopThe Prime has announced a commitment to triple two-way trade with Thailand by 2045, but it only requires maintaining current growth. ...20 hours ago
- ‘The right person’: What did Solomon Islanders vote for?By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor in Honiara After a relatively well organised and peaceful day of voting in Solomon Islands yesterday, the electoral commission is working with donor partners to safely transport ballot boxes from polling stations all over the country to centrally located counting venues. It is a ...20 hours ago
- What it’s like to be made redundant by the Ministry of EducationI was one of hundreds of people who lost my government job this week. Here’s exactly how it played out. It is a Friday. I’m in the middle of an online Teams hui working out the finer details of a series of workshops we’ll be presenting next week. It’s a ...21 hours ago
- What are ‘Ozempic babies’? Can the drug really increase your chance of pregnancy?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Karin Hammarberg, Senior Research Fellow, Global and Women’s Health, School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, Monash University Joshua Rodriguez/Unsplash Hundreds of thousands of people worldwide are taking drugs like Ozempic to lose weight. But what do we actually know about ...22 hours ago
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Depends how dark things get for us and how fast.
Waaaay back in the day in the early 1970s Gough Whitlam set out a resolutely independent – indeed non-aligned – foreign policy for Australia. Barely 2 decades after WW2 and only a few years after the US nuclear tests and the setting up of the US spy base at Pine Gap, Whitlam's non-aligned policy was one element that pushed the then-Governor General of Australia to sack the government.
If Whitlam had survived, indeed if our Kirk had survived and continued protesting against French nuclear testing, well we would have had a quite different future.
But we didn't.
Whitlam was rolled, Kirk died. Independent foreign policy died. The Non Aligned Movement was choked to death in the 1980s by World Bank and IMF conditionalities, the CIA, by 2000s Belt and Road loan diplomacy, and by bloc trade deals.
The Cold War got far worse. The War on Terror. And on.
If democracies keep rapidly shrinking and world trade keeps collapsing, New Zealand, Australia, and all our Pacific Island allies going to need more formal military alliances, not less.
SO if things do get dark, answer is YES.
NATO sucks and we should keep our distance.
The anti-China focus (whenever they say Indopacific it means"around China") is to maintain relevance as they don't really see Russia as a threat any more. What is happening in Ukraine is exactly the same as all the other proxy wars of the last 70+ years. Fighting Russia in a 3rd country the same as they did the Soviet Union in Afghanistan and all the rest fits their playbook perfectly. Russia is not the SU nor Nazi Germany. So long as NATO keeps Ukraine afloat Russia can only keep losing.
We shouldn't be playing their games. Joining the playground's biggest bully gang may get you a few sweets and marbles, but you stay dirty. Staying neutral and being friendly with all sides means you can live with yourself after you leave school.
Agree Barry Nato sucks, and so does USA and the UK.
Failed warmongering imperialists causing mayhem around the globe.
Lets stay out of it. Or align with the new order – Russia/Chine/India who want
peace and to share the world without constant wars. Everyone is sick of the USA hedgemoney and it's Nato battering ram.
Russia is currently grabbing bits and shelling the cities of its neighbours.
China keeps making noises about Taiwan, when it's not arresting and disappearing people in Hong Kong and Xinjiang.
India is in a permanent military standoff with Pakistan and China.
Germany is re-commissioning their old old brown coal plants! Ha!
Some of them had to learn to speak Russian once…
Greenbus:
'Hedgemoney' is either an innocent typo, or a brilliant pun. I like it.
It is internationally recognized – including by the USA, China, Japan, Taiwan – that Taiwan is an integral part of China. China does not need to attack Taiwan. What is in dispute is the legitimate government of China. What all the above states, except China, want is regime-change in China. Simple stuff.
China supplanted the USA in using the most carbon and India will supplant them. Russia will burn carbon till the frozen tundra releases its methane.
The per capita emissions of the US are twice that of China.
China hasn't even begun. It's largely undeveloped in the interior.
Yeah – the tedious old 'per capita' excuse. What matters is carbon intensity 'per unit of GDP'.
In this measure China and Russia are by far the worst offenders. And given their total size – by far the worst contributors to the carbon crisis of all. Effectively they have been committing ecocide against the rest of humanity for decades.
Tedious for you I guess RL because a focus on per capita use doesnt allow for a continuation of the extreme lopsidedness of resource allocation. Anything that is scarce should and must be allocated on a per capita basis. Anything else just exacerbates inequality.
If resources were allocated on a per-capita basis I really don't think you'd be enjoying the results – you know, given we struggle now with energy production and have the same population as Costa Rica.
I think you misunderstand what per capita means. It means everyome gets an equal share so the amount allocated to Costa Rica would significantly increase.
Oh I understand what per capita means. Our rather tenuous existence here is offset by our disproportionate first world allocation of resources. Ideals are nice but they don't get you through pandemics.
Of course, only in tankie twerp land do they want to share the world without constant wars.
China has been throwing it's weight around for years in border disputes with Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Singapore, Brunei, Nepal, Bhutan, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Tibet and most recently, India.
Since partition in 1947 thousands have died during India's nasty, ongoing sectararian border disputes with Pakistan.
And Russia. Yup peaceful AF if you ignore their bloodthirsty fuckery in Georgia, Chechnya, Syria and of course, Ukraine.
/
Uncle Sam has his smelly armpits all through Syria. USA is backing ISIS!
USA is backing NAZIs in Ukraine. American and French howitzers are being used to shell Doneskt city full of civilians. That's a war crime. Good old uncle sam, what a guy, huh.
Insensate septage, sport.
/
lol – somehow just perfect.
You do not even understand the difference between Islamic State and the rebels in Syria.
Islamic State was originally Al Qaeda in Iraq and the USA fought them there and drove them into Syria. When they attacked Iraq – the USA, Kurds (in both Syria and Iraq), Iraq and Shia militias and Iran (talk about a broad alliance) fought them until Islamic State was defeated. The ones who did nothing about Islamic State were Syria, Russia and Turkey.
Your understanding of the events in Europe is as unhinged.
Fuck off! The USA & UK are not worse than China or Russia.
China may be slightly better than USA as they don't want the whole world, they only want half of it. But they still want it!
Russia under Putin is clearly expansionist, and oppressive to its neighbours. Whether it will become more peaceful after Putin goes is not clear.
India is also not nice to have as a neighbour.
We are better off aligning with none of them. The UN is our friend (with some reform, even better). As a small nation we are better to rely on international institutions, rather than allying with ANY of the bullies.
Why should it have done anything in Europe in the last ten years? Europe has been at peace for the last ten years. Have any NATO members been attacked in the last ten years? No. And if they had you'd be complaining about imperialism. Russia didn't do much better in Afghanistan, nor indeed did Afghanistan itself.
Russia is also white and colonial. The thing that currently has NATO occupied is one of the main reasons to pay attention to our relationship with NATO.
Aside from the fact it does contain a number of our important trade partners and liberal democracies like ours, actually it does include the global south insofar as France, the US, UK and Norway have Pacific territories, some of which have significant populations. Then again, there are many who would argue that Australia and New Zealand are only part of the "global south" in geographical terms.
The difficulty with shit-canning Nato, is what options we are left with.
Not only do Nato countries feature high in the trade wishlist that has outweighed local policy considerations since jolly Roger conducted his unprecedented bit of barratry, but the relationships available with other large players require becoming nodding dogs for not even remotely free or democratic states. NZ is bad enough under neo-liberalism with mass low-wage migration driving down living conditions – the addition of a corrupt foreign despot vetoing everything they choose would not be an improvement.
Nato is doing it's utmost to prolong the Ukrainian genocide of it's military, for the benefit of Ukraine? Nope. Nato western bloc is sucking Ukraine dry AND leaving themselves almost cleaned out of their own war toys, for the benefit of uncle sam.
What a guy! The shameless yanks do all this to win the mid terms.
So Nato is quickly becoming a toothless old has-been, while Russia shows them all, for a 2nd time how to deal with Nazi scum.
Russia shows them all, for a 2nd time how to deal with Nazi scum.
Most people don't think letting Nazi scum become presidents for life is a good way of dealing with them.
You are way out on a limb, cheering for the invasion, nor is it going swimmingly for Russian forces.
Perhaps the quickest litmus test of Russia's principles lies in its treatment of dissenters. Human Rights Watch can give you some idea: Russia: Brutal Arrests and Torture, Ill-Treatment of Anti-War Protesters | Human Rights Watch (hrw.org)
The down with NATO, all hail Eurasia, East Asia and Oceania thread.
The promotion of NATO defeat and the need for Oceania to appease Russian hegemony in Eurasia and Chinese hegemony in East Asia.
The advocacy that Oceania abandon nations to this hegemony, rather than stand by the collective security of nations is amoral. And to associate Russia and China with leadership in regard to global warming, or overfishing, or the The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea is nonsense.
But we have always been at war with Eastasia!
Not while Oceania is containing Eurasia. Oceania fights only one war at a time. With one war, with the other diplomacy (and all past war forgotten). This has been policy since this new world order began.
Thank you Mike, you are always a voice of reason on here. We need to stay away as far as we can from the completely corrupt murderous NATO and associated acronyms, evil minded people, Asia is our future. Russia just put paid to the illusion of American dominance and it, with China herald a multi polar moment. bring it on ..
Our defence policy is set in Canberra, since it is impossible to imagine a peer or near peer conflict involving Australia not also being a casus belli for us. On the wider point, I'd rather fight alongside all the other shitty liberal democracies than alongside Xi and the Butchers of Beijing or the mad murderous man who wants to be Tsar Putin I.
When reading these treasonous tankies weasel on about how wonderful Putin and Xinping are – I truly wonder why they still live here in the democratic west. Clearly they place very low value on the democratic world, so why not migrate to these much better peace loving utopias they love so much?
Alternatively whether they would openly say such things if they lived in Ukraine right now. They are at heart cowards sweated by vengeful fantasies.
Russia is a Democarcy, get your head out of that aussie dessert.
Poots has 85% support of Russia. What's Bidens support? Or Boris?
You obviously know zero about non western countries except for the rubbish
endlessly spewing out of the MSM.
Unlike you I have lived and worked in Russia on two separate occasions. Once in 2001 for six months and again in 2017 for four months. I have made reference to these periods a number of times here at TS going years back.
Similarly I have lived and worked in a fairly decent list of non-Western nations in this past decade. Also openly mentioned here on the infrequent occasion.
This does not make me an expert on any of these places, but generally informed enough to know your claims are delusional bullshit. Otherwise what joe90 said.
That's how real "democarcies" work. Sic semper tyrannis, sweetie.
Russia is a Federal Republic with and lower and upper house, democratic yeah nah.
One has to look at context. Firstly, the people of Russia originate from a vast stretch of land. We are talking about between the Ural and the pacific spanning Eurocentric to Asian genetics and history. I mean who has the Mongols as their good neighbor sharing butter tea?
This has influenced their style of government once the country has been "united" Similar as the difficult undertaking of the Chinese emporer Qin Shi Huang (BC). The USA are still working through their issues as we have seen spilling to the surface recently with just some 200 years in the making. All of those transformations have been brutal experiences.
As long we all don't stop and acknowledge that there are different cultures, concepts of government, history in the making etc. and trying to have a one size fits all, every state has to be the same approach we will never see peace.
As for NATO – personally I find it a warmongering society, but again. If they would not exist who would take their place? There is never a vacuum in nature or power structure. The question as always is, for those who have a vote how to use it to reign in the power, corruption and misuse of funds. As for influencing foreign countries, clearly aggression is not the way to go. Sometimes though, deliberate provocation is put in place to have a certain scenario set up. I belief that this is the case with the war in Ukraine.
Red, I went back to check because I thought I must have seriously misread, but no, this:
…When reading these treasonous tankies weasel on about how wonderful Putin and Xinping are….
Is false.
The reason it matters is the idea of allegiance to one and an enemy status regarding the other, is coming from you and projected onto other writers. Which leaves you arguing with an imaginary adversary. There may be some exceptions but most are arguing against this kind of policy, as I see it.
The leadership of the US gets up my nose, but leadership throughout the world does. We need a different model. 'Service' to and accountable to the people' would be a good start IMHO. Right across the board.
I think you've said that the world is in a kind of teenaged crisis, needing to grow up, not wanting to let go. But what the socio/political/environmental (etc.) crises, no longer impending but now upon us says is 'no more time to dither, time to start wearing those grown-up pants’.
Indeed – and I have written on that theme on occasion for years. Mostly crickets.
I think I quoted this article a few days ago, but the conclusion speaks directly to the very legitimate question you raise:
Collective security is how individual citizens organise and implement their personal legal rights and personal safety. It is the very basis of the nation state, it is how we prevent the strong from always beating up on the weak.
The same principle applies between the nation states. The post-WW2 era has seen the world benefit enormously from an uneven, patchy and deeply imperfect version of this principle in action as led by the US. It was of course a hegemony, often incompetent, sometimes ruthless and prone to venality – but nonetheless it was never a territorial empire as was all that came before it. It not only took war off the table between it's member states, it also encouraged and protected virtually unlimited trade and exchange between all of them. And as a result the world has seen an unprecedented explosion of human development. Even undertaken on this flawed, tentative and imperfect basis – this universality unleashed extraordinary outcomes.
At this point most people completely misread me. I am emphatically not claiming the US is any kind of paragon. To the contrary, we are all aware of their failings. Nor was a world order dominated by just the one culture never going to persist, and the security order it created for the past 70 odd years is now lamentably defective. It was only ever going to be a transitionary phase on a path toward something better.
Something genuinely universal.
However the strong-man, revanchist ambitions of Putin and Xi Xinping do not qualify. They offer nothing but a great leap backwards into an era of medieval warlords, crossed with an industrial scaled tyranny.
You say, "Collective security is how individual citizens organise and implement their personal legal rights and personal safety. It is the very basis of the nation state, it is how we prevent the strong from always beating up on the weak."
It seems you have a bit of a circular perspective to resolve here. You pose the notion that the strong need neutralizing by collectively becoming the strongest. Didn't Russia, China, North Korea, Iran et al expand their militaries in response to the US, fuelled by its MIC and alliances? Does that, in your view, now give licence for large collective gangs you don’t approve of to counter the likes of NATO?
Thank you for the thoughtful reply.
Sometimes it can be the themes that seem to bring out the crickets that have the most impact. I'm not saying this is the case with the idea of humanity in a critical stage of maturing, I've been thinking this for many years. But my experience through the years that it has turned out that important issues raised, that received no reply often turned out to have had more impact than those that bring voluminous response at the time.
As to the issue of the post, firstly it seems to me that this proxy war strategy is strengthening Russia. It was always cruel to Ukraine to let them be destroyed for some apparently higher good that inevitably turned into a colonial 'snuff movie' for the West. I don't think this was what was intended by those believing that such an imperialist action was necessary due to the dangers posed by Russia.
If Russia is the expansionist threat claimed, the time for NZ to consider its position is when that is proven while expressing disapproval for this invasion and keeping out of it.
To say the provocation and the western sanctions were misjudged would be too generous. Apart from the extreme cruelty to Ukraine, and the ensuing severe global destabilisation, and leaving aside the increased threat of this going both global and nuclear, I'd like the muppets who advised about Russia being beatable by its small neighbour, and advised this strategy would bleed Russia rather than the west to come clean with the cereal packet they gleaned this nonsense from, and be held to account for war crimes along with Russia.
Great post Mike. The comments to this post show at least that there is significant support for a more independent foreign policy. As inflation ratchets up and energy becomes very pricey we will have a lot more to worry about.
Its a pity that Ardern couldnt deliver more of her energy and focus to what will become an increasingly divided socio-economic future reality.
Where are our plans for our wellbeing? Is everything to be taken care of by the central bank raising interest rates as though this will cure a lack of supply side energy? Pretending that all is good and going all in with the doddery colonialists isn't much of a plan.
The only reason why NATO is not pushing a full-throated response in Ukraine is – as you know perfectly well but MS dishonestly omits – is that Putin has repeatedly threatened first strike nuclear response on Europe.
Kremlin hawks and their state controlled media puppets go even further, routinely threatening to obliterate the UK and more. This is beyond irresponsible – it is unhinged warmongering lunacy.
And fuckers like you cannot wait for it to happen.
Sorry Red, What has your rant got to do with Subliminal's comment that you replied to?
What is it that 'fucker's' like Subliminal can't wait to happen? What do you know about his/her sex life that you could share with us so we can't draw our own conclusions about being a 'fucker'?
Oh look, the tone police are out again.
Warning RedLogix! You will no doubt have more to say on future post of mine, but any more personal comments like this and you will be banned. You know the site tules
Well put Mike Smith.
NZ is a Pacific country now, and needs to get out of 5 Eyes and the Anglosphere, and join the Non Aligned Movement imo. Mutually beneficial bilateral trade and cultural relations with other nations rather than imperialist trade and military blocs.
Climate Disaster and other shit storms hitting or about to, indicate a strong case for re-establishment of NZ manufacturing including a basic pharmaceutical industry,
and restoring full public ownership of power generation and supply and a Ministry of Works etc. Coastal shipping against the odds is being reinstated after years of effort by maritime unionists and several shipping companies. It is possible to roll back Rogernomics and the NZ neo liberal state with enough popular support from generations Rent & Student Loan.
The neo blairite Labour Caucus cuddling up to NATO is a retrograde step for those that fought for a Nuke Free NZ and valued the longstanding reasonably independent foreign policy under Helen Clark.
Well put TM. This is the type of vision we need. Looking forward with courage and confidence rather than forever herded by fear.
The so called non aligned movement is nothing but a delusion. Neutrality agreements made in peacetime routinely fail when confronted with reality.
Similarly if New Zealand became non-aligned – exactly who would guarantee our security? China?
A movement chaired by Ilham Aliyev, the autocratic thug who cuddles up to NATO on the qt .
While head of the NAM and the Turkic Council he, the President of Azerbaijan, (son of a former President) received help from NATO member Turkey to attack the Armenian enclave Nagorno-Karabakh.
Hush…you'll spoil it…
Wank on joe, NAM is not a canned panacea, it is a potential alternative to being locked into “our” or “their” Imperialists.
Working class internationalism–Neither Washington, Moscow or Beijing.
HAHAHAHAHAHAH I think a little pee came out then…
I'm curious, which of the 120 NAM states are actually NA? Because from where I'm sitting they're either looking very cozy with Washington or they're hooked up with the BRICS.
Care to define the difference between mutually beneficial bilateral trade and imperialist trade blocs?
My take is nation to nation as they so desire.
Say Cuba or India could offer expertise to Aotearoa NZ with setting up basic drug and vaccine manufacture, and we could offer horticultural expertise, right now various international trade agreement provisions not to mention the 60 year US blockade on Cuba would descend.
The PM hangs out for a US Free Trade Agreement–not going to happen. This country needs other options as the world turns to custard, we cannot just sit here waiting for containers to turn up.
And perhaps we could all live in Ewok villages in the trees or cozy little Hobbit holes, bartering pumpkins or suchlike.
In case you hadn't noticed, India has a raging capitalist boner and is seething with billionaires. They might do a trade deal for cheaper generic meds, possibly, but they sure as little green apples they are not going to help us set up pharmaceutical manufacture in competition with them because unlike some naively trusting souls they aren't stupid.
The container (world distribution disruption) problem is not a long term one.
Sure the USA is no longer a friend of international free trade (having obstructed the WTO judicial appointments – Trump did it, but Biden has not sorted it), having determined on a hegemony struggle (with Russia, Iran, China and socialist nations) – nominally in defence of the free world (while struggling to function as a democracy at home).
Why not regional trade blocks ones – Oz and us with ASEAN. And beyond that onto RCEP and TPP (mark 2)? And the WTO (all the better for being shorn of US dominance)?
I am not sure about self-reliance in drug and vaccine manufacture, we cannot even staff our health system adequately. That said we do need to plan for a two power block world and the GW impact and improve domestic capability/resilience. We do need some version of restored MOW capability/competence – rather than MBIE and dependence on failed monopolies like Fletcher building, coastal shipping, public transport, preserve arable land for food production etc.
What you're really asking is should a first world liberal democracy stand with other first world liberal democracies or should it cower in the corner so it can do business with authoritarian, neo imperialistic regimes that don't believe in democracy, human rights, rule of law or meritocracy international borders, so we can sell them some milk.
That's what you're asking and before the anti western lefty's do some what about things that happened 20 years ago we're talking about today, with china a nation which has concentration camps, slaves and disappears it's people is constantly threatening invasion of Taiwan and being increasingly tyranical to Hong Kong and is constantly showing it's force in the Pacific particularly in Australian waters.
Then there's Russia and it's invasions human rights abuses and threats of nuclear oblivion.
If anyone on the left hates the west that much that they'll side with or even defend or what about over modern day slavery, nuclear oblivion, concentration camps and ripping up the international rules based order which is the only thing that keeps this country safe then those lefty's should ask themselves "are we the baddies?"
Of course a liberal democracy should side with liberal democracy's and not stay silent to do anything else would be a disgrace and to be neutral so we can sell some milk would be disgusting and make us complicit in concentration camps, slavery, imperialism and war, simply so we can sell some milk.
please provide a link or risk part of your comment being deleted.
The highlights link to Wiki.
But delete it if you…must.
Long term US military partners the Philippines and Thailand were the only SEA nations in the alliance. Little wonder it folded.