There is a hole left in the world
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- Date published:
12:27 pm, January 24th, 2018 - 17 comments
Categories: accountability, activism, capitalism, feminism -
Tags: Ursula Le Guin, writers
thank-you Ursula for all you did. You have been one of the finest thinkers of our time and left a tremendous body of work that will serve the world well with the storms we are facing. All the best for your journey. Always coming home. https://t.co/IIBehGjiGj
— weka đŹ âđŹ (@wekatweets) January 23, 2018
Obituary from the New York Times:
Ursula K. Le Guin, the immensely popular author who brought literary depth and a tough-minded feminist sensibility to science fiction and fantasy with books like âThe Left Hand of Darknessâ and the Earthsea series, died on Monday at her home in Portland, Ore. She was 88.
Her son, Theo Downes-Le Guin, confirmed the death. He did not specify a cause but said she had been in poor health for several months.
Le Guin’s speech on receiving a lifetime achievement award from the National Book Awards:
Books arenât just commodities; the profit motive is often in conflict with the aims of art. We live in capitalism, its power seems inescapable â but then, so did the divine right of kings. Any human power can be resisted and changed by human beings. Resistance and change often begin in art. Very often in our art, the art of words.
Iâve had a long career as a writer, and a good one, in good company. Here at the end of it, I donât want to watch American literature get sold down the river. We who live by writing and publishing want and should demand our fair share of the proceeds; but the name of our beautiful reward isnât profit. Its name is freedom.
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Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...1 week ago
- Govt gifts renters housing anxiety for Christmas
Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Billâwhich allows landlords to end tenancies with no reasonâignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...1 week ago
- Release: National Party urged to support modern slavery legislation
Labour is urging the Prime Minister to walk the talk and support legislation combating modern slavery. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour has lost confidence in the Speaker
The Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament made an unprecedented decision on the government amendment to the Fast Track Approvals Bill last night. ...2 weeks ago
- One year on, still no progress on new ferries
Todayâs announcement from the Government on its plan for new ferries throws more uncertainty on the future of the countryâs rail network. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Nicola Willisâ smaller ferries will cost more
After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...2 weeks ago
- Bill to sanction unlawful occupation of Palestine
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- Release: Labour fully supports greyhound racing ban
The Government has done the right thing in moving to ban greyhound racing. ...2 weeks ago
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After years of advocacy, the Green Party is very happy to hear the Government has listened to our collective voices and announced the closure of the greyhound racing industry, by 1 August 2026. ...2 weeks ago
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In response to a new report from ERO, the Government has acknowledged the urgent need for consistency across the curriculum for Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) in schools. ...2 weeks ago
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The Green Party is appalled at the Government introducing legislation that will make it easier to penalise workers fighting for better pay and conditions. ...2 weeks ago
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Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says Health New Zealand will move swiftly to support dozens of internationally-trained doctors already in New Zealand on their journey to employment here, after a tripling of sought-after examination places. âThe Medical Council has delivered great news for hardworking overseas doctors who want to contribute ...12 hours ago - PM appoints business leader to APEC Business Advisory Council
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has appointed Sarah Ottrey to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). âAt my first APEC Summit in Lima, I experienced firsthand the role that ABAC plays in guaranteeing political leaders hear the voice of business,â Mr Luxon says. âNew Zealandâs ABAC representatives are very well respected and ...2 days ago
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Improvements in the average time it takes to process survey and title applications means housing developments can progress more quickly, Minister for Land Information Chris Penk says. âThe government is resolutely focused on improving the building and construction pipeline,â Mr Penk says. âApplications to issue titles and subdivide land are ...2 days ago
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The Governmentâs measures to reduce airport wait times, and better transparency around flight disruptions is delivering encouraging early results for passengers ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. âImproving the efficiency of air travel is a priority for the Government to give passengers a smoother, more reliable ...2 days ago
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The Government today announced the intended closure of the Apollo Hotel as Contracted Emergency Housing (CEH) in Rotorua, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. This follows a 30 per cent reduction in the number of households in CEH in Rotorua since National came into Government. âOur focus is on ending CEH in the Whakarewarewa area starting ...2 days ago
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The Government will reshape vocational education and training to return decision making to regions and enable greater industry input into work-based learning Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds says. âThe redesigned system will better meet the needs of learners, industry, and the economy. It includes re-establishing regional polytechnics that ...2 days ago
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The Government is taking action to better manage synthetic refrigerants and reduce emissions caused by greenhouse gases found in heating and cooling products, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says. âRegulations will be drafted to support a product stewardship scheme for synthetic refrigerants, Ms. Simmonds says. âSynthetic refrigerants are found in a ...2 days ago
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People travelling on State Highway 1 north of Hamilton will be relieved that remedial works and safety improvements on the NgÄruawÄhia section of the Waikato Expressway were finished today, with all lanes now open to traffic, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.âI would like to acknowledge the patience of road users ...3 days ago
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Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds, has announced a new appointment to the board of Education New Zealand (ENZ). Dr Erik Lithander has been appointed as a new member of the ENZ board for a three-year term until 30 January 2028. âI would like to welcome Dr Erik Lithander to the ...3 days ago
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The latest economic figures highlight the importance of the steps the Government has taken to restore respect for taxpayersâ money and drive economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Data released today by Stats NZ shows Gross Domestic Product fell 1 per cent in the September quarter. âTreasury and most ...3 days ago
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Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Minister of Education David Seymour today announced legislation changes to strengthen freedom of speech obligations on universities. âFreedom of speech is fundamental to the concept of academic freedom and there is concern that universities seem to be taking a more risk-averse ...3 days ago
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State Highway 1 through the Mangamuka Gorge has officially reopened today, providing a critical link for Northlanders and offering much-needed relief ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.âThe Mangamuka Gorge is a vital route for Northland, carrying around 1,300 vehicles per day and connecting the Far ...3 days ago
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Today the House agreed to Brendan Horsley being appointed Inspector-General of Defence, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. âMr Horsleyâs experience will be invaluable in overseeing the establishment of the new office and its support networks. âHe is currently Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, having held that role since June 2020. ...4 days ago
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The Government has confirmed how it will provide redress to survivors who were tortured at the Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital Child and Adolescent Unit (the Lake Alice Unit). âThe Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care found that many of the 362 children who went through the Lake Alice Unit between 1972 and ...4 days ago
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Mr Roger Holmes Miller and Ms Tarita Hutchinson have been appointed to the Charities Registration Board, Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Louise Upston says. âI would like to welcome the new members joining the Charities Registration Board. âThe appointment of Ms Hutchinson and Mr Miller will strengthen the Boardâs capacity ...5 days ago
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New Zealand is providing Vanuatu assistance following yesterday's devastating earthquake, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. "Vanuatu is a member of our Pacific family and we are supporting it in this time of acute need," Mr Peters says. "Our thoughts are with the people of Vanuatu, and we will be ...5 days ago
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The government has quietly cancelled plans to improve recycling and roll out a kerbside food scraps composting scheme. ...1 day ago
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The roads partnership unravelled under a confidential settlement this week, meaning NZTA will now finish off what it had said was incomplete work. ...2 days ago
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She was grand.
It’s common to think of The Word For World Is Forest as a Vietnam analogy, but it works for New Zealand’s history, as well as a host of postcolonial wars pretty well too.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Word_for_World_Is_Forest
Plus, it is surely the source for Avatar, which is going to get a set of sequels made in New Zealand.
In my top ten books that have most influenced me. One of her lesser read works though I think.
Marvelous.
Can I email you?
Please donât.
http://www.ursulakleguin.com/FAQ.html#Email
Along with Dorris Lessing one of my favourite authors at one time of my life. Always sad when such gifted people leave us
When I did my big purge of mainly science fiction and fantasy books back in 2012 after shifting fully to epub. She was one of two authors that we retained. Both my partner and I wanted to reread them.
That is astonishing considering that I have been rereading her books since 1975.
The other was Pratchett.
A Wizard of Earthsea is my favourite. I’ve read it many times.
By coincidence I’ve just started reading it to my kid, a few days ago. I really like Tombs of Atuan as well but will leave that until they’re a bit older.
A.
My favourite too. Although I am very partial to Always Coming Home.
As an author she holds the record for me of books loaned out, and never returned.
“The dispossessed” being the main book. But others too.
That said.
It is a case of, please borrow this book I’ve been reading. We should all read it.
Dispossessed is great
Ah yes, I have a copy of the Dispossessed in my pile of upcoming reads. All the more compelling now!
She is one of my favourite writers and made a big impact when I fist came across ‘The Dispossessed’ and ‘The Left Hand of Darkness’. Like Adam though, I have lent out my books and find to my surprise that have zero Ursula Le Guin on my shelves.
For a beautiful, poetic, politically sharp, uncomfortable short story, try reading “The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas”.
Ferchristsake put a trigger warning on it dude!
“Warning, contains explicit description of child abuse”
A.
Hey, I said it was sharp and uncomfortable. It’s also (clearly) a metaphor. I teach this story, and teenagers really get the parallels: first world lifestyle reliant on 3rd world suffering, deprivation, child labour… Each time I’ve taught it, students have come up with new insights and ideas.
Great author, great life, RIP.
I haven’t read any of her work but this quote of hers seems apt:
One person cannot do two fulltime jobs, but two persons can do three fulltime jobs â if they honestly share the work.
The idea that you need an ivory tower to write in, that if you have babies you canât have books, that artists are somehow exempt from the dirty work of life â rubbish.