Saving the town
What do you do for a town when the company that provides all the jobs shuts down?
advantage
It’s time to reform Fonterra
Fonterra was formed to give New Zealand an economic advantage. Instead it is looking like the country’s biggest achilles heel. Time to reform?
Why Hillary is the only candidate to beat Donald Trump
Why Hillary Clinton should be the Democratic nomination for this year’s American Presidential elections.
The left should take lessons from Donald Trump
Ad on why the left should look at Trump’s populism and adopt some of the better parts.
Common ground at Abel Tasman National Park
The desire of many New Zealanders to put a beach in the South Island under public control presents the opposition parties with a great opportunity to identify and defend common ground.
Waitangi Day v Anzac Day
Advantage asks why is Waitangi Day not treated the same as Anzac day?
Barry Brickell: Earth to Earth
Ad reflects on the death of Potter Barry Brickell and his tremendous contributions to art and environmental protection and poses the question are we doing as much as Barry to make the world a better place.
The unexpected oil crisis
The world is currently facing a problem that even a few years ago was unthinkable. Oil is cheap and demand has dropped out of the market. What are the geopolitical implications of this?
New Zealand’s alternative 1984
What would have happened if in 1984 David Lange had exerted control and appointed a centrist rather than right wing Labour cabinet?
Film review: The New Star Wars movie
And now for something completely different for the Standard, a film review.
The major world risks in 2016
Ad reviews Eurasia’s appraisal of global risks the world faces in 2016.
We will always have Paris
COP21 provided welcome commitment by the world’s nations to do something meaningful about climate change. But this is not enough. So what next?
Local Democracy
Ad discusses a phenomenon where Local Government is having a greater and greater effect on New Zealand’s development. But local politicians are having less and less effect.
Christmas and Freedom
Part two of Ad’s series where he asks if Christianity is actually a liberation theology and maybe Jesus was a leftie after all.
Supply side Jesus
Ad proposes the theory that Jesus was actually a right winger.
CERT: the partial privatisation of the GCSB
A public private organisation with the acronym CERT was announced this week along with the new cyber security strategy. CERT’s role is to provide information to government so it can protect against cyber threats. Which is one of the roles of the GCSB.
The great future tide of homelessness
The Salvation Army, and not the Government, has pointed out some very worrying trends relating to home ownership in New Zealand.
The ALP’s climate change emissions reduction target
The Australian Labor Party will today announce its goals for emissions reduction with a plan for zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Blueskin Bay
The Blueskin Bay settlement north of Dunedin provides an example of people working collectively at a local level to live sustainably.
The third Industrial Revolution
The Paris climate change talks will force leaders to confront climate change and the threat of terrorism at the same time. Can they show the same determination to deal with the gradual but inevitable threat of climate change as they purport to show to deal with the immediate threat of terrorism.
His name was Jonah Lomu
Ad provides some thoughts on the death of Jonah Lomu.
Who would James Bond vote for?
Ad poses the theoretical question of which political party the current James Bond would support.
The Carnival is over
Ad reflects on how the carnival of the Rugby World Cup is now over.
Five years as a united Auckland
Auckland Council is delivering a publication to all Auckland households celebrating five years of Auckland super city. But is there any reason to celebrate?
The left in Auckland
Ad comments on the change of National’s approach to local government in Auckland and suggests that there should be cooperation amongst the parties on the left locally and between the central organisations of the parties.
Is it time for progressives to love rugby?
Ad reflects on the relationship between the left and rugby since the springbok tour.
Rugby or global leadership?
John Key seems to prefer that New Zealand provides leadership in entertainment than in the areas that really matter.
Keeping going
Advantage has some suggestions on how to maintain and reignite your political activist self.
Film review: The Martian
And now for something slightly different for the Standard, a film review of the Martian.
Left wing activism and the humdrum need to maintain jobs and careers
From the commentator formerly known as Ad is this post where he asks the question many of us face, how do we balance jobs and careers with the desire to be left wing activists?