The Chrematistic Camel
So this post is about a suite of frameworks not to adopt if the goal is to avoid 2 degrees of global warming.
Economy
capitalism
“Died at some point in the recycling process”
Imagine taking shelter on a cold night and ending up crushed or asphyxiated to death in a compressed cardboard recycling bale.
1/3 of Nobel Laureates say Greenpeace is “anti-science”, must now embrace GMOs
Unless you are scaremongering and “anti-science” you should embrace GMO foods. Say 107 Nobel Laureates.
Suck-up economics proceeding as planned – rich getting richer
Inequality in NZ is the worst it’s been in a decade. Key’s response is pathetic. We need to vote to end suck-up economics. We need to be a better country than this.
It’s a Side-show, “Bob”.
From the circus that never leaves town.
The good ones get it
A recent interview with Barack Obama displayed an understanding of the problems offered by globalisation but also understands the complex relationship between trade, elites, workers, and redistribution.
Lessons from Brexit
Reposted from Boots Theory with some updates requested by the author
Snakes and ladders
Yesterday was a big day for both UK and US politics. Brexit revealed the political consequences of social inequality. Meanwhile in America the Trump Train is derailing.
Our zombie economy
It’s basically flat-lining – only partially animated by immigration and a housing bubble.
The politics of dumb anger
There are some pretty depressing political trends going on.
Fire at will (90 days) law a great success!
Or not. More National ideology burned to the ground by facts.
Orlando; Owen Jones On Homophobia.
Guardian journalist Owen Jones nails the failure of many to call the Orlando killings what they are; homophobic terrorism. It’s not an excuse for anti-muslim hysteria, as Trump, Seymour and Peters would have it, it’s the worst single attack on LGBT people since the holocaust.
Why American Foreign Policy still matters
So what should the next President of the United States focus on? Military power or economic domination or international institutions?
Official climate change fraud
Scientists and experts have been knowingly understating the unfolding climate change catastrophe to governments and decision makers. Why? For the sake of what is “politically palatable”.
The ghost house epidemic and the invisible hand
Last year there were officially 22,000 unoccupied properties in Auckland. This year 33,000 are officially classified as empty. “Auckland’s 6.6 per cent vacancy rate is higher than either Sydney (5.2 per cent) or Melbourne (4.8 per cent), where there has been an uproar over “ghost houses” deliberately left empty by speculators trading on a soaring market”. This is madness.
Essential reading – Hickey on immigration
Hickey: “Helping employers to bring in low-skilled migrants instead of investing in new technology and becoming more productive so they can pay local workers more is essentially stunting our productivity and real GDP per capita.”
The Sky City ghost jobs
Radio New Zealand has reported that the promised jobs relating to the construction of the Convention Centre are appearing. But in Thailand, not New Zealand. Updated with comment on the terms of the supplemental agreement.
Taihoa on Immigration?
Winston Peters has called for a slashing of migrant worker numbers and for screening of would be workers based on things like their attitude to women. Is it time for a taihoa on immigration or is Winston just doing a Trump?
Switzerland votes against UBI
Seems the path towards acceptance of the UBI is not going to be smooth.
The election campaign, the $6,000 toaster and the media beat up
In Australia in the midst of the election campaign an ordinary Australian, Duncan Storrar, talked publicly about how difficult it was to live and support his children on the minimum wage. The response of the right through News Corp was to attack and humiliate him.
Is the petro world in decline?
There are various suggestions that the metro industry’s domination of the world may be in decline.
Waking up to the realities of neoliberalism and austerity
Even the IMF now acknowledges that neoliberal economics and government austerity policies have failed. Look around at New Zealand – you can see the effects.
More Panama papers and other dirty money
Both One News and The Herald have pieces this morning highlighting different cases of dirty money being “filtered” through NZ. Panama papers, National donors, SkyCity and more…
Time to wake up to the Electricity Authority
The Electricity Authority is planning hearings on proposals that will mean that Rio Tinto will save money on electricity charges but people living in Auckland and Northland will pay more. Time to make your voices heard.
Guest Post: Dancing to the Neo-Liberal Songbook
In a guest post, regular commenter Tony Veitch takes some learnings from Noam Chomsky’s latest documentary Requiem for the American Dream. The neo-liberal plan has been in place for over thirty years. How come we’re only just starting to understand it?
We’re going to burn it all, until we burn it down.
What does it really mean to reduce NZ’s total fossil fuel use by 50% by 2030: a warm up discussion for an upcoming thought experiment.
Key to Homeless: You Can Stay at Mine
Prime Minister John Key has today announced a radical plan to solve the housing crisis. The homeless are now welcome to go flatting with him in his Parnell bach. The plan includes draining the swimming pool and subdividing it into flats, putting hammocks in the palm trees and making soup in the pool cabana’s kitchen. Max Key may have to move out to make way for the homeless, but the PM described that as a painful sacrifice he was now willing to make in the light of his son’s most recent social media posting.
NZ fishery catch 2.7 times reported – new study says
“The findings also reveal how the Quota Management System, despite its intentions and international reputation, actually undermines sustainable fisheries management by inadvertently incentivising misreporting and dumping,” University of Auckland’s Dr Glenn Simmons said.
Make the TPP a Conscience Vote
Last week, Andrew Little gave Phil Goff permission to vote with National for the TPP. Bryan Bruce asks if it is time for all MPs to be given a conscience vote on the TPP.
Take action on tax haven corruption? NZ says – meh
The Nats are all over the place on this, and they’re trashing our reputation in the process.
Competition lapdog a cert to approve newspaper monopoly
“The newspaper market is buggered anyway. I wouldn’t expect we will have any daily newspapers in ten year’s time,” says Brian Gaynor.
Laundering earnings vs laundering money
When a corporation launders its earnings in a tax haven, it is completely upfront about where the money came from and who it belongs to, which differentiates the activity from “money laundering.”
It Feels Kinda Half Baked.
Maybe you didn’t hear that this week is NZ sign language week…
Fixing the tax haven – what’s the downside?
Fixing our tax haven loopholes is easy but Key won’t act. Why?
What the TTIP teaches us about the TPP
TTIP, TTPA, same game around the globe, a take-over by American corporations, with the rights of the public held in no regard whatsoever.
National Party President selling out?
The $25 million deal prompted considerable curiosity because it involved an off-market purchase of shares from Sanford’s second biggest shareholder, Avalon Investment Trust, which is run by the family of Peter Goodfellow.