Words of Outrage or Outrageous Action?
Do you reward rage with rage or do you ignore it and walk away quietly?
Politics
activism
Blind-sided by Five Eyes
It has been good to see some pushback in the media questioning the wisdom of Mahuta’s FiveEyes alignment as the first public act […]
Assange’s torture and the death of journalism
On the eve of Assange’s extradition hearing in London, award-winning freelancer Jonathan Cook has written a scathing indictment of corporate journalism’s collusion in ignoring his official torture. I posted an example of that here last year, where Richard Harman denied Assange was a journalist at a panel convened at Parliament by the British High Commissioner.
Hong Kong principles
According to our Prime Minister, today’s announcement that New Zealand is suspending extradition arrangements with Hong Kong is because of our principles. But it is not immediately clear what these principles are, other than falling into line with our Five Eyes spying partners. Some history is important.
Looking the wrong way? The SIS in New Zealand
Richard Northey and Nicky Hager will discuss their experiences with the SIS over the past thirty-five years, what they reveal about the agency’s values and culture, and what we might want to see in the forthcoming review of the intelligence and security agencies post the Christchurch mosque massacre. St Andrews Church, The Terrace, Wellington, Friday 3 July 5:30pm. All welcome, register here.
We say we want a revolution…
Destroy capitalism, right? But what’s the replacement?
NZ Police abandon Armed Response Teams
We have a model of policing by consent and that means we need the vast majority of people to see as legitimate the style in which we’re policing and it’s been clear to me that there has not been acceptance of this as an appropriate style of policing in New Zealand. – Police Commissioner Andrew Coster
More Skripal bullshit
Skripal’s relatives don’t believe it, Jacinda Ardern doesn’t believe it, Paul Buchanan doesn’t believe it, and I never believed it. But a story planted in the UK Sunday Times that the Skripals are here lets our media rerun the assassination attempt that failed, even though the most deadliest poison in the world was involved. Stuff website has a British Minister from Theresa May’s time rerunning the old lies,as does the NZ Herald. Fits in nicely with the SIS anti-Russian history.
Constitutions that build citizen power and joy
Emerging from the current crisis, what kind of state can be envisaged that could do the opposite of this consciousness deflation, by enabling and encouraging an empowered citizenry, and harnessing public intelligence, creativity and ingenuity for the common good?
Lefties on The Standard: UK election edition
A dedicated post on The Standard providing a discussion space for left-wing people only.
Lefties on The Standard redux
A dedicated post on The Standard providing a discussion space for left-wing people only.
Next round of NZ and international climate actions
School Strike for Climate, Extinction Rebellion, That Humble Man, Greenpeace.
Zero Carbon acts – this is how change happens
The Zero Carbon Act is not perfect, but it’s a critical step in the social and political change that is needed to prevent catastrophe.
Young Māori voices on climate action
An indigenous youth delegation from Aotearoa is heading to the 25th UN Climate Talks.
British Justice tortures Assange
Craig Murray reports on the horror of Julian Assange’s treatment by British so-called “justice.” Read it and don’t weep. You can see why Murray resigned from the UK foreign service; their diplomacy is just as bad.
“Extinction Rebellion blanket ban chilling and unlawful”
Amnesty International condemn police blanket ban on Extinction Rebellion protests in London.
NRT: Climate Change: Join the rebellion
“there’s more than one way to protest, and as the climate crisis bites, then continued government inaction is likely to push people towards more confrontational styles of protest.” Extinction Rebellion’s Wellington day of action is on Monday.
Green MP Chlöe Swarbrick on fire
“The political status quo is unfit to confront the climate crisis”
Another world is possible
Yesterday’s New Zealand Climate Strike numbers reached a tipping point of climate action going mainstream.
Strike for Climate today
Countrywide events for today’s Strike for Climate.
The climate action momentum
The global School Strikes this week and the upcoming International Rebellions are part of a large wave of change that gives us a chance at preventing the worst of climate disaster.
National gather fuel for their political dumpster fires
Not so much Zero Carbon as Zero Shits. While National look set to monkey-wrench our climate legislation, we can remember that the real power in addressing the climate crisis lies outside of parliament.
We are sailing
Greta Thunberg’s journey was an invitation into a conversation not about deprivation, but how to live well as we change.
Funding radical climate action
The Climate Emergency Fund (CEF) has pledged $350k to Extinction Rebellion, if others will match it.
Ihumātao: Today’s Nationwide Day of Action
After increased police presence and action at Ihumātao on Monday night, the call went out again for people to come to support the Protectors, and they did. More support can be offered at solidarity events being held across the country today.
Dinosaurs Fight Extinction Rebellion
Dinosaurs are speeding up our extinction.
FiveEyes on our elections
Andrew Little’s letter to the Select Committee on election interference puzzled me – it seemed to be out of the blue and not particularly relevant to our system. Then I read about a meeting on the Gold Coast last year and it became clear as to why – FiveEyes pressure.
Government under FiveEyes
Australian Federal Police chief Neil Gaughan told media after raiding the ABC that “if police did not investigate the leaking of classified information, Australia would no longer be entrusted by FiveEyes partners with intelligence that saves lives.” FiveEyes didn’t save Muslim lives in Christchurch.
Huawei go again
Mike Pompeo has just been in Britain trying to bully the UK government out of using Huawei for its 5G network. He and other officials have been heavying countries around the world. Its not working, but one thing is clear. It makes GCSB’s head Andrew Hampton’s assertion that its decision to reject Huawei was independent is simply not believable.
The Brady Papers
Anne-Marie Brady submitted to yesterday’s Select Committee Inquiry into foreign interference in our elections, making copious reference to her “Magic Weapons” paper of 2017. She didn’t mention another paper which casts a much different light on her independence and purpose
Confirmation bias
The internet neatly divides us into separate isolated tribes with polarised views of what are the issues and what is reality. How do we engage in a civilised discussion to educate each other and reach a consensus of what we should be doing?
Reform of the SIS
Following the Christchurch Mosque murders there are strong calls for an inquiry into the SIS. But should it be given more power or should it be reformed to remove a pretty clear blind spot.
More political interference on Huawei
Here’s another one for the select committee reviewing foreign interference. Visitor from Britain Charlie Parton of the Royal United Services Institute was on Morning Report this morning telling us to avoid Huawei because they are Chinese and different from us. At least he does us a favour by making it clear the matter is political not technical.
Simon Bridges is rooting for the Greens*
Simon Bridges makes a passionate plea for the environment and for a mate.
GCSB head Hampton gazumped by Pompeo
On Wednesday GCSB chief Andrew Hampton told a Select Committee there was absolutely “no pressure” publicly or privately on his decision to block Huawei. On Thursday US Secretary of State Pompeo publicly warned that “United States would not be able to partner with or share information with countries that adopt Huawei Technologies Co Ltd systems.” What a difference a day makes.
Spark vs Spooks
Spark wants Huawei’s 5G technology because its the best and the cheapest. The GCSB spooks don’t want us to have it because 5Eyes and because the US has yanked their chain. The Prime Minister says no decision has been made – the media and the world think it is a goneburger. We should support New Zealand’s Spark, not US corporate interests.