The “Intellectual Yet Idiot” Class – Knowing what’s best for you
When highly educated people end up being idiots, and uneducated people end up being smarter.
Politics
activism
Close the camps Australia
A protest is planned today in Auckland against Wilson’s Parking for its parent company’s management of the Nauru and Manus Island refugee detention centre.
Launch of Economic and Social Research Aotearoa (ESRA)
There is a new leftie think tank in town. Congratulations to Sue Bradford and her team. We hope to hear plenty more from ESRA!
“Flushing flows”
A new phrase is about to enter NZ’s clean green image lexicon.
Assange is a hero: Jill Stein US Greens Presidential Candidate
Julian Assange is a true hero, says Jill Stein unequivocally, along with other whistleblowers who have had the audacity to challenge the status quo establishment.
What if there were only 34 more whitebait harvests left?
Water is life not merely wadeable.
NRT: Against anti-whistleblower laws
I/S at No Right Turn does great analysis of legislation. His coverage of the new spying laws has been excellent. Here he is on National’s clumsy and misguided attempt to re-impose official secrets. Criminalised for reading The Guardian?
Spy vs Us
Today National introduced a bill that will enable the NZ Government to spy on its citizens.
Another Key lie is why this government can’t be trusted with increased spying powers
When caught abusing new powers the response will be the same as when caught out abusing the old – meh, so sue us.
TPP – with a whimper
Plenty of folk today pronouncing the death of the TPP. This is a victory for activism.
Grow the Commons
Robert Guyton on reclaiming the Commons one plant at at time.
Stiglitz on the globalisation revolt
Globalisation is facing a popular revolt. Economist Joseph Stiglitz explains why.
Listening to radical voices
Hard times call for strong voices. Jesse Williams speaks from the Black Lives Matter movement.
Shinbone Star: Bloody Hell
Reprinted with permission from John Palethorpe’s blog Shinbone Star where he analyses the current situation of the British Labour Party and analyses what happens if Jeremy Corbyn wins, and what happens if he loses.
What – you mean – the lefties were right?
Inequality, poverty, the rise of the working poor – people are pissed. Lefties have been saying it for a long time, but now Serious Market People can see it too.
Generation Zero – Zero Carbon Act
“We’re not going to wait around for our politicians to do the right thing any longer; we’re going to draft a bill ourselves with help from experts and collaborators, and work to get all political parties to support it and pass it through Parliament.”
Another shocking environmental record
The world’s news is full of new environmental records. Here’s a shocker.
Another day at Te Puea Marae
An update on Te Puea Marae, a homeless teen cancer sufferer, and how to help.
The politics of dumb anger
There are some pretty depressing political trends going on.
Good morning to the “Park up for homes” folks
A very sincere good morning to the “Park up for homes” folks who have just spent the night in their cars, protesting in support of the homeless.
The service you do for others…
Muhammad Ali: “The service you do for others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth.”
Indigenous Perspectives
“It is possible to live in a society with a world view that does not include empire”
– Winona LaDuke
Petition on tax dodging
Break Free 2016
Break Free From Fossil Fuels. There are still events coming up in NZ, including today in Dunedin.
Climate Change Change Pt 1: What are we waiting for?
Before government spending cuts there was The Riot for Austerity, a grass roots Climate Change movement that showed how it was possible for ordinary people to change and significantly reduce their carbon emissions without someone forcing them to.
NRT: Bill English wants to end your privacy
I/S at No Right Turn the “data supermarket” and privacy concerns. “The government wants to be able to effectively spy on and database everyone, so they can save a few dollars here and there.”
Offers of help flood in to Bill English
Bill English’s abominable comment that young Kiwi men are “pretty damned hopeless” has caused quite a reaction. But here’s an unexpectedly positive one.
A Design for Living; Guest Post
Young Labour member and regular TS reader TheSocialDemocrat has drawn up a manifesto for change. As neo-liberalism enters its twilight phase, now is the time to redefine the debate about what makes a society great.
Simplicity
Good shit happening in France.
NRT: Our fearmongering Prime Minister
I/S at No Right Turn on the “jihadi brides” lie. “This sort of shit is why we cannot trust our spies, or the Ministers who “oversee” them…”
Greenpeace action – live
Greenpeace: We are live at the oil industry conference in Auckland. Through non-violent peaceful civil disobedience, we intend to send the strongest message we can that New Zealand must join the global fight to quit oil and meet the greatest challenge of our time – climate change.
Fear is a Man’s Best Friend
It’s been an intense day or two for Andrew Little. But he’s still feeling better than John Key. Why? Because Key’s got the fear.
Local democracy just got screwed
If the RMA Amendment Bill goes through, then community groups all over the country are going to become intimately acquainted with just how badly they have been shafted by Mr Smith and his accomplices.
Economic anger and political madness
History clearly shows us that when people are economically stressed they turn to extreme action and extreme leaders. Economist Jared Bernstein argues that the Trump ascendancy is another example of this.
New report on GCSB spying powers
A Government-ordered review of NZ’s spy agencies has just been released. Key wants Labour’s support for increased power to spy on Kiwis.
Leave Josie Butler alone
Stuff is asking the employer of Josie Butler, thrower of the fake sex toy at Steven Joyce, if it will take disciplinary action against her for protest activity taken while she was not at work.