You Cowed?
To bleat and wring hands, or to act? Jeez. It’s a difficult one.
Politics
community democracy
To you live, from bed! – Writehanded
Writer Sarah Wilson blogged about her experience of the recent Nethui event, looking at Nethui itself, corporate control and the internet, safety for kids, sex worker access to the net, disability access, the importance of digital inclusion and literacy, and the social/cultural consequences of the internet.
Begone, capitalism! You don’t own me
Do we want to be owned by capitalism and stay in its trap of wage and debt slavery, or do we want to boldly go to post-capitalism, whatever that might be.
There is hope
Anarchism and democracy.
WINZ and Super Scandals
Here’s the scandal.
#LeftwithEnough
Mary St George writes about participatory democracy in this year’s election and the new twitter chat #LeftwithEnough.
Alfred Ngaro reprimanded for being “naïve”
Alfred Ngaro has apologised to the Prime Minister for threatening the funding of voluntary organisations critical of the Government, not for expressing the views or even thinking them but for being naïve.
Environment Southland won’t talk in public about water quality
Discussions of the MfE Our Fresh Water 2017 report to be held in workshop that excludes the public and the media.
People’s Commission on Public Broadcasting and Media
Is having a strong, independent media an essential part of a functioning democracy? What is the role of the ‘Fourth Estate’ in today’s world? Are the media doing a good job of keeping citizens informed?
People’s Commission has its final workshops in Auckland, and how to submit online
Everything Contained. Everyone Led.
So what’s important? Millions on the streets and what might become of that, or how many more or fewer people attended a given President’s big day? Just asking…
Eileen Brown for CCDHB
Capital Coast DHB candidate Eileen Brown chairs the Newtown Union Health Service Board, a primary care service for people on low incomes. For the last 10 years, Eileen has worked for the Council of Trade Unions as a senior policy analyst; previously she worked in nursing in many areas including mental health and neuro rehabilitation. Eileen is standing as a Labour candidate. She’d be great on the DHB.
Take back our communities and create Jobs That Count
So often we lose sight of the fact that local government is about much, much more than rates. We’re launching a Jobs That Count ticket to change that.
A Tale of Two Droughts
Climate change is now causing extreme dry weather events and is increasingly blamed for water shortages. But what we are doing on the ground has just as much influence on our experience of drought. As New Zealand farmers call for drought relief this winter, it’s time we looked at how we manage land and water, and the critical role this plays in whether humans can live with variable rainfall in the age of climate change. Here’s a stellar example from India.
Indigenous Perspectives
“It is possible to live in a society with a world view that does not include empire”
– Winona LaDuke
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.
Simplicity
Good shit happening in France.
Corporate Saviours
oh, hallelujah…
A Bright Spark Burning…
A further piece on the peoples’ revolution within Northern Syria.
Aussies & US mount opposition to TPPA – but in NZ we just keep nodding
So much to sell, so little time… When this Government is finished selling, we will have sold our right to make laws for ourselves too. Be under no doubt, if the effect of bringing in a law for the health and well being of Kiwis will cost a corporate millions of dollars, part of their lobbying after the TPP, will be threatening to sue the taxpayers of NZ and watch such a Bill slip into obscurity. And those corporates wielding that power? Most will never pay a cent of tax into the coffers of NZ taxpayers.
Local Leadership
The Labour Local Government Council ran a hui last Friday in Wellington. I went along and it was one of the better Labour events I have been to in a long time – community-based organisers sharing and discussing what works. Crosby/Textor is onto it too.
This is not business as usual. This is not some hippy over-reaction. This is serious shit!
New author Mandy Hager joins us with some reflections on having become a grandmother: “So that’s why I’m speaking out now, every opportunity I get. Not because I like the exposure (shudder), but because I love this tiny little person and I will fight for his future, come what may. It’s the right thing to do. …”
For a better way…
The NACT way is Not Our Way. We need a better way of governance and democracy. One that is for all the people. I joined the hardy souls who went to the Not Our Way rally and march in Auckland.
Roads ‘n’ rules
The Kumeu candidates debate last night covered topics ranging from the very local, to the global: local roads and round-a-bouts, through the internet, poverty, health, jobs and education, to climate change, the TPPA, and the GCSB. Roads and rules were a recurring theme. [updated: stuff video; links to Green Party speeches]
Message from Christchurch: Send Help Now
Power has been concentrated into the figure of one man – a man who has in recent weeks shown that he thinks he is above the rule of law. You might think your one vote doesn’t make much of a difference – but it is everything to us here. Another three years of National and Brownlee, and we might not have a vote at a local level at all.
Marama Davidson: candidate for Tāmaki Makaurau
Marama Davidson, is on the Green Party list & is a candidate for the Tāmaki Makaurau seat. Davidson is a really promising up-coming politician. She is committed to working for people, communities, the environment, democratic process, & strongly supports wahine, Māori & young people.
Rogernomics, income inequality & gender politics
All of us, in our diversity, can make a big impact this election year. Time to end the “neoliberal” tyranny! Crime stats are celebrated masking the continuing impact of income & social inequalities. Rogernomics fractured gender politics & rape crisis intiatives.
The struggle over gambling corruption
There has been a long struggle by the Problem Gambling Foundation & others against SkyCity & the powerful and secretive Pokie Trusts. The government has tended to support the trusts, while maintaining their distance from them. The defunding of the PGF is the latest chapter in the struggle.
Role of Government
Governments are holding on to their traditional roles and functions, but the world has changed. We need something else.
just a voice
Brief occasional updates were requested on the public meetings being held in Dunedin. I’ll be straight up about this. I’m not altogether comfortable about submitting these posts because some readers might see the meetings as being synonymous with me. They’re not. But since I’m the only person with posting rights and because it wouldn’t be be appropriate to post an opinion under ‘notices and features’…
Off the Pages (impressions)
A very brief and broad brushstroke account of yesterday’s meeting at Dunedin Botanic Gardens.
Off The Pages – reminder
Saturday afternoon. 1 O’Clock. Bandstand in Dunedin Botanic Gardens.
Towards online citizens’ radio
What would it take to set up and run one or two regular online progressive radio shows? Ones to counter the corporate dominance of politics, news and current events in the MSM, and on TV & radio, including on RNZ.
Where is this Democracy they Speak of?
There’s a rumour going around that we live in a democracy.
A Tale of Two Cities
It was the best of times in Wellington today. Council workers will get a living wage, and parking wardens will become council employees so they will get decent pay also. It was the worst of times in Auckland as the right-wing Scrooges having failed to remove Mayor Len Brown took it out on their workers by overturning his call for a living wage for Council staff.
Off The Pages…
…and into the world.