Open mike 13/02/2023

Written By: notices and features - Date published: - 60 comments
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60 comments on “Open mike 13/02/2023”

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    2. 1.2

      "GIDS ignored children’s histories of sexual abuse"

      …and a range of other issues as well.

      "Former clinicians at the Gender Identity Development Service (Gids), part of the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust in London, have detailed how some “incredibly complex” children were placed on medication after one face-to-face assessment, despite many having a variety of mental health or family background problems.

      More than a third of young people referred to the service had moderate to severe autistic traits, compared with fewer than 2 per cent of children in the general population. Some identified not just as a different gender, but a different ethnic background, such as Japanese or Korean. One young person had “three different alter egos, two of whom spoke in an Australian accent”.

      It's frightening what has been done to these children.

  2. 2

    Putin's war crimes multiply. The strategy here is clear – keeping the Dniepr river in flood to protect the Russian's western flank from an amphibious assault, eventually deny drinking water to millions of Ukrainian civilians and ensure that there will be no grain for export this year from the Ukraine. This is not the actions of a reasonable or even sane regime. It is the unhinged and genocidal actions of criminals and totally unjustified by any norm of civilised behaviour.

    So let's be clear. Russia is waging a total war on the Ukraine at a level of demented brutality not seen since the darkest days of the second world war. Millions rely on Ukrainian grain for food in the middle east. Putin appears to be prepared to plunge the entire nations of innocents into hunger in order to achieve whatever ruinous, messianic vision he has descended to in his all-encompassing madness.

    Putin and his mob of equally psychopathic gangsters who run Russia are determined to keep raising the stakes on the already high crimes they are guilty of, and they are playing for keeps for maximalist war aims. Surely, such behaviour simply makes a wider war inevitable. Poland is engaged in a crash rearmament, ordering staggering amounts of weapons from especially South Korea. Putin can't conquer the Ukraine, his army is too weak now. If he drags on a demented, genocidal assault on the Ukraine for another year then I can't see the likes of Poland staying out forever.

        1. 2.1.1.1

          Poland would have to be the "aggressor" if war were to break out between them and Russia. I doubt whether Russia is planning on attacking Poland. It sounds as though the latter are becoming paranoid. Still, arming themselves is good for the arms manufacturers.

          1. 2.1.1.1.1

            Are you annoying Polish History?

            There are two Nations that the Poles hate the most Germany & Russia!

            Given that Germany is a democracy & both the EU & NATO.

            The other Russia is run by a one man raving lunatic who thinks he's the next Russia Tsar who wants to rebuild the Russian/ USSR Imperial.

            Who has invaded another country aka Ukraine Violation of Article 51 of the UN Charter,the Lisbon protocol & Budapest memorandum which Russia signed when Ukraine got its independence in 1991. (well Poot's has invaded a few countries as the Russia President btw).

            Russia has also now setup shop Belarus with what 100k+ troops & let's not forget the Russian garrison in Kaliningrad Oblast which shares a border with Poland.

            Given what Tsar Poot's has said about Poland over the last decade or so & especially in the last 5yrs.

            Poles can be almost be forgiven to be a tad on edge atm, given pass history at the way Imperial & USSR Russia has treated Poland especially from post WW1 onwards!

            If Russia & Belarus were too be stupid enough to invade Ukrane from Belarus in the forthcoming Russian Offensive? I wouldn't be surprised if Poland goes all in, while telling the EU & NATO to FUCK OFF!

            Plus I'm also sure that Poland has & no doubt the EU along with NATO has read the Riot Act to Belarus. That if it facilitates a Russian invasion of Ukraine from its Borders, it will find itself in trouble & that NATO nor the EU will have any Responsibility for Poland's Actions if it chooses to support Ukraine by Invading Belarus!

            Poland has not forgotten what Russia has done to Poland & it will never for give them either!!

            1. 2.1.1.1.1.1

              That should be post WW2. In 1918-1920 Poland waged two sucessful eastern wars: firstly against a short-lived nascent Ukraine Republic that claimed cities like Lvov, (now Lviv), which had 60% Polish-speaking population, a large Jewish population and minority Ukraine population; and secondly against Russian and Ukraine Soviets.

              A 1920-1939 map of Poland shows significant areas now in western Ukraine and Belarus were a part of Poland between WW1 and WW2. Polish veterans were given land grants in those regions.

              1. 2.1.1.1.1.1.1

                It was touch an go for the Poles at one stage as they were fighting a two front war for their independence against the remains of the Imperial Germany Armed Forces aka the Freikorps & the Bolsheviks in the East while supporting the newly independent Ukraine as well with the idea of reforming the Polish- Ukranian Commonwealth. Which is an interesting story IRT Ukraine in itself btw, but with a tragic ending of a Greek Opera.

                The fighting in the East against the Bolsheviks was some of the Bloodiest, where no quarter was given.

                "Note there new book is about to be released on this period of Polish History about fighting Lenin's Red Bolsheviks in the East & it sounds like a ripping read btw".

                If you think a Albanian or Yugoslavian Blood Feud can be little bit crazy at times?

                The Polish & Russia Feud has lasted alot longer & if Russia gives the Poles a half chance/ an excuse? They will be in like Flynn & even God won't help Tsar Poot's!

                1. 2.1.1.1.1.1.1.1

                  Yes, but that's what the West is hoping to avoid, by giving Ukraine as much help as possible. Because if Poland goes in, and Russia loses, Putin will try and immolate the world.

                  It’s in everyone’s interest to get Russia to back off.

        2. 2.1.1.2

          Poland "will not take a backward step to Russia"? It certainly does exactly that to Germany, the U.K. and the United States. It's as much of a doormat now as it's ever been.

          .

            2. 2.1.1.2.1.2

              Robologic, And, like most Soviet satellite states, would do anything to stop the return of a similar overlordship, whether capitalist, fascist, or communist.

  6. 6

    RNZ thinks we have an interest in American "news'..or atleast RNZ's limited understanding of what makes American News..that is.."Trump Bad, Shootings and Bad China with its spy balloons"…for anyone here reduced to having RNZ as their only radio news sourse..but with an actual interest in the state of that particular Nation..I would like to share this terrible story…

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/02/12/east-palestine-ohio-derailment-residents/

    Though even the poor old washington post couldn't bring themselves to acknowledge the absolutely illusion shattering irony…

    https://edition.cnn.com/2023/02/11/health/ohio-train-derailment-white-noise/index.html

    I suspect on a very slow news day, had this happened in say..India or wherever, RNZ may have reported this story as part of the usuale narrative. about so called third world nations….but we seem to be holding on to the illusion of America being a first World Nation..not to mention our delusions about what that even means…

      1. 6.1.1

        Yeah..atleast the Democrats, and the rest of us, know how to farm out child labour when its needed..(I was going to say needed for our cheap crap..but then I remember reading this just last week..

        https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/03/child-labour-toxic-leaks-the-price-we-could-pay-for-a-greener-future

        Gotta love that Guardian headline.."the price we pay.." LOL

        https://www.worldvision.org.nz/getmedia/6904e490-14b7-4fbf-b11e-308ddf99c44a/WVNZ-research-risky-goods-nz-imports/

    2. 6.2

      I have no idea what RNZ ‘thinks’ or what you’re going on about. You seem to believe that you’re offering some context and balance to the poor Kiwis who need it without even knowing about and/or asking for it. You seem to think that there are people who are ‘reduced’ to only source of information, which clearly is the wrong one, in your mind.

      Obviously, it is not a slow news day and RNZ and other NZ MSM sites are understandably dominated by the current event called Gabrielle, which seems to have escaped you.

      Your hypotheticals are idle speculation and show your biased thinking, your illusions, and what you think things even mean…

      Your boring whining sounds familiar.

    3. 6.3

      I'm trying to work out how anyone could be reduced to having only RNZ as their radio news.

      Surely with communications systems and capitalists all over the place trying to make money out of media the numbers in that boat would be infinitesimal.

      1. 6.3.1

        Looks round, sheepishly raises hand.

        Its Radio Control or RNZ for me, I don't go near commercial radio unless the cricket commentary is on. I am sure there are more of us…

    4. 6.4

      Siobhan, I've noticed when scrolling through English-language news sites that the same stories pop up on most. The shrinking number of hard-news on-the-ground journalists inevitably leads to a more homogenous, more limited news reporting. If you shop around, Al Jazeera generates novel Islamic-world news, France 24 reports on North and Central Africa, etc. No one source seems to provide a whole-world news update.

      And disaster porn has always been a feature of headline news, hence the preponderance of wildfire/earthquake/flood reporting with little analysis. Also, if I remember from the Ohio train derailment, there's no death toll, only the possibilty if it had occurred in a more populous area.

  8. 8

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/us-canada/300805292/its-not-aliens-us-officials-quietly-say-after-4th-mystery-object-shot-down

    Amid questions, Biden administration officials have found themselves issuing private assurances there is no evidence they involve extraterrestrial activity, the New York Times reports.

    The latest incurious came as US officials were still trying to precisely identify two others objects blown from the sky by F-22 fighter jets over the past two days, and were working to determine whether China was responsible as concerns escalate about what Washington says is Beijing's large-scale aerial surveillance programme.

    A precedent now set with the 1st balloon, anything unidentified that flies over North America has to be shot down. Get Mulder and Scully onto it.

    Peak insanity. I hope this doesn't impact on the output of global weather forecasting models…..

    1. 8.1

      They can land things on the Moon and Mars, they can bring back manned shuttles to Earth, but they cannot take down a balloon without destroying/losing the evidence?? Have they watched too many movies starring Tom Cruise?

    1. 10.1

      "Centre for Political Research" is one of those innocuous names often favoured by extreme Right astroturfers. They do no more "research" than anyone else who has Google.

      Average age 108.

      1. 10.1.1

        Lol. Had a peruse. VERY strange place. Laden with very well known Climate Deniers, Racists,Business vampires, libertarians And, variations…of nutbars (disclaimer…some guests Not so, were maybe allowed a say to show how open they were? )

        https://www.nzcpr.com/guest-articles-archive/

        Did feel my Sanity Warning alert going off..the scale : ).

        Had to smile at..an old one from the "iron duke" himself….dooming about the evils of the Minimum wage ! 2009

        https://www.nzcpr.com/the-cruel-dark-side-of-the-minimum-wage/

        And, this guy…who knew? 2011

        https://www.nzcpr.com/test-post-191/

        And..escaped. with no urge to vote act. : )

    1. 12.1

      Was listening to Heather Stupidity-Allan interview her father, Barry Soper, just now.

      Three Waters came up (of course) and Soper played an audio clip of a recent exchange between Rawiri Waititi and David Seymour. Waititi accused Seymour of using racist rhetoric. Seymour used the handbook for racists who don't want to appear racist and asks Waititi to say specifically what Seymour has said that is racist.

      Waititi demurred. Soper, his daughter, and boomers up and down the country laughed.

      If the Maori Party are going to be combative they need to have ready answers when Seymour asks what he has said that is racist.

      It should not be difficult!

        1. 12.1.1.1

          Rawiri should have held his line, repeated his certainty and shown that the ACT guy's "dive down into the detail"is a technique designed to befuddle the listener. TPM are correct. ACT are duplicitous 🙂

          1. 12.1.1.1.1

            I would expect someone accusing a parliamentary colleague on national television of racist rhetoric would be able to dive down into the detail.

              1. 12.1.1.1.1.1.1

                "Even had his diplomatic squad rough up Kelvin Davis…"

                Well that's one side of the story. Here's another:

                "It's one thing to have your opponents yelling insults across the House, and quite another to be waylaid by a fellow MP in the corridor and verbally abused. "

                "Jong Khee did not do detail when he accused the Labour Party of backing rapists and murderers."

                Actually, he did.

                "Key's justification is that the Australian's have supplied him with a list revealing that some of the Kiwi detainees are rapists and murders. Australia's immigration minister has also labelled them the worst sort of criminals. But that contradicts what Davis and others have been claiming about the petty nature of some of the crimes of those who are detained. Key's office later released a list compiled by the Australian government earlier this year to prove his claim, though whether or not it does is a moot point. It showed that as of May there were 34 child sex offenders, 22 murderers and 16 rapists and sex offenders on Australia's hit list, along with 121 Kiwis convicted of assault, 83 with theft, robbery and breaking and entering offences to their name and 64 drug offenders. But that's out of a total 585 New Zealanders who are in the system for visa cancellation. Presumably that leaves 140 or more who are being deported for less serious offences."

                Key ramps up the politics on Kiwi detainees | Stuff.co.nz

                1. 12.1.1.1.1.1.1.1

                  Bless, by linking the Tracy Watkins article your defence of Key and the political right did not turn out how you wanted.

                  It highlights that the current problems NZ has with retail, ram-raid, and gang related firearms crime is down to one John Keys.

                  He did meekly provide the pathway for Australian based problems to manifest here. We are now paying that price.

                  1. 12.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1

                    “Bless, by linking the Tracy Watkins article your defence of Key and the political right did not turn out how you wanted.”
                    I don’t know what you mean by ‘how I wanted’. It turned out that John Key did provide detail to justify his comments about the 501’s.

            2. 12.1.1.1.1.2

              I agree. Seymour asked a simple question that Rawiri couldn't answer because people like Rawiri have become accustomed to spouting racist rhetoric with little fear of being taken to task for their comments.

              The question is: should this clown hold the balance of power at election time, I can't see either Labour or National gaining from going into coalition with the Maori Party. National would lose a massive voter base, and Labour would be forced into more Three Waters type sops to accommodate a coalition agreement. The result for either party would probably be a one term tenure before getting the boot.

        2. 12.1.1.2

          You have read my comment so you will be aware I have asked Rawiri Waititi to be more prepared to combat Seymour's Age of Enlightenment points.

          These scumbags will do whatever to minimise a similar Maori renaissance because they know the value of what has been taken without permission.

          Land owning farmers which NACT represent are terrified the accusation of their multi billion dollar estate might be subject to scrutiny…

          …imagine those bloody Maoris having a say in what we can do with NZ land!

          1. 12.1.1.2.1

            A strange comment, considering of their 10 MP's, three are Maori, including the party leader, and the #3 and #6 on the party list.

            1. 12.1.1.2.1.1

              In practice Seymour is about as Maori as I am which is zero. It hurts actual Maori people to have him claim whakapapa but never ever use it for the good of Maori. In fact his policies actively work against a Maori renaissance, rather amalgamating and diluting Te Ao into a One NZ where cultural identity comes second to the economic power of the individual.

              For ACT it's all about locking in those gains of the 17th Century, and more recently here locking in the illicit gains wayward European settlers made in the dead of the night.

              For them Maori have the right to exist but in no way should that be at the expense or inconvenience of the very white people who have benefitted from proceedings thus far.

      2. 12.1.2

        It shouldn't be difficult, but Seymour is a wily politician with 8 years of sharpening rhetoric under his belt, and Waititi is a first term MP

        The racism is covert dogwhistling. Calls for one nation. Accusing Māori activists of separatism, apartheid, etc. Extremely dishonest shit.

        The problem is what Seymour doesn't say. He talks about equality and opportunity, but his party's sociopathic policies do exactly the opposite.

        Seymour is a skilled and amoral liar.

        We like to joke about him twerking on TV and looking like Rimmer the hologram, but he’s probably the most dangerous politician in NZ right now. If he gets into government NZ will descend into a “BoJo Britain” level of dysfunction.

        1. 12.1.2.1

          I'm glad you mentioned Boris Johnson because I suspect his style is what David Seymour is trying to copy. His 'state of the nation' speech was about European superiority in the 17th Century. Boris Johnson is a gregarious Classics buffoon and Seymour is emulating that.

          The problem is what Seymour doesn't say. He talks about equality and opportunity, but his party's sociopathic policies do exactly the opposite. Seymour is a skilled and amoral liar.

          So true and this is what I'd like to see the Maori Party and others really highlight. That is the inherent racism of the ACT Party.

  14. 14

    There is a reason they call it the Great Barrier.

    Long may it stand between cyclones and me.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/weather-news/300805400/cyclone-gabrielle-to-reach-closest-point-to-auckland-on-monday-tracking-southeast

    At 9am on Monday, MetService meteorologist Alwyn Bakker​ said the former tropical cyclone system was sitting a couple of hundred kilometres almost directly north of Great Barrier Island.

    As of 1pm, Cyclone Gabrielle was sitting about 250km to the north, northeast of Great Barrier Island, MetService meteorologist Peter Little said….

    ….Cyclone Gabrielle is forecast to continue to take a more southerly course, bringing it down to Great Barrier (just shy of 100km from Auckland), and Coromandel Peninsula on Monday night….

    ….“We can say with pretty good certainty that [Gabrielle] will come closer to Great Barrier Island today.”

  15. 15

    Putin's hypocrisy, continuing their attacks on civilians in Ukraine the Russian Federation does not let up on its attacks on the people of Syria.
    Despite the suffering caused by the devastating earthquake Russia uses its veto in the UN to stop the free flow of humanitarian aid into North West Syria. While demanding the sanctions on its ally the genocidal Assad regime be lifted.

    https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/syria/2023/02/12/white-helmets-demand-extra-border-crossings-to-allow-earthquake-aid-into-north-west-syria/

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