T Day
Donald Trump has now been sworn in as the 45th President of the United States. And we are in unchartered territory.
Open Mike 21/01/2017
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You Don’t Know How Lucky You Are Boys ….
, Back in the US, back in the US…R
Predator free NZ – how are we doing?
It has been 6 months since the announcement that New Zealand would be predator free by 2050. But is sounds like nothing concrete has happened yet.
Bill English thinks he was pro Springbok tour
Bill English says that he was probably for the 1981 Springbok tour of New Zealand although has hinted that he has since changed his mind.
It Begins
Open Mike 20/01/2017
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Power Up!
Some moment in time will be that moment in time when reality’s faced; when both actions and words accord with it. That moment might as well be this moment as opposed to any other.
Dodgy foreign trusts – will English take action?
Matt Nippert continued his excellent work on foreign trusts yesterday in The Herald. Will Bill English clean up the mess that John Key was determined to ignore?
The CIA files on NZ
The release online of a trove of declassified CIA documents includes several pertaining to NZ. The Herald’s David Fisher has given us a fine summary.
Open Mike 19/01/2017
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100 Coal Fired Projects Scrapped.
…including some already in the construction phase.
Obama orders early release of Chelsea Manning
In breaking news: Obama Commutes Bulk of Chelsea Manning’s Sentence.
Hard Brexit
Theresa May has finally set out some guidelines on the shape of Brexit. Out of the single market, rejecting the European court, full border control.
The shame of homelessness
A rich old white idiot, who would only be amused at our anger, has vented about the homeless, in a piece that shouldn’t be rewarded with our clicks.
Open Mike 18/01/2017
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Love Trumps Hate Festival Wn Sat 21
‘Love trumps Hate’ Festival in Wellington to celebrate democratic values and human rights will take place in Wellington to coincide with President-elect Trump’s inauguration on Saturday 21 January. Civic Square, noon- 2 pm, Saturday 21 January 2017. Details inside
Labour Greens plan joint state of the nation
Good to see the effects of the MOU in action!
Powerdown
Climate change, Peak Oil, resource depletion. Some of our options are better than others.
Women to protest Trump’s inauguration
Various events are planned in protest around Trump’s inauguration. One of them is a series of marches organised by and for women. There are (at time of writing) 386 marches organised world wide, including in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.
Oxfam on world wealth inequality
Guardian: “The world’s eight richest billionaires control the same wealth between them as the poorest half of the globe’s population, according to a charity warning of an ever-increasing and dangerous concentration of wealth.”
How do we increase voter participation?
Fewer people, particularly young people, are voting. How do we turn this around?
Open Mike 17/01/2017
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Bradbury should be ashamed
Martyn Bradbury has hit rock bottom and suggested that Pike River is somehow Andrew Little’s fault.
English’s three strikes
The Herald’s John Roughan is not impressed with Bill English so far. And today English put his foot in it again.
More Multi-millionaires than ever!
In this glorious ‘go ahead’, ‘get ahead’ land of opportunity…
Oxfam on wealth inequality in NZ
Oxfam’s report on wealth inequality in NZ has some staggering headline numbers.
Open Mike 16/01/2017
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xkcd – Earth Temperature Timeline
When people say “the climate has changed before”, these are the kinds of changes they’re talking about.
English in England
The usual media suspects are digging pretty deep to try and find anything supportive to say about English’s UK visit. English himself sounds like he has been put in his place.
Open Mike 15/01/2017
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Spinning ‘social investment’
Bill English has co-opted the old term “social investment” to replace another old term “targeted welfare”. Simon Wilson (writing at The Spinoff) has bought into the spin and written a deeply confused piece about it.
The Lighthouse
The lighthouse is a piece of public art recently erected in downtown Auckland. It is to celebrate the institution of the State House and has been paid for by real estate barons.
Open Mike 14/01/2017
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Caption contest
Refreshing honesty from English
English – “One of New Zealand’s benefits is because we’re a long way away and fairly small we don’t attract too much attention.” Nice contrast to the usual Nat hysterical style. I guess there’s no need for all that domestic spying apparatus then?