Open mike 20/11/2013
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The right thing to do
David Cunliffe has pledged that the next Labour government will pay the court-ordered compensation owed to the families of the disaster’s victims, and […]
Enrol for the referendum by the 21st
If you aren’t currently enrolled or are unsure, then you will have to be enrolled in the next few days. We can shove the lie of “mandate” straight back into this National government’s lying face. Maybe when National are deprived of that silly excuse for their theft, they will stop stealing.
Poverty, women & rape culture
In our highly gendered socio-economic system that has institutionalised poverty, gendered violence, sexual violence and rape culture, low income women are multiply disadvantaged. Trigger warning: This post addresses some difficult and sensitive issues about poverty, women and rape culture. Subsequent comments will be tightly moderated.
Oil rigs – coming to a beach near you?
The Government is in the process of handing out oil exploration permits which would if unchanged allow drilling 6 nautical miles out from the west coast beaches of Auckland. And Auckland Council had the chance to submit on the proposal and did so, in a very gentle way, but forgot to ask the locals including the local board. There has to be a better way.
Open mike 19/11/2013
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Nats’ demolition derby
John Key’s government is going full tilt at dismantling everything of value in NZ, and selling as much as possible to the overseas investors. It’s the government of Drill It, Mine it, Sell it. Find out about the asset sales referendum & how to vote.
Shhh! It’s the ‘P’ word.
You don’t have to be white and male and financially wealthy to assume a prominent position within systems of patriarchy, but it helps. And you don’t have to be financially strapped and black and female to feel the full weight of patriarchy always pressing down on you, but it helps.
Open mike 18/11/2013
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Air New Zealand sale starts tomorrow
The Government has announced that the sell down of Air New Zealand shares will occur over the next two days.
Sunday Reading
My semi-regular Sunday piece of interesting, longer, deeper stories I found during the week. It’s also a chance for you to share what you found this week too. Those stimulating links you wanted to share, but just didn’t fit in anywhere. This week: science vs the internet, the UK public is wrong about everything, Russell Brand, feminism and austerity from a golden throne.
Open mike 17/11/2013
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Everything you need to know about National, in two paragraphs
Andrea Vance reports: “Foreign minister Murray McCully returned from the Tamil-led north of Sri Lanka last night and indicated he believes New Zealand should not support an independent investigation into war crimes.
Shortly after his return to Colombo, McCully signed a dairy co-operation agreement with his counterpart Professor GL Peiris, worth about $2 million.”
National Day of Action Against Rape – today (16 Nov)
Today there are actions planned around the country in protest about the rape culture that is part of our mainstream culture. This post and comments are in support of the day of action. Have a good day everyone. [Update: impact on/silencing of survivors]
Key refuses to pay compensation for Pike River
John Key this week ruled out any Government contribution to compensation ordered to be paid by Pike River to the deceased miners’ families despite a strong suggestion by Judge Farrish that this should occur. Now that the photo opportunities have finished and the effect of the corporate PR spin has worn off the Government’s handling of the issue appears to be deeply cynical and totally unjust.
Open mike 16/11/2013
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National day of action against rape culture: 16 Nov (&15th)
Tomorrow is A Day of Action Against Rape Culture. There are a couple of actions starting today. Actions listed here, plus the reasons for the actions & demands/proposed solutions. Will update with info on any further actions as they become available. [Update: warning – the discussion under this post contains some challenges to the day of action]
Coleman’s disgracefully cowardly display
National’s, weird, favourite line at the moment is to say ‘we’re going to ignore the asset sales referendum and the opposition are hypocrites because they ignored the smacking referendum’. Russel Norman finally had had enough yesterday, and asked Jonathan Coleman just who had been PM when the referendum happened. Coleman’s answer was textbook cowardliness.
Open mike 15/11/2013
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New website – “I am someone”
Stories of Harassment and Sexual Violence Go Live On Web
Looks like some of my friends are getting serious about making sure that dickheads around like the duo of JT and Willie, prevaricators like John Key and the incredibly slack police response get a better idea about what is at stake…
ImperatorFish: Are they really the Green Taleban?
A two-fer: are the Greens really like the Taleban, & the Conservative’s new campaign poster…
Thanks Wikileaks
Wikileaks have released the TPP advanced draft chapter on intellectual property. It includes the government positions on the main issues, including all those where the New Zealand negotiators are opposed to the US. As citizens we should all support our New Zealand negotiators and insist that the Key government does not cave in to US interests. The stakes are too high.
Colin Craig and the Conservative Tea Party are National’s best chance
The possibility of a National Conservative coalition was raised this week by John Key. It appears that everything may be on the table as National seeks to retain power. So will child bashing again be allowed and what would happen to New Zealand’s climate change policies? The prospects are rather terrifying.
Groser says govt ministers in denial of reality
3news has shaken out hidden science denialists in National. This follows the disgraceful booing of Russel Norman by National MPs who did not want to hear him ‘inappropriately’ quote a Filipino official attributing the typhoon to climate change at a time apparently meant for empty platitudes. Meanwhile, the Filipino official that Norman was quoting has written to thank him.
Open mike 14/11/2013
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step […]
Air NZ sale coming on the quiet
Word is out that National is going to slam through the sale of its Air NZ shares early next week ahead of the referendum. No mention of ‘mum and dad’ investors this time. No ad campaign imploring you get ‘get your share’. Nope. It’ll be a quick and dirty sale to some big institution which will then divvy it up to other institutions. We might not even be told until after the fact.
Inequality meeting plus…
Max Rashbrooke talking about his book Inequality: a New Zealand Crisis and more on Monday 18 November, 5.30pm @ Auckland Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn
What the Waitakere Myth says about pundits’ attitudes to the working class
I finally found the words, in a comment at The Standard, to explain something I’ve been feeling for years about the Waitakere Man […]
Key rewrites history for “Crazy Colin”
Answering questions on the up-coming Asset Sales referendum, John Key spoke some appalling un-truths. He is rewriting political history to suit “Crazy” Colin Craig’s possible coalition bottom lines on the “anti-smacking” law. Cunliffe finally got there in the General Debate, but the opposition was too slow in countering Key’s lies & spin.
ImperatorFish: JT and Willie in shock Radio NZ deal
ImperatorFish follows the future direction of the hapless duo JT and Willie… Replacing Jim Mora? OMG….
Is it any wonder?
Never wonder again why National is opposed to any kind of wealth tax, including capital gains tax, and would rather tax hard work instead. Never wonder again why there’s hundreds of millions of dollars for uneconomic irrigation projects but crumbs to feed hungry kids. Just look at this table of what the richest MPs won, and remember their friends are of the same class.
Open mike 13/11/2013
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Crony Capitalism, Chorus and Pike River compensation
Today in Parliament David Cunliffe neatly skewered John Key with a series of questions that showed the Government will decline to ensure that the Pike River families are paid out because there is no legal obligation to do so, yet it is happy to pay out large sums to its corporate friends even though there is no legal obligation to do so.
NAct MPs: heckling from “their armchairs”
Today in speaking to John Key’s motion on the Typhoon in the Philippines, Russel Norman read out a statement that was spoken by Philippines climate negotiator Naderev “Yeb” Saño, who called for urgent action on climate change. Sounds of heckling could he heard from the comfort of the government benches. [update: Yeb Saño to Russel Norman]
Collins ducks the questions again
In today’s Herald Judith Collins again sidesteps the questions on trial processes on sexual abuse cases posed last week by Jan Logie and Andrew Little. The Minister for No is now dead keen to be seen to be doing something. I think she should take up Metiria Turei’s suggestion to set up an all-party group to consider the issues. One thing is absolutely clear; all wisdom does not reside in the mind of this Minister.
Shock finding that ACC cover improves people’s lives
A recent Massey University study found that that those with a spinal cord injury who are covered by ACC are more likely to get back to work while those who don’t receive assistance start a downward spiral into poverty. Who would have thunk it?