Category Archives: Current Affairs
Capital Ideas
I walked completely around the Christchurch central cordon a few weeks ago, and over the handful of hours it took I started to wake up to some realities I’ve really been trying to ignore. My city, the country it lives … Continue reading
Filed under economics, Government policy, media
Turtles are cute, and it is freezing.
Just you try to deny it. To start with the turtles, the NZIFF* is currently on in Christchurch, so if you feel like getting the warm fuzzies, go see Turtle: The incredible journey. It looks like a feel good film, … Continue reading
Filed under economics, Film/Documentary, Government policy
Are the Greens trusted less than the average journalist?
Is it just me, or is there a general consensus in New Zealand that anything the Greens say, do, or publish is mere hippie propaganda? I pick on journalists in the title because they’re one of the least trusted people … Continue reading
Filed under Current Affairs
Civil servants will be required to be “apolitical”
“Politically neutral” is a hilarious term to me, except when it actually is put into a set of guidelines for the conduct of civil servants. So far the only mainstream source that has reported on this is the NZ Herald, … Continue reading
Filed under Current Affairs
Facepalm-worthy
A few things from the Greens newsletter I received caught my eye, and made me want to move out of New Zealand even sooner than originally desired. When National was voted in, I don’t think most people voting for them … Continue reading
Filed under Climate Change, Current Affairs, Government policy
Anti-mining & Ecan sacking protests
The recent protests against mining in protected areas and the protests against the sacking of Ecan and their replacement by nationally appointed commissioners were somewhat heartening to hear about after the announcements. A Greenpeace video shows the huge groups that turned … Continue reading
Filed under Climate Change, Current Affairs, Government policy
Radio NZ
Every now and then, facebook beats me to news. Like the cow cubicle thing, and now, the fact that the National government is trying to “tighten belts” at Radio NZ, the last public radio station in New Zealand that provides … Continue reading
Filed under Current Affairs, Government policy, Independent Media
Trafigura’s shame
The Independent and Times Online have just reported on the lawsuit regarding the dumping of toxic waste on the Ivory Coast by oil giant Trafigura, who has offered the 31,000 complainants from the affected area a total sum around £100m. … Continue reading
Filed under Current Affairs, media
Paying twice for carbon emissions
As if it weren’t bad enough that citizens generally have to deal with most of the negative consequences of climate change, the current government wants us to pay twice for the outputs of big businesses. The current proposal on an … Continue reading
Filed under Climate Change, Government policy
Don’t Let The Sun Set On Night Classes
From Scoop: “It was a neat cover-up on budget night. The government painted education as a winner because overall education funding increased by 2.9 percent from $10.5 billion to $10.8 billion. Not bad in the teeth of a developing recession. However … Continue reading
Filed under Current Affairs, Government policy
Zo Zhou
Leith
