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07-12-2018, 09:47 AM
#2111
Puts me in mind of Thermopylae. Gallant little NZ, making a stand against impossible odds as an example to the world.
But good on us!
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07-12-2018, 10:07 AM
#2112
Originally Posted by Bjauck
then shouldn’t NZ be doing more to urge the US and China to act with us. Shouldn’t we be convincing them that climate change would be devastating for their economies and people as well as for the islands of the Pacific?
Jacinda made the brilliant captains call of cancelling oil exploration. Now that's a pretty hard hitting message for our local economy. And look how China and America reacted - along with the rest of the world. Total silence. In exactly the same way the world shuddered and changed course with nukes after Langes Atomic Moment - which of course did nothing what soever.
The first problem your idealism of convincing China and the USA to change is to let them know where NZ is. The next challenge is to convince them our fair lands aren't full of hobbits.
Anyone who thinks NZ has an ability to influence China and USA on anything is quite simply living in Cloud Cuckoo Land and than must be a god awful place to be. What with all the doom and gloom and the lala airheads devoid of any ability of rational thought.
You can bang on about"The cost of not acting now will be greater. If not for us, it will be much greater for the next generations." as much as you like - but no-one (and I mean no-one) as provided one single workable example of anything that NZ can do the wil make at least an insignificant change.
Take for example this utter drivel from James shaw "“At the 2018 Pacific Islands Forum, leaders affirmed that climate change presents the single greatest threat to the livelihood, security and wellbeing of Pacific people. Defence has stepped up and is thinking very seriously about how this will impact us here in New Zealand and our region as a whole, and how we will need to respond,” says James Shaw"
I'd argue the first and greatest threat to the Islands is population growth. Estimated to grow from 11m to 18 m in the next 30 years. The islands do not have the infrastructure to support such growth. What will happen is there will be a bulge in the youth demographic and this will bring all sorts of problems with a lack of employment opportunities. Youth will migrate - either to cities or offshore. Migration to cities isnt going to be helpful - lack of infrastructure and dodgy politics. Expect all sorts of problems as these countries go through various iterations of governance. Even today the Islands livelihood, security and wellbeing is totally reliant of overseas grants. They are not self-sustaining economies. Then we have their health systems which are far from healthy. People will be lucky to survive current health issues - they wont even live to see the effects of climate change. Then add in "diversity" with simmering issues of "man" over "woman" - they haven't even got close to achieving equal rights.
If it was me and i was really and truly interested in the people of the pacific islands is be spending your money on health, gender equality and governance.
So what we can see from this is that the Pacific Island leaders are spouting a PR Spin bull****. They know they cant be honest and come out and say "we are over breeding" - who will give them money for that? Instead you get cesspits like Kiribati latching onto this new river of money "Global warming" or as it is more correctly known today "climate change"
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07-12-2018, 10:21 AM
#2113
Originally Posted by Bjauck
The cost of not acting now will be greater. If not for us, it will be much greater for the next generations. Is it an excuse if you know that something is harmful, yet continue to do it because others do?
Philospohies and ideas often start out as being the preserve of minorities and yet some of them end up becoming dominant when others realise that they make sense for society.
If you believe that climate change is occurring as the result of pollution and that NZ cannot make a difference by introducing these “woolly headed” policies by itself, then shouldn’t NZ be doing more to urge the US and China to act with us. Shouldn’t we be convincing them that climate change would be devastating for their economies and people as well as for the islands of the Pacific?
The picture of an ant trying to stem an elephant stamped springs to mind. No matter whether we individually believe in man made global warming or not - it probably would be more sensible if we get out of the way instead of getting squashed. The populist masses obviously don't care or don't believe in man made global warming, be it Trumps hate chorus, France's yellow vests or just the billions of Indians, Chinese, SE-Asian and African people who just want to catch up with our wasteful way of living. Instead of adding costs to our production and removing us this way from the markets we might spend our money better in preparing for any effects of global warming. Starting to plan for higher temperatures and sea levels would be a sensible political step. Look at our building standards (houses should be able to resist stronger winds), improve coastal protection and look at our district plans to prevent further building activity in flood prone areas and don't repeat the nonsense to pour billions into rebuilding cities like Christchurch so close to the sea level.
In history it doesn't matter who is right, but who is surviving. Maybe this is something our politicians should worry about instead of trying to set for others a (for us) very expensive example nobody else in the world will care about ...
Last edited by BlackPeter; 07-12-2018 at 10:22 AM.
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"Prediction is very difficult, especially about the future" (Niels Bohr)
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07-12-2018, 12:07 PM
#2114
Meanwhile the Government presses on with real issues
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/109...sponsibilities
”When investors are euphoric, they are incapable of recognising euphoria itself “
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07-12-2018, 12:25 PM
#2115
Originally Posted by winner69
Hmm - not sure I'd see this as the most pressing issue for this government, but I would see the proposed redefinition of the role of the board of trusteess as an improvement.
The existing system is highly inefficient (every board must re-invent the wheel), gives parents very little leverage or opportunity to complain if they have real grievances against the school and it is prone to abuse by individual principals who typically pick a bunch of trustees who are dependant on them. Nobody wants their children disadvantaged - so better be nice to the principle ...
Discl: been there myself (as trustee as well as complainant).
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"Prediction is very difficult, especially about the future" (Niels Bohr)
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07-12-2018, 01:48 PM
#2116
Originally Posted by fungus pudding
Any good tips there?
You really are quite a sick being .
"There is a great deal of evidence that strangling is a serious harm and this week's law change is exactly the kind of evidence-based reform of criminal law this country needs."
Strangulation the edge of homicide
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07-12-2018, 01:54 PM
#2117
Workplace law finally passed
Much ado about nothing.
"The new law mostly takes workplace relations law back to where it was when Labour was last in Government."
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07-12-2018, 02:05 PM
#2118
Originally Posted by Joshuatree
Workplace law finally passed
Much ado about nothing.
"The new law mostly takes workplace relations law back to where it was when Labour was last in Government."
Its a great shame for the marginalised and vulnerable in society. The loss of the 90 day trial provision will see employers much less inclined on taking risks employing such folk.
Dim wit government doesn't even comprehend part time work. If you have 20 part time workers that your 20 employee quota filled - so a shame for those wanting part time (like mums returning to work) work as well.
Kudos to NZ First. Even though Ian Lees Galloway wants his Stalinist opportunity to have union reps absolute and free access to any workplace good old Winnie put paid to that idea.
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07-12-2018, 02:20 PM
#2119
$9m package for Parihaka
137 years its taken but we have got there!
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07-12-2018, 02:27 PM
#2120
Originally Posted by Joshuatree
Hopefully they will return some of it to the ancestors of Pakeha farmers whose land was vandalised
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