GWPF Newsletter: Major blow for Biden as EU cosies up to China

 

EU goes soft on China in hopes of a climate ‘partnership’ as Western alliance disintegrates

In this newsletter:

1) Major blow for Biden as EU cosies up to China
Daily Express, 5 February 2021

2) EU goes soft on China in hopes of a climate ‘partnership’ as Western alliance disintegrates
Politico, 2 February 2021

Clive Bibby: The Maori Ward Debate

Minister Mahuta’s justification for her proposal to introduce Maori Wards is a demonstrably flawed argument if based on any of the claims l have heard to date - including but not exclusive to the ones Don Brash has pointed out HERE.

I wish to add another which is the most common reason advanced by supporters of this racist legislation in our neck of the woods here on the Coast.

Bryan Leyland: “Things you know that ain't so” - Climate Commission ‘advice’

As the American humorist Will Rogers said: “It’s not what we don’t know that gives us trouble, it’s what we know that ain’t so.”

“Advice from the NZ Climate Commission is evidence-based”

They make this claim on their website and in their 2021 “Draft Advice for Consultation”.

It follows that any recommendations they make should be backed up by the evidence, technically and economically achievable and supported by a cost benefit analysis.

Chris Trotter: The Political Economy Of Shock-Jockery.

Last week, Sean Plunket was awarded the DCM. Mere days after John Banks, standing-in for his fellow right-wing broadcaster, Peter Williams, was driven from Magic Talk Radio’s microphones, Plunket was abruptly advised that his services as the station’s “Magic Afternoons” host were no longer required. 

Magic Talk’s decision was made amidst the furore created by Banks’ failure to fight on-air racism with sufficient zeal, and the subsequent threats from its major advertisers to withdraw their support. Did the prospect of the right-wing contrarian’s imminent return prompt at least one of those major advertisers to issue Magic Talk’s proprietor, MediaWorks, with an ultimatum? Something along the lines of: “If Plunket stays, we go”?

NZCPR Weekly: The Abuse of Power

Dear NZCPR Reader,   

In this week’s NZCPR newsletter, we expose the Government’s sinister attempts to mislead the public over their planned abolition of a crucial democratic local government safeguard and we explain why their actions should be of such concern to every New Zealander, our NZCPR Guest Commentator Dr Don Brash explains why there is no need for racially-based electoral systems in New Zealand, and our poll asks whether you believe that the Local Electoral (Maori Wards and Maori Constituencies) Amendment Bill should be withdrawn.

*To read the newsletter click HERE.
*To register for the NZCPR Weekly mailing list, click HERE.  

Robin Grieve: Inside the Waitangi Tribunal

A Waitangi Tribunal hearing taking place on a Marae not far from my home presented me with the opportunity to see for myself what happens at these hearings. I had up to now been somewhat dismissive of the Waitangi Tribunal and what I regard as its questionable decisions, but now I had the chance to see for myself how these decisions were made and what sort of evidence was presented.

I made a conscious effort to attend the hearing with an open mind because I wanted to be informed and also because I knew some of the Maori claimants well enough to want to respect them with my objectivity.

Barend Vlaardingerbroek: The demise of the middle path in Western democracies

The Buddha called it the ‘middle path’, the ancient Greeks called it ‘the golden mean’: a way of life and accompanying mindset that avoids extremes – neither self-denial nor self-indulgence leads to fulfilment.

In politics and social issues, the middle path seeks to establish a middle ground between opposite  extremes such as, to name just two of many, pacifism versus militarism, and abortion on demand versus a ban on abortion altogether, respectively.

Breaking Views Update: Week of 31.01.21

Saturday February 6, 2021 

News:
Green Party unveils Māori priorities, including independent health authority and constitutional discussion
The Green Party wants to see an independent Māori health authority and the Government respond to calls for constitutional transformation with Te Tiriti o Waitangi at the core.

The priorities were among half a dozen unveiled at Waitangi today, as the Greens vowed to continue working with tangata whenua to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Mike Hosking: Good economic news is masking a mountain of debt

You know how there is a lot of good news about? You know how there is no shortage of stories about our economic bounce back?

Well. That’s because it’s partly true - not totally - but partly.

But one of the biggest reasons is because the bill is not being talked about.

The government debt is now $100 billion -that’s the bill for this. That was at the end of November last year, so it’ll be higher now.

Karl du Fresne: Thrashing a lame dog

As 2021 gradually ramps up politically, Newshub’s 6pm news bulletin has pretty much picked up where it left off in 2020 – that is to say, functioning as the government’s unofficial propaganda arm.

An example was its 6pm news bulletin on Monday, which opened with a folksy announcement of “a challenge for the team of five million” – as if this was some exciting new version of Top Town – and an invitation to viewers to help “save the planet”. 

What followed was essentially an exhortation to get behind the Climate Change Commission’s proposals for reducing carbon emissions. We came together to save the country from Covid-19, the message went; now we can do it again. Government spin doctors must have danced with delight.

GWPF Newsletter: China's new coal boom revealed

 

China's new coal power plant capacity in 2020 grew more than 3 times rest of the World's

In this newsletter:

1) China's new coal power plant capacity in 2020 grew more than 3 times rest of the World's
Reuters, 3 February 2021
 
2) China’s Covid comeback is bad news for climate as CO2 emissions rise
Bloomberg News, 3 February 2021

Mike Hosking: Climate Commission's recommendations is just another report

 

The good news is you’re not losing your BBQ.

There has been quite a lot of coverage on the Climate Commission’s interim report on what it is we need to do to get our climate act together.

I mean, it’s not like we haven’t had reports before, and lots of them. And it’s not like we haven’t signed deals before making a lot of promises that were never going to come true.

That’s the great failing of big issues like climate change: we are fully on board with the furrowed brow and deep concern, just not so much when it comes to the doing.

Michael Bassett: Labour's History Curriculum

Ever since Jacinda Ardern announced that history would become a core subject in schools, Ministry of Education officials have spent millions of dollars devising a curriculum. They got advice from a very narrow range of the woke and well-meaning, and some serious barrow-pushers. They then seem to have sought a fig-leaf of respectability by asking for approval from the once highly reputable Royal Society of New Zealand. 

The results of all this were published yesterday. A finer assemblage of mumbo-jumbo it would be hard to find. A careful reader examining the underlying intention behind it all will conclude it is to re-name the country Aotearoa, eventually dropping any mention of New Zealand, making Te Reo compulsory for everyone, and handing control of the country’s identity and intellectual life to the Maori Council.

GWPF Newsletter: China and EU agree to deepen coordination on green agenda

 

China 'is preparing for possible war' after staging military exercises near US-backed Taiwan

In this newsletter:

1) China and EU agree to deepen coordination on green agenda

Xinhua, 2 February 2021
 
2) China 'is preparing for possible war' after staging military exercises near US-backed Taiwan 'almost every day' in January
Daily Mail, 1 February 2021

Clive Bibby: You can’t make this up! It’s all true!

It’s a funny old world although l’m not enjoying the crap l have to put up with every time l make a contribution to this debate about the justification for the introduction of Maori wards.

Since my Council’s decision to bypass the voters of this region in a flagrant exhibition of arrogance rarely seen in this community, l have tried to put the case for why this undemocratic move is not in the best interests of all the citizens of Tairawhiti - particularly those who claim Maori decent.

For my trouble l have been defamed by just about every activist who thinks those of us with an alternative point of view are some form of low life with no right to challenge the legitimacy of any Council decision.

Michael Bassett: Myth-making and Politics

We are all familiar with Donald Trump’s recent mythmaking. He “won” the election, all evidence to the contrary notwithstanding. Votes were either “stolen” from him, or, alternatively, the Democratic opposition shuffled in bags full of “illegal” ballots to swamp his stellar achievement. Trump’s efforts to create a myth worked with many Republicans.

We’ve had a few political myths in New Zealand too. When I knew less than I do now, I believed some of them myself. One of them is that New Zealand was always an “egalitarian” society where there were equal opportunities for all. Tell that to your grandparents who lived through the Great Depression! 

Bob Edlin: Race-based wards to be introduced more easily

An election has taken place and the democratic will of the people must be respected, Nanaia Mahuta proclaimed yesterday.

As Minister of Foreign Affairs she proceeded to declare:

“We confirm our support for Myanmar’s democratic institutions and the rule of law.”

But as Minister of Local Government, Mahuta recently sacked the democratically elected members of the Tauranga City Council.  

And yesterday, in the same ministerial job, she set about rewriting the rules enabling voters in that city –  or any other local body area – to challenge the introduction of race-based Māori wards.

NZCPR Weekly: Protecting Vulnerable Children

Dear NZCPR Reader,   

In this week’s NZCPR newsletter, we look into attempts by tribal groups to privatise New Zealand’s child protection services, our NZCPR Guest Commentator Dr Michael Bassett identifies the underlying causes of child abuse, and our poll asks whether you believe that tribal control of child protection services in New Zealand would deliver better outcomes for at-risk children.

*To read the newsletter click HERE.
*To register for the NZCPR Weekly mailing list, click HERE.  

GWPF Newsletter - NASA: Antarctic sea ice is growing, but we don’t know why

 

New Cold War threatens to sink international climate efforts

In this newsletter:

1) NASA: Antarctic sea ice is growing, but we don’t know why
NASA Earth Data, 28 December 2020
 
2) Fewer clouds contribute to more sea ice in Antarctic, Chinese scientists discover
Xinhua, 26 April 2019

GWPF Newsletter: China nixes US climate appeal over Uighur genocide claims

 

John Kerry promises US won't cave to China to save climate agenda

In this newsletter:

1) China nixes US climate appeal over Uighur genocide claims
New York Post, 28 January 2021
 
2) Chinese warplanes simulated attacking US carrier near Taiwan
Financial Times, 29 January 2021