Archive for October, 2009

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  NZ Govt risks apostrophe war in archipelago - by frog

  
  
  
  Someone wise once said that the word is more powerful than the sword, and today’s Government statement could be seen as a desperate and venal attempt by the New Zealand Government to provoke Indonesia. read more
  October 18, 2009 5:39 pm - 12 Comments
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  Gutting ACC – it’s just not fair: Sexual abuse claims - by frog

  
  
  
  Survivors of sexual violence and their therapists are fighting back against the cuts to ACC cover and counselling. There are protests organised for this Monday 19th October: read more
  October 18, 2009 8:04 am - 19 Comments
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  War, what is it good for? - by frog

  
  
  
  World military expenditure is now higher than it was during the Cold War. I’m going to let the pictures do the talking read more
  October 17, 2009 8:15 am - 52 Comments
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  Gutting ACC – it’s just not fair: Hearing loss - by frog

  
  
  
  The ACC scheme is a social contract. Before ACC came into being, New Zealanders were able to sue each other for personal injury. We gave up that right, in return for the no-fault, comprehensive cover scheme that is ACC. National wants to erode the comprehensive cover aspect of the scheme in an ominous way. read more
  October 16, 2009 1:41 pm - 10 Comments
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  Submissions required urgently for Urbantramper’s new album - by frog

  
  
  
  Urbantramper, who this old frog had never heard of before today, has announced that they will produce their next recording ‘under urgency’. read more
  October 16, 2009 12:45 pm - 11 Comments
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  October 15th 2007 – Lest we forget - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  Yesterday was the second anniversary of the so called “terrorism” raids. Police carried out dawn raids on dozens of houses in Te Urewera and around Aotearoa which was definitely terrifying for the victims of this debacle who turn out not to be terrorists. I will not forget the conversations I had with people from Ruatoki [...] read more
  October 16, 2009 11:42 am - 23 Comments
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  Gutting ACC – it’s just not fair: Vocational independence - by frog

  
  
  
  This is the first in a series of blog posts I’m doing to explain National’s plans to gut ACC and highlight how unfair they are. One of the proposed changes is to vocational independence assessments.  These assessments are used by ACC to decide if an ACC claimant receiving weekly compensation for loss of earnings is [...] read more
  October 16, 2009 9:41 am - 9 Comments
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  Government’s foot in mouth on Biosecurity - by Kevin Hague

  
  
  
  New Zealand’s reckless importation of Palm Kernel represents many biosecurity risks, including a real risk of Foot and Mouth Disease, which would have disastrous consequences should it ever strike here. The Government is unconcerned. We are. read more
  October 15, 2009 8:41 pm - 12 Comments
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  Gutting ACC: What a shambles! - by frog

  
  
  
  I’m planning to do a series of frogblog posts on National’s plans to gut ACC, highlighting the devastating impact of each of them on people who have been injured and their families. But before I even got to post the first one, ACC Minister Nick Smith has revealed how badly National has politically managed their [...] read more
  October 15, 2009 5:52 pm - 28 Comments
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  Giant, Mucus-Like Sea Blobs on the Rise - by frog

  
  
  
  The latest climate change boogeyman fits the bill on all levels. It’s big, it’s slimy, it’s scary, and it’s on the increase because of rising temperatures due to climate change. I’ve encountered these babies myself while diving, and they are most unpleasant. Nati0nal Geographic has written them up in all their glory: Up to 124 [...] read more
  October 14, 2009 5:00 pm - 22 Comments
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  Homeless orang-utan busks for the planet - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  This morning a homeless orang-utan from the tropical rainforest was seen busking with friends from the Green Party in Wellington Railway Station. The commuters responded enthusiastically to the moving renditions of “In the jungle the mighty jungle the chainsaws roar tonight,” “Stand by Me,” and “Don’t Fence Me In.” read more
  October 14, 2009 12:02 pm - 5 Comments
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  The tsunami of child poverty - by frog

  
  
  
  New Zealand’s “tsunami of child poverty” came under the microscope at the recent Child Poverty Action Group hui at Manurewa marae. The hui was designed to build activism to end child poverty in Aotearoa. Activism is clearly what is needed to bring about change, was the consensus of speakers and participants. One of the overriding [...] read more
  October 13, 2009 5:30 pm - 147 Comments
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  George Orwell would be impressed with ETS minions - by frog

  
  
  
  In a classic case of doublethink, the minions at the Ministry for the Environment have withheld all the contents of an ETS cabinet document clearly labelled “Approved for Release”. read more
  October 13, 2009 3:59 pm - 66 Comments
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  PM limp on mining’s pollution - by frog

  
  
  
  Russel Norman just threw the Prime Minister some curve-balls in QuestionTime. It turns out that the Government “model modern miners” get fined for pollution regularly! The PM thinks that is proof the “system is working”. Sounds to me like it is proof that mining is not a good idea in our conservation lands, and certainly not “surgical”! read more
  October 13, 2009 3:33 pm - 6 Comments
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  General Debate, October 13, 2009 - by frog

  
  
  
  read more
  October 13, 2009 6:54 am - 50 Comments
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  The Minister’s sea lion dilemma - by frog

  
  
  
  The annual sea lion sacrifice approaches. This year is not a normal year though. Last summer the pup population nose-dived, by nearly a third. And every mum lost in a net is a number of pups that will not be born. How many will the Minister sacrifice? The first female sea lion to give birth to a pup on the NZ mainland in modern times makes a plea from the big screen. read more
  October 12, 2009 8:13 pm - 2 Comments
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  Open Letter to President Barack Obama - by Kennedy Graham

  
  
  
  Dear Mr President, Congratulations on the award of the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009. Many around the world will welcome the award and be inspired by the tribute accorded to you. read more
  October 12, 2009 4:39 pm - 31 Comments
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  Mining: Fighting Talk - by Metiria Turei

  
  
  
  This week’s audioblog examines the rhetoric around the Government’s controversial mining proposal and talks to Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei about why we should be worried. read more
  October 12, 2009 12:05 pm - 3 Comments
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  A few quotes from John Key – pre election - by frog

  
  
  
  “National will have policies that reflect the fact that living on a diet of carbon will be increasingly bad – bad for the world and bad for our economy. We will have policy that encourages ‘climate friendly’ choices like windmills, hydro power and tree planting, and reduces the desire for ‘climate unfriendly’ behaviours, like burning [...] read more
  October 10, 2009 1:16 pm - 14 Comments
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  A blast from the coastal past - by frog

  
  
  
  Guess the author of this quote: “…How much coastline and seafront must be sacrificed forever before we learn that, in issues of profit versus the environment, environment must win? There can be no alternative.” read more
  October 10, 2009 11:00 am - 13 Comments