18 Comments

Fast fricking our world - all for a short term sugar boost to corporate balance sheets (and follow up payments to Ministers when they get fired)

Expand full comment

An accurate summary Keith.

Expand full comment

🤬🤬🤬 And then I clicked onto the video at the end - knew the song but never watched the video 😁 So fun 😎😻

Still 🤬🤬🤬 'cos we can' t take our eyes off the prize (being restoring sensible, essential policies & services & funding them adequately) but we still need to take care of our own mental health so we are active & ready to fight for what we believe in, and against these 🤬🤬🤬.

😥I watched what was happening in the US with Republicans turning from the "law & order" party into deliberate ignoring of centuries of "norms" and "precedent" through to outright flouting of laws, and thought "Won't happen in Aotearoa - one of the lowest corruption countries in the world", and then the 3-headed-Taniwha slithered into power, with either the weakest or the most dishonest PM (or both?) ignoring, justifying, or outright SUPPORTING govt Ministers to defy rules, hide evidence, openly lie to our faces, and act as puppets of big money lobbyists and/or their mates. 🤬🤬🤬

🧐So what CAN we do? 1) 👍Thanks MT for continuing to give us the facts & the ammunition to do our own bit of raising concerns with evidence to back it up - ignoring it won't make it stop (& other journalists & writers as well) . 2)🙋 I have postponed a brief holiday next week to attend the protest gathering (are they marching?) locally - there will be time for that the following week 3) 🙋I am about to cancel my Washington Post sub & switch it to Forest & Bird NZ - priorities right? 4) 🙋Sign all the petitions to Parliament that align with my concerns 5) 🤷start exploring local action groups, although I hate "joining" things these days as I always end up writing the newsletter, or being Secretary and/or Treasurer, or developing training, (or ALL of them at once!) or or... you get the picture! 😱 Somehow hoped retirement would be about gardening, reading, walking, camping etc.🌞🌊 We'll see 🤔

I was part of a recent discussion on another forum recently where we talked about the efficacy of "doing SOMETHING" when things seem overwhelming, and it does help to do the little things when you personally don't have the means or the power to change the root of the problem... So "don't worry - be happy, then go out & kick a$$"??? 😁🫂

Expand full comment

Hey Cindy, I think there are some protests next week but the union one is 23 March. Did you postpone for that? Wow! Talk about leading with action.

Yes Forest and Bird is a great organisation and I admire their work and advocacy.

Re: 5. I know what you mean. I started discussing the protests last week for health privatisation and a lot of people wanted to join, but not many were interested in the work. ALTHOUGH that is changing and there is a small channel of people who are actively talking about operationalising things - not my forte so I am grateful. That said, do take care and ensure you do things you love and enjoy too!

Which brings me to agree with your last point. It's like a yin and yang thing - a little peace, a little action, a lot of peace, and act. It keeps folks like us grounded so thanks for sharing your wisdom, presence, and energy as always.

Tui

Expand full comment

🙋 The union one I am registered with is 23 Oct?? I did strike as a Union member at my last employer before I retired... They were a mix of paid stop work meetings, and strikes/pickets outside work places - when people tooted or joined the pickets it was 👍😻

Expand full comment

Hm I'm not sure which one you are referring to but if the health privatisation one it's conjoining with unions for logistics reasons. Or maybe you are in another one? :)

Expand full comment

Good work Cindy! Please keep it up! I applaud you and MT and others who are unafraid to make waves - we need a storm - or a tornado - of revolt here!!

Expand full comment

I think both Bishop and Jones are massive C.U.N.T.S. however having Said that they at least are laying out their clear position and challenging us to boot them out if we disagree. I wish Labour had shown the same fortitude when they had a clear majority. I'm so sick and tired of Labour's propensity to hand wringing. Action us required at their next opportunity!

Expand full comment

I get really cross when I think of Labour at times in terms of their visibility. But then I remember every time I watch them in Parliament or in Select Committees now, I see their passion and fire - and I see that they (and the Greens) are as angry and as pissed as many of us are with what the government is doing.

I love what Verrall is doing on Health - I think she's great.

But where are they when I open up media articles or turn on the 6'o clock news? Where is Hipkins? I don't get it.

That said, I also agree with what you say. The only counter I have to that is when I did my policy research - 90% of what this government is doing is repealing what Labour did so what does that mean?

What I'm sure about is Labour suck at PR and communications big time, and the corporate right wing completely bowled them over with lies and misinformation.

https://www.reddit.com/r/newzealand/comments/1axrc7q/do_you_know_what_the_coalition_government_has/

Expand full comment

I wrote to Ms Verrall on three separate occasions about access to primary health care in her electoral region when she was minister of health. I NEVER received a reply EVER!!!

Expand full comment

Once again, thank you MT. I stay away from TV so hadn't seen the Jack Tame interview. Wow, Bishop might as well of just said 'I dont give a &*%! . I'll be home alone with lame, elderly and infirm as sole carer on the 23rd so wont be able to make the Whanganui protest (its a 2 hour drive each way). I will be there in spirit (for what thats worth). On another topic, I have been invited to join a more local hui on upholding and protecting Te Tiriti in response to the treaty principles bill. Hopefully some effective and firm resistance will be formed!

Expand full comment

KSJ - I believe intention matters so your intent is enough, and I feel it.

Yeah Bishop is not great but I just know he's waiting for Luxon to be rolled, and I think he's been relatively smart and strategic about what news he delivers to the public to look good for the electorate.

Personally I find him worse than Luxon.

Thank you for your comments and presence KSJ.

Expand full comment

Thank you for the continuing stream of information. I do wish more kiwis would support the NGOs like Forest&Bird to help counter the $millions that big business is giving to the truth manipulaters at private ‘news’ companies and on social media pages. Business money is what is driving division in Aotearoa!

Expand full comment

It really is the difference between public interest news and vested interest manipulation at this point.

F&B do fantastic work and I admire their work too, Bill.

Thank you for your comments as ever.

Tui

Expand full comment

Frightening that bishop can invite a foreign company to trash our seabed and say this is what we voted for

Expand full comment

Yes. It's pretty sad. I believe we've never had seabed mining before because the damage is extraordinary.

https://substack.com/@mountaintui/note/c-72041591

The only saving grace to the fast track bill is it may not all get financing. TTR though have been knocking on NZ's door for a decade and they were stopped by our Courts, and now let through by slippery Bishop.

Expand full comment

One of your best postings yet, brilliant.

Expand full comment

Cheers Miles.

Expand full comment