A few friend’s have been deactivating their Facebook profiles lately. Facebook’s default settings have been switched so that blissfully unaware users will be sharing everything they post or upload with anyone, anywhere - including search engines. More people are signing up to Twitter every day and the number of ‘followers’ you have looks to be the future of Social Networking mojo. The big guns at Google are of course aware of all this. The new twitter-eque Google Buzz networking tool was switched on last month for the 176 million or so Gmail users worldwide. This has caused a stir up because accounts frequently emailed were automatically ‘followed’, followers can then be viewed by others in your Google ‘Public Profile’. This smelt a big fishy to me and not in keeping with Google’s ‘Don’t Be Evil‘ policy so I ‘unBuzzed’ today. For those asking “how do I unBuzz??” This article has some useful advice. Some related information and discussion on Social Networking’s magic ‘Dunbar Number’ here.
Naomi Kleins’s latest book The Shock Doctrine deals with the theories of economist Milton Friedman and his theory’s influence on modern realpolitik and the mainstream media.
A short impressive and informative film which I downloaded from Naomi Klein’s page, it is a description of her book ‘The Shock Doctorine/The Rise of Disaster Capitalism’..
‘The only way to resist shock is to know what is happening and why?’ N.Klein
TheAntiTerrorist shares informative videos via his YouTube channel. Check out the series above (approx 30 mins) about how to deal with the Police in a “Stop and Search” and detainment scenario. Relevant for any Commonwealth country including New Zealand.
I am not Anti-Government. I am Anti CORRUPT Government. Aren’t YOU?
The New World Order, Globalisation, Unification, One World Government.
What ever you call it and what ever perspective you’re looking at it from, it needs to be discussed.
The perceived ‘benefits’ come at the highest possible price; our FREEDOM.
The EU, The NAU, The Pacific Union and the African Union are the foundation blocks for the grand plan. Discuss it, research it. Do not take my word for it.
Whether you agree with my message or not, please, join the conversation. I encourage debate and respect your right to disagree. However, I reserve the right to remove vitriol or abuse, or any comments that do not further or add to the discussion.
Question everything, especially authority. Keep an open mind but stay on the path.
Rouse the others.
Namaste.
… and it’s not because the drivers are “on strike”.
I’ve had to correct a few people on this point over the past few days. Seems the mainstream media in NZ aren’t doing their job.
Here’s a summary:
The drivers start on $14.05 an hour, significantly less than drivers at other Auckland bus companies get.
The drivers are seeking an increase of 6.8 percent this year, taking the starting wage from $14.05 to $15 an hour.
Presently, the pay rate climbs to $15.30 after three months employment before peaking at $16.75 after nine months.
In response to not being offered a fair deal,the workers have said that they will ‘work-to-rule’ Ie. Work to the letter of their contracts – no more free overtime or skipped health and safety procedures.
The situation is therefore by definition a lockout not a strike.
The driver’s contracts state they should have regular toilet and exercise breaks and not drive buses that aren’t running 100%. These are the aspects of their contracts they are being advised to follow (by their union representatives).
The cited reason for Infratil / NZ Bus’ hard line on this is it’s promise to shareholders.. “Infratil’s goal is a 20% per annum [net] return to shareholders over the long term.”
NZ Bus said that passenger numbers in Auckland were up 6.9 per cent in the year to July.
Infratil’s operating revenue was up 28 per cent, and public transport use in Auckland was at a 25-year high.
NZ Bus and companies like it receive government subsidies to operate travel services.
Meanwhile it’s Aucklanders that deal with finding alternative travel, increased congestion on the roads and scarcer parking in Auckland’s CBD.
Prime Minister John Key didn’t mention anything about the forthcoming Misuse of Drugs Act Amendment Bill in his post-cabinet press conference today. Perhaps that’s because it’s Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei’s bill, perhaps its because the less we know about this Bill the less likely we are to rally in support of it.
Help the Greens to gain the support they need to pass this Amendment by forwarding the relevant information to as many people as possible and contacting your local MP.
This is the first time that a bill aimed at rolling back some of the harsher provisions of our War on Drugs has ever been put to a vote in the New Zealand Parliament. This is well behind many other developed and affluent nations who have already put forth medical cannabis laws. And yet all previous amendments to the Misuse of Drugs Act have been aimed at making sanctions tougher and even more inhumane.
NORML calls upon all Members of Parliament to put aside politics, show compassion and support this Bill for its First Reading. Let the issue go to select committee so it can be debated and the people of New Zealand can have their say.
Attention news people types. Actual real news that has the potential to effect a fair portionof the population in a positive way. Let’s hope the national media give this members bill some decent coverage this week.
This from Chris and the Hemp Store crew;
Kiaora peeps, please take a moment to email or call your MP… tell them to show some compassion and vote for Green MP Metiria Turei’s Medicinal Cannabis Bill this Wed 1st July 2009.
It’s the first time EVER that a bill aimed at repealing part of NZ’s drug prohibition laws has been voted on in parliament. Every previous amendment has strengthened prohibition and made penalties tougher and even more inhumane, so we really need your support on this one.
Some last minute details on the ‘GetAcross’ action to demonstrate support for permanent walking and cycling options on Auckland’s Harbour Bridge. This from the organiser..
Get your chanting voice on, this is going to be fun!
Police will provide safe passage if the Transport Agency gives the word!
The Police advise that if the Transport Agency’s Wayne McDonald says ‘Yes’ on Sunday morning, then the Police will provide us safe passage across the bridge. This was confirmed in a meeting between Police representatives Supt John Kelly and Inspector Paul Marshall with GetAcross spokesperson Bevan Woodward.
Bevan Woodward says: “The two lanes on the Eastern clip-ons could be used for safe access, as this was recommended by Transport Agency officers to their Board in August 2008”.
“We’ve suggested to the Police that we go across at 9:30am. Then at 10:30am everyone turns around and we make our way back, thereby clearing the two traffic lanes of walkers and cyclists by 11:30am, causing minimal disruption to traffic.”
Walk Auckland’s Andy Smith says “This Sunday will be a fun and historic event on the 50th anniversary of the Bridge first opening to Aucklanders. The more people that come along on Sunday, then the greater the chance the Transport Agency will give the OK to the Police to provide us with safe passage across the Bridge.”
“We’ve also arranged for a stage, sound system, coffee stand, a lolly scramble for the kids and Mr Whippy!”
Speakers include:
Darien Fenton, MP and Labour’s spokesperson for Transport Safety
Christine Rose, ARC’s Chair of Transport
Chris Darby, North Shore City Councillor
Keith Locke & Russel Norman (Green Party MP’s)
“We’re asking everyone to gather at 9am at Point Erin, city side of the Bridge.”
WATCH TV ONE NEWS 6PM TONIGHT!!
Mike King and SAFE challenge Pork Board on Close Up. Location of piggery revealed on One News.
The screening of the Sunday programme on TV One last night, has left much of the New Zealand public stunned and in utter shock. National media attention has been intense with many news items appearing on television, radio, internet sites and newspapers inc.
Tonight TV One News is expected to reveal the identity of the farm and a subsequent story will be on Close Up, featuring Mike King, Hans Kriek from SAFE and a spokesperson for the NZ Pork Industry Board.
SAFE’s campaign director Hans Kriek has been overwhelmed at the response. “After several decades of endeavouring to expose the cruelty of pigs and battery hens, it finally feels like we have woken up New Zealand. Now we to mobilise this outrage into action,” says Hans.
Click here to read Mike King’s story and why he has vowed to support SAFE’s LovePigs campaign until sow stalls are banned.
The Beats People Movement crew are busy working on a new project set to launch in May. For this reason we are taking a short break from promoting our regular club nights and international DJ tours. Plenty of hard work is going in to this one, everyone involved is looking forward to the big launch in a few weeks time..
The government, led by the Foreign Affairs Minister, Murray McCully, is about to dismantle New Zealand’s aid program. Whatever your values and belief in international aid, no government should be able to dismantle a programme that uses a substantial amount of tax payer’s money without:
conducting a satisfactory review including the independent reviews that have already been conducted;
consulting specialists in the concerned industry in New Zealand or overseas;
opening up the review process for comment or input by the other political parties, by NZAID staff and their partners in-country, or by the NZ NGO community who administers a percentage of NZ’s aid budget.
McCully’s plan, to be finalised by the end of March, is to bring NZAID back into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). Ironically this is where it sat before 2001 when all the reviews it received were of inadequate performance for those the aid was aimed at.
