tag:dreamwidth.org,2012-12-25:1861115Marsden is Here-internet giraffittimarsden_online2022-02-20T08:44:59Ztag:dreamwidth.org,2012-12-25:1861115:1035109Thoughts around current protests and solutions to the underlying issues2022-02-20T08:44:59Z2022-02-20T08:44:59Ztiredpublic0From the interviews I have read in the mainstream media my feeling is that many of the actual anti-mandate protesters are struggling with a shift in world view. Small business owners, nurses, teachers, .. professionals who up to now have been used to feeling that they are in control of their lives and secure in the knowledge that the system operates to their benefit. Suddenly that control has been rudely taken away, because of something which probably doesn't feel particularly real to them.[1]<br /><br />At a personal level, that has to feel really unfair and hurtful. And it is, in the way life often is. I sympathise in that I really don't know how I would cope if my job or ability to work was suddenly taken away. It's not comfortable to think about. But it is always a possibility at the back of my mind, so I like to think I am as prepared as I can be, because I know our social support systems while not perhaps currently actively hostile to those who need or want to change or withdraw from employed life for whatever reason are not actually particularly supportive.<br /><br /><a name="cutid1"></a>My sympathy for those-of-those involved in the current protests ends about there. Requiring vaccination for those interacting with others is a perfectly proportionate response to a global threat which unchecked, would see our health system overwhelmed and, since we're not special at a human or infrastructure level, thousands dead from Covid and more from an overwhelmed health system unable to provide lifesaving care for other conditions when they needed it. Even if you view vaccination as a big experiment, it is the largest medical experiment in the history of the world. The numbers are in. The individual risk from the vaccine is miniscule. The numbers are also in on the individual risks from actually catching Covid. They're /much/ larger. <br /><br />I live with an immune-compromised family member who can be laid up for a week with a common flu, barely able to stagger to and from the bathroom. We have several other friends who are in similar situations. The risks of coming into contact with Covid are very real to us. We paid attention to those numbers. We are all vaccinated. <br /><br />But I'm getting sidetracked and preaching to the choir. Allowing legitimate protest means allowing for the element of disruption which comes with that, but the bulk of the people currently disrupting Wellington businesses (and having little to no effect on the day-to-day running of the country) are not anti-mandate except as a side-effect of whatever they are anti-or-pro. They've merely jumped at the chance to hitch their wagon to something bigger, and in the process proven what most of us already knew to be true; that our police and justice system are not equipped or prepared to deal with an actual occupation of any size over a few hundred people. <br /><br />I do have a great deal of sympathy for the authorities in this situation; their inaction comes down to logistics[2]. For a start, if they did (could) move in and make mass arrests without triggering a <em>riot</em> (at least one, given the satellite occupations in other centres around the country), where would they put that many people for the length of time it would take to get them through our already overloaded justice system. What precautions would stop those people just going straight back whenever they were released which don't basically involved shutting down Central Wellington even more thoroughly, if perhaps more politely, than the occupiers have. Wait it out, at least until the protest is no longer the cause célèbre and not being swelled by a few thousand casual attendees each weekend (suggesting there are at least that many in range to swell the ranks / cause trouble elsewhere if enforcement action began).<br /><br />Mass punitive action I believe is what many of the fringe elements want - knowing full well that NZ is /not/ the authoritarian state they claim (even in most comparable democracies they would have had the water cannons at least turned on them by now[3]. But if they can force us to call in the army, to make mass arrests, to set up a system of expedited "hearings" to process the volume - well then, /now/ we have the trappings they are protesting against. <br /><br />No. That's not how we do it here, even if we could. But however this plays out, how do we stop it happening again /without/ moving in that direction?<br /><br />The answers to that question I believe are not to be found in the list of (unmeetable) demands put forth by those attempting to provide some order/legitimacy to the occupation, but in the commonalities which have drawn the newly disenfranchised to the already (unfairly) disenfranchised to bring together a critical mass which outside elements have then been able to subvert. A lack of support from the establishment, not for their opinions but for actual day-to-day living. <br /><br />Some of the answers are to be found in every review of the social welfare system for the past several governments. <em>Give people outside the workforce enough to live with dignity</em>. In this approximate circumstance, take away the fear of losing /everything/ because your employment is no longer viable for whatever reason, including personal choice. Make that choice, or that inevitability, less stressful. Leave mental room to look around[5]. <br /><br /><br />Labour is taking this opportunity to push through their work insurance scheme, which, although as I understand it still terrible for those in temporary or gig employment and might not cover someone being made redundant over a matter of personal choice like getting vaccinated, is a step in the right direction. But it is still directed at those already in work and will do nothing for those who already feel locked out of the workforce. How many of the disaffected at occupations around the country are actually there because they lost their job or are afraid the mandates have destroyed any chance they have of getting one? I have no numbers, but a solid expectation that it is a tiny minority with a raised profile because the mainstream media have actually sought them out to tell some of their stories. Now how many simply have no expectation of being able to work or live within the system anyway? Maybe work on fixing /that/.<br /><br /><br />Put money where mouth is when saying that looking after others is /valued/ in NZ. The pandemic is forcing the government to push money at the struggling health system, better late than never but much more needs to be done. Give the DHBs or whatever is coming to replace them the funding to pay nurses and other caregivers[6] what they are due; enough that they can lives lives without stress outside what is a very stressful occupation. We should not be having strikes over health system pay and conditions during a pandemic, but that is on /government/, who control the availability of funds despite the polite fiction of it being a DHB issue, not on the staff themselves driven by desperation to resort to these measures.<br /><br />In addition to funding for current staff and to make healthcare again look like a financially viable career we need training for new staff. There is already a shortage nationwide and we can't just (dupe and) import skilled workers to patch it any more, not that we should have been relying on that the first place. I do not know what our capacity for health workforce training is (although I have friends who can probably tell me) but I know it takes years (that we really don't have now) /and/ qualified educators many of whom are probably in demand back in the system right now.<br /><br />Granted IMVSO someone who refuses[7] to get vaccinated has no place working in modern medical care, but if they really feel the need to work perhaps they could fill a space left somewhere else by someone who will. And it's not just the primary/hospital side of things either. We had a mental health crisis in this country even before the stress brought on by the pandemic. We desperately need more trained counsellors.<br /><br /><br />Around the world the pandemic has highlighted inequity. Inequity is fuel to the fire of those feeling disenfranchised and angry, and to professional shit-stirrers. In New Zealand we're actually in a good position to address that, especially right now with a somehow well-performing economy while so many of the politically vital middle class / small business actually have to look at the uncomfortable reality that "that could be me". The solutions lie not in how we treat and respect /workers/ but in how we treat and respect those who /for whatever reason/ are not currently able to work.<br /><br /><a name="cutid2"></a>~~~<br />[1] I have to remind myself that in NZ, I and those in my social circles are probably exceptions in having friends overseas and connected overseas who have lost loved ones and seen the carnage first hand :(<br /><br />[2] More cynical people have suggested that the protest being allowed to reach critical mass for an occupation also comes down to the establishment not recognising the threat early enough to diffuse it; because right-wing/white threats still aren't taken seriously (yes there are a lot of Māori present on the ground, but <em>they</em> didn't bring the copied-from-overseas white-propagandist slogans, threats and and slurs)<br /><br />[3] Do we even /have/ crowd-control water cannons in NZ?<br /><br />[4] Loss of custom from outside events - from extended roadworks (something small businesses in Christchurch know well) to global events curtailing travel, is something which should be on every small business SWOT* sheet IMO<br />* Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats<br /><br />[5] There are lots of ways this could have affected how the past couple of years have played out if businesses had actually been able or encouraged to rationally shut down instead of struggling to survive in an environment where demand has evaporated[4]. There would have been a lot less stress in the country if there had been less need to focus on the immediate issue of making a living.<br /><br />[6] And for ghods sake /recognise and reward/ the family caregivers; some of whom have been fighting for proper recognition for years. This would also send a strong message that caring of other is /something we value/ in New Zealand.<br /><br />[7] I categorically separate "refuse" (based on some stated moral position) from "is unable to" (based on solid medical precedent). In my experience those who are /unable/ to get vaccinated are very aware of the risks this poses to themselves and others. <br /><br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=marsden_online&ditemid=1035109" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2012-12-25:1861115:1022827Photos: School Strike for Climate (Christchurch)2019-09-27T08:59:53Z2019-09-27T08:59:53Ztiredpublic0<a href="http://bit.ly/2m16N1D" target="_blank">The 3rd? such event</a><br /><a href="http://bit.ly/2m16N1D" target="_blank" title=""><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/OtherEvents/Public-events/2019-09-27-ChCh-School-Strike-for-Climate/i-FMgmhzC/1/8bdb6e9a/S/DSCN8559-S.jpg" alt="Front row" /></a><br /><br />I was unable to make it to the 2nd.<br /><br />There were probably more people at this one (it was officially an all-comers event rather than just school focused) but the energy was different from the first one. Less excitement, more long-haul. And I didn't see the clear groups of students from X school this time.<br /><br />The organisers have clearly learnt from the previous events though, the logistics, sound and everything were much better.<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=marsden_online&ditemid=1022827" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2012-12-25:1861115:1019693Photos: School Strike for Climate (Christchurch)2019-03-18T09:00:37Z2019-03-18T09:00:37Ztiredpublic0<a href="http://bit.ly/2F2Wcsh" target="_blank">#SS4CNZ</a><br /><a href="http://bit.ly/2F2Wcsh" target="_blank" title=""><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-j36tfdP/1/ef2afa5a/S/i-j36tfdP-S.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /><br />There was another mass event in Christchurch today, a far more positive one which is in danger of being buried by the bad news. The Secondary School Strike attracted as many people into the square as I have seen in my time of attending such things and there was an underlying energy which is often missing. As if a storm might be building ....<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=marsden_online&ditemid=1019693" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2012-12-25:1861115:1013431Photos: Hear Our Voices2018-05-12T01:58:36Z2018-05-12T01:59:19Zpublic0<a href="http://bit.ly/2jPabI1" target="_blank">Christchurch portion of nationwide support marches</a><br /><a href="http://bit.ly/2jPabI1" target="_blank" title=""><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-WGJDcfH/1/10a84b25/S/i-WGJDcfH-S.jpg" alt="Hear our voices" /></a><br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=marsden_online&ditemid=1013431" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2012-12-25:1861115:995283Photos: March for Science2017-04-22T07:53:39Z2017-04-22T07:53:39Zstressedpublic0<a href="http://smu.gs/2ovTiCW" target="_blank">march for Science, Christchurch edition</a><br /><a href="http://smu.gs/2ovTiCW" target="_blank" title=""><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/OtherEvents/Public-events/2017-04-22-March-for-Science-Christchurch-edition/i-gvJzVkG/1/S/DSCN5584-S.jpg" alt="Rainbow unicorns" /></a><br />"We are also marching to support those who are being negatively effected by attacks on Science in the U.S and all over the world. We are marching to show that we support and value Science in our lives and that we will stand up to protect it."<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=marsden_online&ditemid=995283" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2012-12-25:1861115:989726Thoughts and photos: Women's March on Washington (Christchurch edition)2017-01-21T01:56:50Z2017-01-21T01:56:50Zsleepypublic0Today I added my body to a <a href="http://www.womensmarch.com" target="_blank">Women's March</a> here in Christchurch, a sister and supporting event to one focused on Washington, DC. Because,<br />- as their manifesto says, Women's Rights are Human Rights and I support that. Both in the specific and in the general sense that improving women's rights will by extension improve the lot of (at least) every other marginalised group containing women<br />- and I feel it is important for progress that men are seen to be supporting that, because sadly many men are still more likely to listen only to other men<br />- but also on another level because I feel it's also important for the well-being of men that women are seen and treated as equal.<br /><br />Here I just want to pull together a few threads from around the internet on why I think there is still a long way to go in western, particularly New Zealand society.<br /><br />1. From an early age boys have been told to "don't be a girl", teased for being "girly" or put down for "hitting like a girl" in response to failure, asking for help, or expressing any "negative" emotion except anger. As well as indoctrinating the idea that women are somehow less than men in both boys and girls from an early age this negative approach to dealing with emotions also contributes to <a href="http://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/mental-health-and-addictions/working-prevent-suicide/understanding-suicide-new-zealand" title="MOH: New Zealand’s youth suicide rate in 2011 for both males and females was the second highest in the OECD">New Zealand having one of the highest rates of youth suicide</a> (especially among young men) in the developed world.<br /><br />Things are getting better on this front (I believe) but there are generations of us still alive who need to challenge those ideas within ourselves and strive to do and teach better. <br /><br />2. If a little boy pulls a little girl's hair "it means he likes you". Not only is the reverse not held to be true, this normalises attack (physical or emotional) as a form of showing affection. <a href="http://maraglen.tumblr.com/post/34122868426/my-class-today" title="How would he know? How would she know?">Follow the chain</a> and you get coercion seen as a valid form of obtaining affection in the form of sex, women criticised for not responding positively to catcalls or unwanted advances, and "he only hits me because he cares".<br /><br />Again, NZ has <a href="http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11634543" title="NZ Herald series">one of the highest rates of domestic violence in the developed world</a>.<br /><br />3. There's this thing about queer/gay being used as a slur. Why is it that being romantically/sexually attracted to men is percieved as a bad thing <em>by other men</em>?. I'm theorising here, but coming back to my first point could it be that being attracted to men is something <em>women</em> do, so it is another accusation of girliness? Or could it be, as <a href="http://deadlidynos.tumblr.com/post/79419936978/when-straight-men-are-like-but-if-i-share-a" target="_blank" title="Tumblr: Does it make you uncomfortable?">beautifully laid out here</a> that a lot of men are <em>afraid</em> that a man attracted to them will subject them to the same form of unwanted attention they know they give the "objects" (women) of their affection (or even passing interest)?<br /><br />I believe that in our hearts we men (most of us anyway) know that this behaviour is wrong because we become uneasy at the idea of it being turned on us. Knowing that it is our <em>responsibility</em> to <em>try</em> and <br />- firstly face up to the discomfort and accept when we are called out on it, then <em>try and do better</em>.<br />- secondly publicly represent and model for that better behaviour<br />- the hardest of all (and I fail at this often myself; pick your battles): call our friends and family out on it and support others - whatever their gender, orientation or colour - when they call others out on it in our presence.<br /><br />If <strong>men</strong> can step up and do this instead of passively supporting the status quo, then fairness for women (and intermediate/null genders) will come a lot faster than if they have to keep wading through us every step of the way.<br /><br />~~~<br />With all that off my chest, here is the gallery from todays march.<br /><br /><a href="http://smu.gs/2jJAAZh" target="_blank">Victoria Square to Cathedral Square</a><br /><a href="http://smu.gs/2jJAAZh" target="_blank"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/OtherEvents/Public-events/2017-01-21-Womens-March-on/i-JH4qrw3/1/S/DSCN5130-S.jpg" alt="The leading banner" /></a><br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=marsden_online&ditemid=989726" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2012-12-25:1861115:976072The importance of giving2016-05-29T07:05:15Z2016-05-29T07:05:15Zangrypublic0Giving is a major part of my life. Probably the greater part of it is invisible; charities I regularly support, flybys on <a href="https://givealittle.co.nz" target="_blank">givealittle</a> and so forth but to be honest I find these less satisfying than what I can do directly for those around me. Making someone's life immediately better even if only for a short time kicks off one of the few emotional highs remaining to me. You can argue about whether than makes it altruistic giving or not elsewhere, I don't care. What is important to me is that there is less stress in a persons' life at frankly, little substantial cost to me.<br />- pad your groceries? People who have full stomachs are happier, healthier and think better.<br />- top up your bus card? Represents pocket change to me, to you might represent the <strong>freedom</strong> to leave the house and get to where you want/need to be when you want/need to be.<br />- covered an unexpected shortfall? Luck comes in good and bad, I have plenty of the former so please let me share it with you.<br /><br />Life does not treat everyone equally, but it is within our power as people to redress the balance. Especially those of us to whom it has been more than fair; and I think compassion demands that we do so. Some people prefer to argue from a position of self interest - make sure other have (just) enough and they won't be motivated to try and <em>take</em> what you have to redress the balance. That's better than building fortresses ("gated communities") and hiring guards to keep the mob from the door I suppose.<br /><br />I can understand how a person who has had to struggle, work and fight their whole life to get above the line and stay there might not be able to let go of that mindset, no matter how much success they achieve it may be that in their own mind they will always be poor and one unexpected bill away from disaster. But I also know that there are many who do not fall into that trap and having made their way to a comfortable position do a great deal to try and help others do the same. That makes much more sense to me - having <em>been</em> there how would not want to get other people out of the situation once you have means?<br /><br />I am not one of of these; the metaphorical spoon in my mouth may not have been silver but it is less through my own efforts that I am where I am today than the gifts afforded from from my parents' hard labours. And so I can understand how, up to a certain age, a person can be raised simply not cognizant of the harsh realities of life for many. In the modern world my sympathy for that mindset runs out a year or two after they have reached university and should have had the opportunity to start taking a critical look at the world around them. <br /><br />As always grateful that again, life has been more than fair to me and my sympathy for the struggles of others is born of intellect and a sense of fairness than hard personal experience.<br /><br />So we come back to the position where I have- more than enough and so I endeavour to share my good fortune. I give this less than I would like; for two reasons<br />- Rationally I do need to keep putting some aside for my own future. How much is arguable, but I am not at the position where I can absolutely soak a large expense (such as the one about to be incurred for drain replacement) just yet, and I have no certainty that NZ's welfare state will be in a condition to look after me in my old age.<br />- it occupies not just the physical resources but also time and energy. <br /><br />On this latter we have as a society theoretically harnessed the specialisation of labour to handle this. We pay takes to a central organisation (government) and one of the things they are supposed to do with them is make sure that if life treats us poorly we are looked after to a not-uncomfortable standard. In the meantime our money is (supposed to be) used to look after those who life is currently treating poorly. This should free us from the greater part of a need to worry about the circumstances of our families, friends, acquaintances / strangers.<br /><br />Our current government is rejecting that part of it's duties (granted it is not the first to do so). Instead of going directly - in cash or in kind - to people who need food and shelter significant amounts of "our" money are shown to be being spent propping up companies that by National's own market ethos should probably be allowed to fail / take their business elsewhere, or paid in bribes to already wealthy individuals in countries where corruption is blatant, or siphoned off as indirect subsidies to private accommodation providers and old-boys-network businesspeople who are already "above the line". <br /><br />One result of this is that I - multiplied by who-knows-how-many-others - have to spend more of my time and energy personally directing resource to the people I can see in need, and relying on the voids which are charities to be doing the right thing just to help regular people when they should be able to focus on those who positions are truly dire. And in some ways that /waste/ pisses me off just as much as seeing people around me living in poverty and the mis-appropriation of public money.<br /><br />I am one person of good but still moderate means. I cannot do enough to even scrape the surface. I can feed a few people but I cannot house them. Organisations which have been set up explicitly to address the issues and channel the contributions of people like myself are barely scraping the surface. Central government is <strong>actively and deliberately</strong> following policies guaranteed to make the situation worse while benefiting those who already have more than enough.<br /><br />My local council is one of the largest providers of social housing in the country (an operation which is currently being strong-armed to privatisation by central government). I occasionally encounter people who state vehemently how they are against their rates being used for such a purpose. I have no time for this attitude. Homelessness and poverty have both local and regional aspects and I <em>absolutely</em> expect our <strong>elected representatives</strong> at all levels to work together at the task of redirecting a sufficient portion of our taxes to those in need (rates being pretty much the closest we have in NZ to a formal tax on land even if they are not particularly responsive to capital gains). <br /><br />Taking care of those who do not have the means to take care of themselves I consider the <em>first duty</em> of a supposedly democratic government. All else follows from or supports that. In doing so, for those of a more right-wing bent, people are freed to be more productive and contribute their best to society and the future rather than burning our all - and in the case of those who turn to crime, others all as well - just to survive.<br /><br />[deep calming breaths]<br /><br />The point I was getting around to is actually about the visibility of giving. This morning I posted quickly in my FB and Tumblr<br /><br /><blockquote> When we talk about “give and take” why is the implication always that the giving and the taking are between the same two entities?<br /><br />If I am in a position to give freely what someone needs why is it expected that I am expecting something in return? If you are in want of something why should it have to come from someone that already owes you or that you are then expected to owe?<br /><br />Much better that we all give what we can when we see a need, and try to make out own desires visible without guilt or suspicion for others seeking to fulfil them - or be it necessarily with the the acceptance that there may not be anyone who feels they are in a position to do so.</blockquote><br />I know a lot of people above and below the line, and plenty of those have moved from one side to the other and sometimes multiple times over the years. I am fairly public about much of the personal giving I do, not because I desire the plaudits (although they are nice) but in an endeavour to set an example to others above the line who may meander across my trail. To make giving freely visible and accepted, because I alone cannot make a lasting difference.<br /><br />~~~<br />Related reading: that came through my Facebook feed while I was typing this up: <a href="https://bootstheory.wordpress.com/2016/05/29/how-we-got-here/" target="_blank">How we got Here</a><br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=marsden_online&ditemid=976072" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2012-12-25:1861115:970898Submission on the TPPA2016-03-10T00:49:12Z2016-03-10T00:52:31Zrushedpublic0Submissions to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee on the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) close tomorrow (March 11) barely two months after the treaty was signed and text made available. About 3am on Monday morning my brain decided it was time to write something, but Ithen got distracted by actually reading MFATs National Interest Analysis (NIA) (the better to make an informed submission. It of course paints a far rosier picture of the expected outcomes.<br /><br />This post has three parts:<br />1. Useful links<br />2. The text of my submission (done through the online form)<br />3. Other rant triggered by reading the NIA (this was going to be rants but I have run out of time :( )<br /><br />~~~<br /> <a href="http://www.parliament.nz/en-nz/pb/sc/make-submission/51SCFDT_SCF_00DBSCH_ITR_68247_1/international-treaty-examination-of-the-trans-pacific-partnership" target="_blank">Online submission form</a> (very limited life expectancy) (you will need to complete the verification at the bottom of the page and then click the "Make an online submission" button below to actually get to the form)<br /><a href="http://www.parliament.nz/resource/en-nz/00DBSCH_ITR_68247_1/f2c7141dd41442fb6c1fa1c32107f39b0a889e7d" target="_blank">The NIA</a> (pdf)<br /><a href="http://www.tpp.mfat.govt.nz/">MFAT TPPA subsite</a><br /><br />~~~<br />I felt it best to make a measured submission just highlighting a few points of concern.<br /><blockquote>As a member of the public who has been following the no TPPA actions but has also found the time to read the NIA (but not the earlier published fact sheets) I would still like to express some some concerns about the process and implementation of this treaty.<br /><br />1. I understand that there is always an element of confidentiality required in trade negotiations but the secrecy surrounding this one - and indeed continuing for years after ratification seems to have be unprecedented. Combined with the very short amount of time allowed for public, expert, and opposition party representative examination of the text and consultation I find it difficult to have confidence in the benefit to New Zealand of any legislative changes which may be required. <br /><br />2. Speaking of benefits it is not at all clear from the NIA /how/ the people of NZ generally benefit from the signing of this treaty. "Economic growth" and a forecast boost to GDP are presented as as self-explanatory benefits without justification; but this would only be the case if the wealth generated flows to those who are less-well off.<br /><br />As it stands this treaty would appear to deliver the most benefit to<br />- those who are /already/ established enough to partake in international trade and <br />- a small minority of future SMEs producing exportable goods/services who manage to become established against the now-increased competition from our trading partners.<br /><br />In short this treaty seems to offer no great benefit for the majority of NZ citizens and business while exposing them to economic attack by better-resourced established competitors from abroad.<br /><br />3. Following on from that if the NIA is accurate the ISDS clauses have been well ring-fenced to protect "public-good" issues but it still seems to be a risk that if a local company were to come up with a disruptive technology or process which could challenge established players but would require tweaks to our - or our treaty partners - legislation to implement effectively (a recent examples from the news might be the taxi service Uber) the established players would be able to use the ISDS or the threat thereof to hinder implementation in an anti-competitive fashion.<br /><br />I am hopeful that the government of the day would have the fortitude to support our business and accept the costs required to set an example which would prevent this happening a second time; if nothing else this would quantify "the actual costs of responding are unknown" (NIA p55)<br /><br />~~~<br />Nevertheless as it seems that the implementation of the legislative changes required is a foregone conclusion I <br /><br />- would strongly support a clause which only brings the changes into /effect/ at the point the treaty comes into force in a form substantively like it's current form, rather than incurring the front-loaded costs and "giving away the farm" the having nothing to negotiate with should other parties decide /not/ to pass it through their respective legislatory procedures in it's current form. <br /><br />- look forward to the strengthening of NZ's environmental protection, labour protection and transparency legislations to bring them in line with the treaty obligations as explained in the NIA.</blockquote><br /><br />~~~<br />Rant time.<br /><br />The NIA is very bullish about the amount of consultation carried out<br /><blockquote><br /><b>9.2 Public consultation process</b> <br />The consultation process for TPP has been among the most extensive a New Zealand Government has undertaken for any trade negotiation. Throughout the negotiation process the MFAT, together with other government agencies, has been active in engaging with a wide spectrum of stakeholders on TPP. <br />...<br />Throughout the negotiation there were two public calls for submissions. MFAT invited initial public <br />submissions in October 2008 on entering into negotiations with the US to expand the P4 agreement. <br />A second invitation for public comment was made in 2011 following the expressions of interest from other countries to join the TPP negotiations (Canada, Japan and Mexico) to better understand the views and interests of New Zealanders with regards to these three economies.<br />MFAT received 65 responses to the initial invitation for submissions, which expressed a diverse <br />range of views on the TPP<br />...<br />Following the second invitation for public comment in 2011, MFAT received fifteen responses. Thirteen were from business (including business councils) and industry organisations. Two were from other governments - Canada and Mexico.<br />...<br />Extensive public outreach and consultation took place throughout the negotiation of TPP, using printed, emailed and website information, supported by extensive briefings, discussions and correspondence with key stakeholders on New Zealand’s negotiating objectives and process.<br /> <br />A primary portal of information on the negotiations was the MFAT website, and dedicated internet column, “TPP Talk”. TPP Talk was regularly updated with the status of negotiations. Both the website and column <br />encouraged feedback on TPP from the public. In seeking views on TPP, the Government sought to encourage debate on the issues, including links to groups holding a range of views on the MFAT website.<br />...<br />Hundreds of meetings took place, including with business groups, iwi, local councils, health sector <br />representatives, unions, NGOs, Members of Parliament and individuals to seek input on the TPP and <br />to help ensure a high quality outcome that reflects stakeholders’ interests. <br />...<br />In a new initiative that reflected the level of public interest in TPP, MFAT also made provision for <br />stakeholder engagement with regard to the two TPP negotiating rounds held in New Zealand. With <br />regard to the round of negotiations held in Auckland in December 2012, the Ministry organised a <br />stakeholder programme attended by 72 New Zealand participants as well as other stakeholders from overseas.<br /></blockquote><br />... and so on.<br /><br />Strangely I do not recall /any/ of the relevant ministers or officials saying in response to the noTPPA movement and media coverage "Hey, here is where you can go to get more information and to have your say." Apparently the broader public of New Zealand (or other parties) are not considered "stakeholders" in our international treaties. <br /><br />We know who other treaty partners considered stakeholders from the mega-companies and lobbyists who got to peek at the proceedings and drafts. I wonder who in NZ our government actually considered important enough to be a stakeholder?<br /><br />I'm going to be generous and assume whoever produced this analysis is so blinkered that they actually believe this number of submissions is a reasonable outcome rather than a failure to communicate.<br /><br />Moreover I believe that an organisation believing in or proactive about public consultation would have opened another round more recently than <em>five</em> years ago, given the increased public profile of opposition to the matter under consideration.<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=marsden_online&ditemid=970898" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2012-12-25:1861115:969936Photos: We've Had Enough! earthquake rally2016-02-22T18:48:08Z2016-02-22T18:48:08Zangrypublic0<a href="http://smu.gs/20QMknD" target="_blank">Support all those people who have gone through or still are going through The Earthquake Recovery Nightmare</a><br /><a href="http://smu.gs/20QMknD" target="_blank" title=""><img src="https://marsden.smugmug.com/photos/i-4shNJJG/0/M/i-4shNJJG-M.jpg" alt="Event poster" /></a><br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=marsden_online&ditemid=969936" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2012-12-25:1861115:963801Photos: People's Climate Parade Christchurch2015-11-28T03:42:03Z2015-11-28T03:42:03Zhotpublic0On the weekend before the Paris Climate talks in December, climate marches took place in hundreds of major cities.<br /><br /><a href="http://smu.gs/21kHfqw" target="_blank">This was one of them.</a><br /><a href="http://smu.gs/21kHfqw" target="_blank" title=""><img src="https://marsden.smugmug.com/OtherEvents/Public-events/2015-11-28-Peoples-Climate/i-St5WV27/0/S/DSCN2269-S.jpg" alt="Victoria Square" /></a><br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=marsden_online&ditemid=963801" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2012-12-25:1861115:957644Photos: Anti-TPPA protest march2015-08-15T04:56:00Z2015-08-15T04:56:00Ztiredpublic0<a href="http://smu.gs/1Mt4mcV" target="_blank">Protesting the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement in Christchurch</a><br /><a href="http://smu.gs/1Mt4mcV" target="_blank" title=""><img src="https://marsden.smugmug.com/photos/i-7hf4Bvk/0/S/i-7hf4Bvk-S.jpg" alt="No Way TPPA" /></a><br /><a href="http://itsourfuture.org.nz/what-is-the-tppa/" target="_blank">http://itsourfuture.org.nz/what-is-the-tppa/</a><br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=marsden_online&ditemid=957644" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2012-12-25:1861115:947933No Way TPPA2015-03-09T08:19:41Z2015-03-09T08:19:41Ztiredpublic0This past Saturday I attended the local portion of an ongoing series of protest marches against the <a href="http://www.itsourfuture.org.nz/what-is-the-tppa/" target="_blank" title="What is the TPPA?">Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement</a> (TPPA). While the current NZ government has done many things I consider #notinmyname this is the one that should it go ahead, as I fear it will for I have no faith the the major Opposition party will not equally roll over for it, is the one I feel that will do the most lasting damage to New Zealand. This is because it impacts not only on our economy and international trade but directly on our sovereignty and right to make our own laws as a country.<br /><br />Now it is the way of properly negotiated international treaties that one or more signatories generally accepts some limits on what they as a sovereign state may do, by way of passing laws and such, in exchange for some perceived benefit. There are two things about the TPPA which I consider to be particularly dangerous; far outweighing any possible benefits.<br /><br />The first is the near-total secrecy under which it is no only being negotiated but will apparently be brought before our "house of representatives" - with even those worthies (and I use the term loosely) except for a few privileged members of the ruling party being forbidden knowledge of the terms of the treaty. Let me spell that out a bit more - our representatives, whom we rely on to protect our interests, our democracy, will be being <em>told</em> (if this current government retains a majority) to accept this treaty with no opportunity to actually debate its worth to the country, no idea of what we may be giving away or getting in return, and <em>no opportunity to bring it to us, the people and ask what we would have them do</em>. <br /><br />This turn of events would make an absolute mockery of what it is supposed to mean to live in a democracy. It is the first and most blatant attack on our sovereignty represented by the TPPA.<br /><br />The second danger is the proliferation of clauses (leaked) enabling international corporations - not even <strong>Governments</strong>, <em>corporations</em> with no mandate to represent anything but their profit margin - to challenge laws passed by our government in international courts. Now for countries like Australia and NZ that might simply tie up public money which would be much better spent elsewhere, but smaller nations could be forced into "toeing the line" of their/our new corporate masters by the simple likelihood of bankruptcy if faced by these sort of proceedings*.<br /><br />I don't personally have a great issue with NZ officially becoming a "client state", be it of America as we are currently or some international conglomerate. But that is a decision that should absolutely be discussed and reached publicly, not reached behind closed doors and presented as a <em>coup accompli</em>.<br /><br />[tangent]<br />* For an example of this sort of thing already happening see <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/analysis-and-features/big-tobacco-puts-countries-on-trial-as-concerns-over-ttip-deals-mount-9807478.html">Philip Morris Vs Uruguay and vs Australia</a>, which reportedly (linked article) already has caused our NZ government to about-face on plain packaging for cigarettes. The closest I can find within NZ is <a href="http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/government-moves-forward-plain-packaging-tobacco-products" target="_blank">this 2013 release from the Ministry of Health</a> which contains the money quote<br /><blockquote>“To manage this, Cabinet has decided that the Government will wait and see what happens with Australia’s legal cases, making it a possibility that if necessary, enactment of New Zealand legislation and/or regulations could be delayed pending those outcomes.<br /><br />“The Ministry of Health will now begin developing the detailed policy which will include the size and content of health warnings. I intend to introduce the legislation to Parliament before the end of this year.</blockquote><br />The legislation was in fact introduced and judging from <a href="http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/minister-welcomes-select-committee-report-plain-packaging" target="_blank">this late 2014 release</a> is due for it's second reading. Promising quote<br /><blockquote>“A key finding from the committee came from their visit to Australia as part of an exchange programme. The data highlighted that daily smoking rates amongst those aged 14 and older have declined from 15.1% in 2010 to 12.8% in 2013, the lowest rate recorded to date. This is very impressive evidence received since the introduction of plain packaging in Australia.”</blockquote> <br />I do support this governments passage of this legislation, both the bill itself and the due process it appears to have followed.<br />[/tangent]<br /><br /><a href="http://smu.gs/1GsjQuG" target="_blank">My photos from the march</a><br /><a href="http://smu.gs/1GsjQuG" target="_blank" title=""><img src="http://marsden.smugmug.com/OtherEvents/Public-events/2015-03-07-March-against-TPPA/i-KQ3nJpP/0/S/P3077298-S.jpg" alt="Attacks basic freedoms" /></a><br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=marsden_online&ditemid=947933" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2012-12-25:1861115:936637Photos: International Day of Action Against the TPPA: CHRISTCHURCH2014-11-08T04:06:42Z2014-11-08T04:06:42ZDinosaur Adventure 3D [Underworld]goodpublic0<a href="http://smu.gs/1pyLPSQ" target="_blank">Protest March</a><br /><a href="http://smu.gs/1pyLPSQ" target="_blank" title=""><img src="http://marsden.smugmug.com/photos/i-t89qWKq/0/S/i-t89qWKq-S.jpg" alt="Front line" /></a><br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=marsden_online&ditemid=936637" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> comments