Pregnant Kiwi journalist Charlotte Bellis hopes to ‘move the dial’ on MIQ
Pregnant Kiwi journalist Charlotte Bellis says she hopes her situation can “move the dial” on the way New Zealand manages MIQ.
The former Al Jazeera journalist shared her story in the Herald over the weekend, detailing her rejection from an MIQ allocation in spite of expecting a child in Afghanistan – a place where unmarried pregnant women can face prison time.
Now Jacinda is in trouble, Charlotte has appeared in the high altar of light entertainment, The Ben & Jono Show!
What the fuck is going on here?
How can you-go-girl feminist hero Charlotte Bellis’s bureaucratic grandstanding STILL be in the news and not the fact that the country she’s trying to flee from which we occupied is now starving to death because of our sanctions?
How the fuck is this petty MIQ issue eclipsing the fact that we’ve supported sanctions on Afghanistan that are seeing 23million starve – remember there’re 40 million of them, that’s over half are starving.
They are predicting over a million dead kids starving to death from famine.
A famine we’ve induced!
A famine we imposed upon a country we almost occupied for 2 decades!
A famine that hasn’t even been mentioned by the NZ mainstream media because they are all too busy chasing the low hanging fruit of identity politics by platforming a grandstanding you-go-girl feminist hero.
Her nitpicking of which category she should use seems bewilderingly audacious if she’s trying to protect her unborn child. Who is lucky enough to critique the lifeboat?
Charlotte is becoming a Karen with every complaint isn’t she?
Of course we have to keep MIQ restrictions in place, Christ they need to be tighter!
Just over 50% of us have a booster, if Omicron hits hard we will have enormous sickness and death, and opening up that MIQ to citizens carry’s enormous risk, ESPECIALLY when you consider one third of border cases in a week were unvaccinated!!!
Nobody points this out often but unvaccinated Kiwis returning home with Covid would seed clusters every day!
We can’t risk that!
Yes it’s awful, yes it’s painful, but our obligations are to protect NZ!
Of course Charlotte Bellis should return home immediately & I’m almost certain Clarke will be sent to bring her through MIQ – but don’t pretend a bureaucratic process is the story – the sanctions we’ve put on a country we occupied is causing 20m starving Afghans – that’s the story!
You can’t seriously cover this story while ignoring the 23million people we formally occupied starving because of spiteful sanctions against the people who threw us out!
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I actually like what Charlotte is up to. She has been a journalist for Al Jazeera for God sakes, and I like the way she is highlighting this governments procedures and methods globally, and somehow making the Taliban look like guys that you can cosy up to when in a spot of bother. That is quite truly epic for a mere girl.
Be kind folks, and pull together in the team of 5 million….. that is Jacinda Adern speak, which I find somewhat dubious. Charlotte’s point is that this is really messed up.
The reality is, her life IS ON THE LINE -moment to moment – as long as she is there.
Well according to Charlotte herself it is not the case. She won’t apply under the other category, of being in danger/ concerned for safety and having no other options, because she feels that is disingenuous.
Taliban aside, if they have such poor neo natal care then I can’t see why she feels it is disingenuous to say she fears for her safety. She already said she had no other options.
It’s “messed up” because she messed up her application from the start.. Then we are treated to her looking for scapegoats for her incompetence, and arrogant assumption that she deserved preferential treatment because of “who she is”..
“She has been a journalist for Al Jazeera for God sakes”.. And your point being? Do you actually believe that Al Jazeera are still the “independent, and neutral news agency they were considered when they first arrived on the world stage? I’ve watched their progress over the years, and they are now just another member of “the club”.. The fact that they have self absorbed attention seekers like the subject of this blog working for them leaves no doubt in the minds of those who understand what a timeline means to the relevance of any issue… She is quite obviously in no danger whatsoever.. as the fact that she’s able to spout whatever rubbish she likes at no risk to herself shows..
Get over yourselves boys and girls…. The real world is getting tired of waiting for you all to grow up…
Get over yourselves boys and girls
Do a numbers tally.
Lots and lots and lots of “boysies” commenters giving their inexperienced snap-lock answers.
If you ain’t been there, you have bugger all knowledge of what it’s like.
Journalists in dangerous situations need and deserve special protection:
From UNESCO:
https://en.unesco.org/themes/safety-journalists
She was offered assistance Kheala, she declined.
Your Ref Link. Thanks.
New definition of Manipulation = Charlotte Bellis.
She’s a bit like a new Mary, having conceived a miracle baby and finding there is no room in the inn.
O Casper your are an apparition after my own heart ….. a Dick Emery moment if ever I heard one:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1673979482717740
They cannot deal with that – look at replies.
Your comment caused panic stations among the “let her rot” lot.
More from UNESCO:
https://en.unesco.org/themes/safety-journalists/women-journalists
A number of recent UN resolutions and reports show that there is growing recognition by the international community of the need to take into account the specific risks women journalists face both offline and online.
UNESCO Director-General in her annual request to Member States regarding judicial follow-up of killings of journalists also inquires on specific actions taken by Member States to address safety of women journalists. A summary of the reported measures can be found in the Director-General’s Report on Safety of Journalists and the Danger of Impunity.
RSF: Reporters Without Borders
https://rsf.org/en/protector-journalists
Ensuring the safety of journalists is essential to safeguard the public’s access to information that is freely reported, independent, pluralistic and reliable. This is as true in peacetime as it is in wartime or during a pandemic. Nonetheless, journalism is now badly obstructed or restricted in no fewer than 132 countries, according to the 2021 World Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
At least 1,059 journalists have been murdered in the past ten years, and 387 were arbitrarily detained at the end of 2020, according to RSF. The rate of impunity for crimes of violence against journalists is still around 90%. Threats and hate speech against journalists are flourishing online, as well as disinformation. And women journalists are being targeted both as journalists and as women.
How is it grandstanding to expose the hypocrisy of our ‘kind’ government showing less humanity than the Taliban?
NZerz who still support MIQ as it is have lost all perspective and the straw man argument about unvaccinated NZers returning from overseas holds no water – NZers overseas were vaccinated 6 to 12 months ahead of everyone here.
On the sanctions against the Taliban, Ada’s comment absolutely nails it.
Alex. No, Ada’s comment does not nail anything at all. Ada glibly ignores the tragedy which is an Afghanistan shaped by decades of outside interference suddenly being dubbed the author of its own misfortune when the facts of history show otherwise, and when millions of innocent Afghanis are now paying a terrible price for the greed of Russia, America, Great Britain, and this little ship of fools. Using their suffering for petty domestic point scoring is utterly obscene.
Anybody who has not got the memo that to be away from NZ during a global pandemic whether or not its work or getting your jollies is traveller beware. You may get locked down, locked up or locked out.
I travelled frequently before 2020 and there is no chance in hell i would risk it.
You were warned.
Sounds like they’ve only let 10 percent of pregnancy applications in…. fucking clowns it’s pretty fucking easy to let people back in to their support systems etc fuck can even have them booked in advance so it’s not overly pressing on the boarder. Except we have a fucking lottery.
Absolute clown show.
So, What would you do, if it were you in her situation?
Serious question.
Anyone??
It is easy to preach away about what someone else should be doing, but What would YOU do??
Start writing my Pulitzer prize nomination biography how strong pioneering female reporter took on wicked government for the benefit of womankind.
I would stop taking those entitled selfies and star praying. Pray that uncle Joe lifts the sanctions and the World Bank gives Afghanistan back their money.
One of the things Bellis could have done was to partake in the MIQ voucher release in mid-December which had rooms available from December to March. The time to apply was extended due to low demand, and the release ended with over 800 rooms unallocated for dates in December and March.
For someone desperate to secure an MIQ spot, it’s strange how she missed this opportunity.
Kheala Alternative question : Would you be posting pictures of your naked pregnant belly online ? There’s a
miscellany of activity happening.
I am sorry Applewood, but “Tut, tut” doesn’t cut it.
Also, there’s a generational difference in perception.
I understand where you’re coming from – I had a momentary response that was similar, but “judging” closes a door to understanding. Who knows? Her partner is a professional photographer.
Ms Bellis wants to travel back to NZ at the end of February, but has been encouraged to bring her plans forward to be able to do so. So why hasn’t she? Also she has been offered Consular assistance, an offer to which she is to yet respond.
I am becoming more convinced now this is an attack by right wing media on the PM and government.
Dirty politics reborn. What pregnant woman travel to Belgium the home of her boyfriend then decide to return to Afghanistan. Why doesnt the boyfriend terminate his contract there and both of them go back to Belgium. Whats the next dirty politics story?
There were similar responses from people in Aus when Julian wrote to Julia Gillard, asking, “Please. Let me come home now.”
All the media bigwigs responded with similar comments – I don’t know if “Grandstanding” was the actual word but I remember at the time – the general feeling expressed was exactly that.
I realise that many of you don’t get this, but to me, this is our own PM’s “Julia, Help me” moment.
According to Hipkins, they have offered her emergency access but it must be taken up with 14 days, she wants a specific date are the end of February. If that is so this helpless maidens story is an utter steaming pile of bullshit.
Whatever is really going on is not the way she and the media are portraying it. Not by a long way.
And as TDB have said, the elephant in the room in starvation in Afghanistan, not Miss Super Girl Scout Reporter.
Bellis over the years has done a lot for the people of Afghanistan bringing their story to the Western people. She now needs some of the kindness that our leader talked about but does not seem to be there at the moment.
In a war zone, is it honestly the “right thing to do” to say, “I cannot go drag you to safety buddy, – coz – all those others out there from wherever are dying and – y’know.. we’ve got to be concerned about all those millions first. So, yeah, sorry bud. Can’t help you, even tho’ you’re one of our own.”
An open letter to Charlotte Bellis
Hey Charlotte Bellis, I sincerely do hope that you get home to NZ to have your baby if that’s your choice.
BUT! Your story has more holes in it than a sieve. Why can’t you just properly fill in an MIQ emergency application? ‘technical details’ and all? Is it maybe because the 14 day requirement didn’t suit your pretty, white, entitled ass.
You say you pay NZ taxes? You haven’t lived here in seven years, why are you still paying tax in NZ?
You’ve become a mouth-piece for all that is wrong with NZ. i.e people complaining about an amazing Covid response and the management of 220,000 people through MIQ. You’re pregnant, not dying.
Dear prime Minister, don’t bother responding, you’ve got enough on your plate.
Will the horrible Herald run a story about the poor ugly cancer victim that nobody’s heard of, that cannot afford to employ a PR firm, that gets dumped ‘cos you whinge and get in ahead of them?
MIQ advised you to re-submit your form with a compliant time-frame and in the mean-time you go bleating to the media?
Why did you leave Belgium? Have you sent an open letter to their government? Why do you choose to politicise your pregnancy?
Why did you really choose to leave Al Jazeera? The news network that made you famous? Doha have no problems, particularly with foreigners, not following Shariah law. You’re just stomping your feet and demanding special treatment and publicity. You were not happy just reporting on the news, you want to be the news and jump on the right-wing bandwagon of the criticism of Jacinda Ardern. The real news is what’s happening to the real people of Afghanistan.
I had all the reason in the world to want to travel back home, twice, last year, I chose not to because of the pandemic and there is no way that I would be asking for any special treatment if I did. Stop bleating and just fill in the form properly this time and maybe direct your media value to the innocent men, women and children of Afghanistan that need a crumb right now.
BUT! I repeat I sincerely do hope that you get home to NZ to have your baby if that’s your choice.
I recommend you read this book, Mr Kelly:
https://www.sheisnotyourrehab.com/about
Thanks for the recommendation,but I’ve already read that one, I’m a big fan of Matt Brown and his great work, but relevance? The day any man cannot criticise any woman is the day that toxic feminism is competing with toxic masculinity. My comment is a politic one as we would appear to be on a politic blog?. Whilst, obviously, Charlotte Bellis is a woman, my criticism of her is based on her grandstanding, her desire to queue jump, her inablity to fill in a form properly and then politicising the whole sorry affair, not the fact that she is a woman. I will happily discuss any issue/issues that I have raised/stolen above and promise to apologise and withdraw if proven incorrect but for the record ‘going forward’, any criticism that I make of the Isreali administrations’ treatment of Palestinians, does not make me anti-semetic. Any criticism I make of Eftpostle Brian Tamaki, does not make me a racist. Any criticism of wee Micky Hosking/John Key/David (Can’t see no more) Seymour and Chris ‘Gaslighting’ Bishop does not make me a man hating toxic feminist.
Bellis is NZ’s Novax and shouldnt be given anexemption. All the media and right wingers have been conned by Bellis. We hear now she has been offered to apply for MIQ but she hasnt responded. Its obvious the only reason she left Belgium for Afghanistan was to be with her boyfriend. His contract there finished at end of February so she wants a room then and to bring him here. A good suggestion by someone is that Piers Morgan, Whooten and Schofield should sponsor their heroine and her boyfriend into the safety of the UK. We dont want their type here – photographer is not an essential profession and we have enough right-wing Natz journalists in NZ. There are plenty of more urgent cases with merit to return including my sick cousin and a friend.
One of the best articles on the ‘Net about this at the moment:
https://thestandard.org.nz/womens-human-rights-and-the-vulnerability-of-pregnant-women/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoning#
From that link:
In recent times, stoning has been a legal or customary punishment in Iran, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, northern Nigeria, Afghanistan, Brunei, and tribal parts of Pakistan, including northwest Kurram Valley and the northwest Khwezai-Baezai region though it is rarely carried out.
“In some of these countries, including Afghanistan, where stoning is not legal, it has been carried out extrajudicially by militants, tribal leaders, and others.” References are at the link.
Sadly with middle class journalism, they are the story!
Who cares about facts, or starving Afghans, two birds with one stone, get a news story out there about yourself and get freebies and special treatment from NZ who is one of the few countries stupid enough to change the rules after any media story…. (Clearly Belgium wan’t going to write a check for free maternity care and quick visa on the base of a simple pregnancy from people who seem to have means).
Sadly pregnancy is pretty normal in many parts of the world, and not one to create new rules for, but NZ falls for it every time! (Apart from if you live in NZ and give birth, then you get lower standards than many in the OECD, part of our obsession with Rogernomics, we only like to give freebies to people from overseas not those who live and work here).
Most jurno hustlers’ end up in the PR world (creating news). Twice the pay, half the work. Charlotte has joined the ranks, great effort in Afghanistan, but needs training in logistics.
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