Refugees vs Immigration

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January 29, 2017

XIUHTEZCATL MARTINEZ: Why I Sued The U.S. Government
A THINK INC Event

“The face of America’s next-generation environmental movement” – Rolling Stone

“A vital voice for our time” – Julia Butterfly Hill

2015’s recipient of the Peace First Prize and a powerful voice on the front lines of a global youth-led environmental movement, Xiuhtezcatl Martinez is coming to New Zealand to spread his messages of climate activism and why he sued the U.S. government in February. Through public speaking and hip-hop, Xiuhtezcatl is spreading his message and shifting human consciousness.

Displaying a wisdom far beyond his years, Xiuhtezcatl Martinez has been speaking on behalf of the planet since the age of six. Today, still just a teenager, his extraordinary eloquence has moved audiences which include world leaders, Hollywood celebrities and other impassioned young people across continents who have joined his Earth Guardians activism movement.

Since beginning speaking, Xiuhtezcatl has spoken all over the world from the Rio+20 United Nations Summit in Rio de Janeiro, to addressing the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York.

Xiuhtezcatl made headlines around the world when he stood before the UN Earth Summit in 2015. Opening his statement in the native Aztec tongue Nahuatl, he went on to stress the immediacy of climate change, its impact as an issue of human rights, and to lambast politicians for over 20 years of inaction. “We have to remember, we are all indigenous to this earth and that we are all connected,” he urged the delegates. “We are being called upon to use our courage, our innovation, our creativity and our passion to bring forth a new world.”

While his youth might be viewed as some as a handicap, Xiuhtezcatl embraces it as a weapon in his arsenal. “As young people we have the advantage that the world will listen to us more so than adults because we’re vulnerable and we’re innocent.” His activism also draws on his Aztec heritage, which taught him to give back to the earth through music and dance, and to see the connections between the living planet and the daily decisions that we make.

February will see Xiuhtezcatl Martinez bring his message to New Zealand to inspire audiences into action to protect the Earth.

Xiuhtezcatl Martinez: Why I Sued The U.S. Government
Thursday February 9, 2016
Kawai Purapura, Albany
Tickets available from Eventfinda NZ

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Wellington Cannabis Picnic Rally – February 7th

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January 29, 2017

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2017 IS ELECTION YEAR! Let’s make cannabis law reform an election issue.

Smoking is not allowed on parliament lawns, so bring a vaporizer or edibles and keep this event family friendly! Bring your lunch, good vibes and relax with like minded people.

Dress to impress to help break negative connotations, stereotypes and the overall stigma that cannabis has in some people’s minds! Bring placards in support of an R18 regulated, taxable market for cannabis and safe legal access for patients in need!

There are too many cannabis consumers to arrest: over half a million Kiwis regularly break the law on cannabis, including 70,000 on a daily basis!

WHERE: Tuesday, February 7 at 12 PM – 1:30 PM

WHEN: New Zealand Parliament Buildings

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He Wakaputanga 8 Day Sovereignty March of the Tribes – February 6th

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January 29, 2017

Kotahitanga o Nga Hapu! All Tangata Whenua Tuku Iho Factions/Tribes Conglomerated Together Amalgamted as One people under 1835 He Wakaputanga DOI o Aotearoa, Nu Tireni; and all Tauiwi/Pakeha Tribes…Together We shall be heard!

WHEN: Monday, February 6 at 1 PM

WHERE: One Tree Hill (New Zealand)

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FRINGE HITS ITS STRIDE

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January 29, 2017

AUCKLAND FRINGE FESTIVAL
21st February – 12th March 2017

Auckland Fringe is hitting its stride with the most fringy line-up yet of 92 events, across 45 spaces and over 480 artists involved from Auckland, New Zealand and as far away as Shetland. From supermarkets to cat cafes to main stage theatres, Fringe is set to paint the town fluro orange from 21st February – 12th March 2017.

Under the new directorship of Lydia Zanetti, Fringe has returned to its roots. In the face of a lack of ongoing financial support, Zanetti looked to Auckland artists for guidance and they came back with a resounding “Yes, let’s do this”. This is reflected in a 64% increase in registrations for 2017. As such Fringe is doing what artists worldwide are so used to doing – pulling their socks up and getting on with it anyway. This is the Fringe that Auckland has been waiting for – the most anarchic and gutsy festival yet.

“In our current climate, with an upsurge in right wing politics and further repression, Fringe becomes even more vital. It’s a place for everyone to celebrate all forms otherness, to have the hard discussions and to make work that challenges, that charms and that sends audiences out into the world with a spark in their hearts.

A Fringe festival is also a major flagship for a fantastic arts community within a city and Auckland certainly has all the goods. These artists deserve a Fringe to showcase their work, to see international work and meet international artists, and to help reach new audiences. It’s a festival for the city to be proud of, and a great way for audiences to get excited about all the fantastic makers that call Auckland home.”
– Lydia Zanetti, Director of Auckland Fringe.

As well as a plethora of emerging talent, industry leaders have aligned with Fringe including Silo Theatre, Theatre Stampede, Malia Johnston & Eden Mulholland, award-winning Australian and UK acts including founding member of Edinburgh’s Forest Fringe Andy Field, comedians such as Laura Daniel and a podcast festival featuring The Worst Idea of All Time. With an eclectic and intriguing programme from arts precinct venues Auckland Live, Q Theatre and home of the Fringe Basement Theatre, as well as a region-wide selection of venues including Brothers Beer, Kingseat Hospital, Mangere Arts Centre, West End Rowing Club, Parnell Baths, Te Pou and Pt England Reserve; Fringe is set to be a truly Auckland festival with something for everyone.

Working closely with one of New Zealand’s top design agencies and huge Fringe fans Alt Group, Auckland Fringe has hit the streets with an all-new look. Featuring photocopied faces of Auckland’s top artists and entrepreneurs including Matthew Crawley, Chloe Swarbrick and Nisha Madhan, with a bit of DIY spraypaint attitude, Fringe will be hard to miss at bus stops and venues region-wide. The process was captured in collaboration with top Creative Production Company Monster Valley. Registrations and ticketing are once again being processed by fabulous local ticketing provider iTicket.

Full programme:

THEMES: INTERNATIONALS LOOK TO AUCKLAND

International artists are choosing Auckland and other New Zealand Fringe festivals including NZ Fringe and Dunedin Fringe for their summer tour. These include award-winning Emma Hall & Prue Clark’s We May Have To Choose (621 opinions in 45 minutes!); Eliza Sanders’ double-bill dance hits Castles and Pedal; Charmian “like Josie Long’s mum” Hughes’ Soixante Mirth; Gerard Harris’ storytelling extravaganza A Tension To Detail; Andy Field’s Lookout from a rooftop near you; Shetland-born comedian Marjolein Robertson’s Relations; Tasmanian Nelson Gilmour’s Dead Boys Are Blue at Silo 6; Aussie dancer Paul Jackson’s 48 Points Around The Shoulder (In Shorts); Perth-based Fringe maestro Tomas Ford’s Crap Music Rave Party and cabaret Chase!; punk sci-fi retelling of a Chinese fable in A Virtual Virtual Reality Show; Sachie Mikawa’s Fish Saw makes it’s NZ debut on the North Shore, and internationally written work such as Silo Theatre’s Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again.

THEMES: ALTERNATE SPACES

Fringe is all over the city and region in 2017. In Catacular dancers will perform with our feline friends at Auckland’s premiere cat cafe – Barista Cats. Previews are also available at your place (if you have a cat, of course). Down by Wynyard bridge and at West End Rowing Club watch out for The Floating Theatre – be inside it on the water, or watch the shadows from the shore. Start at Basement or Q and go on a gift-giving mission to the streets with just your phone for company with Edinburgh Festival Fringe Sustainable Practice Award short-lister Delivery #17. Or go on the personal audio adventure of a lifetime (while grocery shopping) in Binge Culture’s Enter The New World. Take to the pool with Wet Hot Beauties’ Sea Change, the Pt England Reserve in The River Talks, Leigh Sawmill with Jubilation Gospel Choir, The Spreading Tree with Hip Hop musical Prodigal Son The Musical or Garnet Station Tiny Theatre for a number of events including The Epidemical Existence of a Personal Malfunction at the Age of Twenty Something. Out at Kingseat Hospital live the experience with Once Upon A Mind; take back K Rd at Encore Cabaret with Coco for Rococo; or explore the underground bathrooms between Kitchener and Lorne Streets with Liminal Space.

THEMES: NOT YOUR CLASSIC 60 MINUTES

Fringe events don’t need to be your typical theatre experience. In fact, they can be whatever they want – as these events show. Basement Theatre has programmed 22 artists across 3 weeks in their Performance Salon. The space will be live from 6 -10pm, and audiences can come in and out as they please. Composure takes over The Actor’s Program’s new space Samoa House on K Road, for a 12 hour durational dance experience. Stay for 5 minutes or 12 hours! At Beop Studios, Grace Maguire let’s you know that Your Smile Is Important To Me in her oral health information event. Sarah-Jane Blake takes carnival amusement games as her inspiration for interactive game Shoot the Freak, and Malia Johnston and Eden Mulholland welcome you into their innovative social performance event Rushes. Get your puppetry on in The Last Man on Earth Is Trapped In A Supermarket or see some international artists going head to head playing jenga and discussing their practice in Town Centre’s Town Meetings. Childhood memories abound with Akl Skipping Club in Aotea Square; see the beginning of a script and then comedians making up the end in Buffering Theatre; Shabbat Shalom and Thank You For Coming is a dining experience like no other; Darksong puts you in the dark with a choir, and NYC House Party Comes To Mt Roskill is well, just that.

THEMES: COMEDY RETURNETH

After a predominantly theatre festival in 2015, Fringe is stoked to present a strong comedy selection in 2017 including Snort/ Funny Girls/ Jono & Ben stalwarts Laura Daniel, Eli Matthewson, Hamish Parkinson and Alice Snedden in Pilot Season; Thomas Sainsbury and Jason Smith’s teen-slasher musical Infectious; Brendon Green’s Humourism and Australasia’s number one trump impersonator Alexander Sparrow take on French Revolution-era pornographer Marquis de Sade in De Sade. In Little Empire’s Poddy Fest come experience live recordings of all your favourite podcast from some of NZ’s top comedians including The Worst Idea of All Time, Boners of the Heart and Walk Out Boys. Jayran Mansouri returns with Snowflake and a line up event in Giggle Nibbles at both Everybody’s and the Thirsty Dog.

THEMES: DANCE & LIVE ART

Is Contemporary Performance and Live Art the most hashtagged art forms of 2017? Just you wait. Dance is also back in full force, as the backbone of Fringe in Auckland. Eliza Sanders’ Castles and Pedal happily fits into both categories. Dance/performance artist and Berlin-based Alexa Wilson makes her much heralded return with PechaKucha style 21 Movements in collaboration with photographer Nicholas Watt. Julia Croft premieres her new work Power Ballad after smashing Edinburgh with hit If There’s Not Dancing at the Revolution, I’m Not Coming; and Elijah Kennar’s Mea Tau six men dance extravaganza returns as a full length dance explosion. Josie Archer takes over Beop Studios with Josie’s Solo; Lydia Connolly-Hiatt is back from Melbourne with Dream Man; Malia Johnston is working with a huge selection of Auckland’s top dancers and artists for performance installation gallery Rushes; for lots of slick moves get along to Artimus or Momentum Productions’ Synthesis, and VACANT.6 is slick moves contained within Silo 6.

VENUES ALIGNING WITH FRINGE INCLUDE:

Aotea Square; Audio Foundation; Backbeat; Barista Cats; Basement Theatre; Beop Studios; Brothers Beer; across CBD streets and supermarkets; Ellice Road; Encore Cabaret; Everybody’s; Galatos; Garnet Station; Herald Theatre; Kingseat Hospital; Aotea Centre; Mangere Arts Centre; Mika Haka Studio; Old Folks Association Hall; Parnell Baths; Silo Park; Pt England Reserve; Pumphouse Theatre and Killarney Park; Q Theatre; Samoa House; Leigh Sawmill; Silo 6; TAPAC; Te Pou Theatre; The Spreading Tree; Thirsty Dog; Viaduct Marina; Wellesley Street East Restrooms; West End Rowing Club; and more.

Full programme:

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Malcolm Evans – Bald Eagle replaced

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Malcolm Evans

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January 29, 2017

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Political Caption Competition

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January 29, 2017

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Daily Blog Guerrilla Radio – The Unofficial Anthem of Trumps America – Better Man – Pearl Jam

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January 29, 2017

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TDB Top 5 International Stories: Sunday 29th January 2017

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January 29, 2017

5: World leaders condemn Donald Trump’s ‘Muslim ban’

European leaders, the United Nations and international groups have condemned US President Donald Trump’s measures against refugees and travellers from several Muslim-majority countries.

The chorus of criticism came as passport holders from Arab countries were blocked on Saturday from passing through customs at US airports and others were prevented from boarding US-bound planes.

Aljazeera

4: NYC: Thousands Protest Trump Plan to Impose Ban on Refugees, Block Visas from 7 Muslim Nations

On Wednesday night, thousands of protesters packed into Washington Square Park in New York for an emergency rally in support of Muslim and immigrant rights. The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations organized the event after leaked documents showed Trump is preparing to sign an executive order blocking visas from being issued to anyone from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. We hear from New York City Public Advocate Letitia James and Palestinian-American activist Linda Sarsour and speak to Vincent Warren of the Center for Constitutional Rights and Faiza Patel of the Brennan Center.

Democracy Now

3: Trump’s Muslim Ban is Culmination of War on Terror Mentality but Still Uniquely Shameful

IT IS NOT DIFFICULT for any decent human being to immediately apprehend why and how Donald Trump’s ban on immigrants from seven Muslim countries is inhumane, bigoted, and shameful. During the campaign, the evil of the policy was recognized even by Mike Pence (“offensive and unconstitutional”) and Paul Ryan (violative of America’s “fundamental values”), who are far too craven and cowardly to object now.

Trump’s own Defense Secretary, Gen. James Mattis, said when Trump first advocated his Muslim ban back in August that “we have lost faith in reason,” adding: “This kind of thing is causing us great damage right now, and it’s sending shock waves through this international system.”

The sole ostensible rationale for this ban – it is necessary to keep out Muslim extremists – collapses upon the most minimal scrutiny. The countries which have produced and supported the greatest number of anti-U.S. terrorists – Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, UAE – are excluded from the ban list because the tyrannical regimes that run those countries are close U.S. allies. Conversely, the countries that are included – Syria, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Iran, Sudan and Yemen – have produced virtually no such terrorists; as the Cato Institute documented on Friday night: “Foreigners from those seven nations have killed zero Americans in terrorist attacks on U.S. soil between 1975 and the end of 2015.” Indeed, as of a 2015 study by the New America research center, deaths caused by terrorism from right-wing nationalists since 9/11 have significantly exceeded those from Muslim extremists.

The Intercept

2: Donald Trump’s first week: carnage, both real and imagined

The crowd was small, the weather was bad and the speech, which described “American carnage”, was dire. For the tens of millions who voted against him and countless concerned others, Donald Trump’s inauguration as president of the United States felt ominous, no matter how widely Barack Obama smiled and no matter how gracefully he and Michelle Obama made the transition from hosts to departing guests.

The feeling of foreboding did not last. It was overtaken within hours by the realization, at the arrival of the first of the new president’s executive actions, that the most outrageous campaign promises Trump had made to the smallest core of his supporters were now official US policy, or about to be.

Within a week, the rally chant “build the wall!” had morphed into a phrase published on White House stationery: “impassable physical barrier”. A proposed ban on Muslim immigrants took shape as a suspension of visa programs from countries that, as Trump put it, “have tremendous terror”. Grumbling about excessive government regulation had become, in one document, an exhortation to bureaucrats to help an oil company skip the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

“He’s delivering the goods to his core constituency in a really visible way,” said John T Woolley, head of the American presidency project at the University of California, Santa Barbara. “But there are a lot of things that he’s raising that may be above what he truly has the ability to do.”

The Guardian

1: Environmental Activists Plan to March on Washington April 29

Thanks to the millions of people who donned pink pussy hats all over the world last Saturday in solidarity with the Women’s March on Washington, environmental activists are now organizing a march in order to send their own message to the Trump White House. They’ve staked out April 29, the Saturday before Trump’s 100th day in office, for the People’s Climate March.
The march is being steered by 25 different organizations, including the Sierra Club, the NAACP, Service Employees International Union, US Climate Action Network, and the Hip Hop Caucus—which hopefully means that there will be some really great entertainment lined up for the event.

“There is no denying it: Donald Trump’s election is a threat to the future of our planet, the safety of our communities, and the health of our families,” organizers wrote in a statement. “This new administration is attacking the hard-won protections of our climate, health, and communities, and the rights of people of color, workers, indigenous people, immigrants, women, LGBTQIA, young people, and more.”

Vice News

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The Daily Blog Open Mic – Sunday 29th January 2017

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January 29, 2017

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Announce protest actions, general chit chat or give your opinion on issues we haven’t covered for the day.

Moderation rules are more lenient for this section, but try and play nicely.

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Rodeo sponsors withdraw support following release of brutal footage – SAFE

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January 29, 2017

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Following the release of new video evidence filmed at the Mid Northern rodeo in Whangarei demonstrating the brutality of rodeo events, plus further footage from the Upper Mohaka rodeo, eight companies have severed ties with rodeo, says SAFE.

Real estate agents LJ Hooker, Ray White and Harcourts; Firth Industries, Rock Gas, Saddlery Warehouse, Placemakers and Meridian Energy, have all pledged that they or their franchisees will not sponsor rodeo. A representative of Saddlery Warehouse said: “As of today it is policy that no Saddlery Warehouse store can sponsor a rodeo event.” Similarly, LJ Hooker says it “does not condone any form of animal cruelty.” Firth Industries said, “While Firth encourages local teams to support local events, the teams are being advised not to support rodeo events in the future.” Meridian Energy was surprised to hear it was listed as a sponsor, saying that they had not done so since 2008. They said, “Meridian does not condone cruelty to animals, which includes events like rodeos that have recently been highlighted as putting animals at risk.”

SAFE says rodeos rely on their sponsors, who give money or donated goods, and would not be financially viable without them, which is why it is significant that companies are withdrawing their support. Rodeo is already condemned the world over by animal welfare experts. New Zealand has seen an increase in anti-rodeo sentiment with a recent poll showing 59% want a ban. Just 25% want rodeo to stay.

“The bullying of animals for the fun of a minority is not something businesses want to be aligned with, when they see the cruelty involved in rodeo”, says Mandy Carter, head of campaigns. “We commend those companies who have turned their back on rodeo and urge all sponsors to follow this compassionate lead and instead support positive community events that are animal-friendly.”

The new footage from Mid Northern rodeo which horrified many shows animals in clear distress. A bull crawls on his knees, in a desperate attempt to get away from rodeo performers; young calves are shocked with an electric prod while confined in a chute, which is a breach of the rodeo code of welfare; a rodeo performer roughly wrenches a calf’s leg and body in his attempt to tie the animal’s legs together. When members of the public were shown this footage by RNZ’s Checkpoint, all said it was not an acceptable way to treat animals. Within hours of the footage being released on SAFE’s social media, rodeo sponsors reported receiving hundreds of emails from concerned animal lovers.

During rodeo events, animals are grabbed, ridden, and wrestled aggressively as part of the ‘entertainment’. The animals can sustain serious injuries such as fractures and bruising. Rodeos deliberately subject animals to fear, stress and torment. They are a cruel and outdated spectacle where each event compromises animal welfare.

SAFE points out that by sponsoring rodeo, companies are associating themselves with the abuse of animals for entertainment – something that can be damaging to their brand and be viewed negatively by their customers. Whilst appreciating that companies want to be involved with the local community, SAFE says there are many alternative activities they can choose to sponsor that do not involve cruelty.

SAFE encourages people who want an end to the cruelty of rodeo to contact sponsors asking them to withdraw their support.

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Minimum wage increase does nothing for low-wage workers and beneficiaries – Auckland Action Against Poverty

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January 29, 2017

The National government’s increase in the minimum wage by 50 cents to $15.75 an hour will not change the living standards of unemployed and low-wage workers struggling with rent and food.

“With the costs of living increasing, a low wage economy, and welfare reforms which have caused increased poverty, this wage increase is an insult,” says AAAP spokerperson Vanessa Cole.

“Unemployment and competition for work enables employers to continue to pay poverty wages with legislative support from the government.

“Yet the government continue to punish beneficiaries and unemployed workers, blaming them for the poverty the wealthy create.

“Beneficiaries are being forced by Work and Income into low-paid, casual and temporary work which force them into a poverty trap between low benefit payments and low wages.

“If we assume people are in full-time employment, this increase will get them $640.00 a week.

“In Auckland, where average rents are now over $500, this increase will do little for those struggling to pay rent and basic necessities.

“The calculated living wage is $19.80, with Auckland’s living wage even higher. This increase does not even come close to the amount needed to live with dignity.

“AAAP supports a progressive UBI, a living wage for all workers, an increase in benefit payments and an end to the war being waged on the poor.

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High housing costs and low wages force working people to strike – First Union

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January 29, 2017

Distribution centre workers at Auckland-based car parts supplier Brake and Transmission (BNT) walked off the job this morning – the second time in as many months – as the company continues postponing negotiations.

The distribution centre workers initiated bargaining five months ago and walked off the job last December saying the company’s nil pay offer meant they would struggle to keep up with skyrocketing house prices.

“We have been in bargaining since August and the company is offering nothing. Auckland is now one of the least affordable cities in the world when it comes to housing, ” said the workers’ representative, FIRST Union organiser Emir Hodzic.

“Low wages are pushing more and more people out of Auckland. The distribution centre workers here at BNT are feeling the pinch too. They’re struggling to sustain their families while the cost of housing keeps going up, but their wages remain the same.”

“We’re pretty much at breaking point,” said Hodzic.

In December BNT workers were part of a “strike wave” where distribution centre workers at TV advertorial company Brand Developers TV Shop and gib board distributor CV Compton walked off the job to protest low wages.

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Muslim banning, Wall building, Abortion rights burning and belief in Torture – just consider all that for a moment

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Martyn Bradbury

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January 28, 2017

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He said he absolutely believes Torture works.

Consider this…

US President Donald Trump ignited a row over the use of waterboarding Wednesday after claiming intelligence professionals told him it “absolutely works.”

…what is more terrifying? That Trump believes torture works or that there are senior intelligence professionals telling him that it works?

There is an issue beyond the fact that torture doesn’t work, the moral and ethical revulsion most reasonable people have against the State torturing human beings demands that we reign our political leaders in when they start down this madness, yet in Trump we have a President who can’t be shamed into being a decent human being.

Then there is his ridiculous wall that will only generate more friction with Mexico and empower people smugglers and then his Standing Rock Pipeline that he just happens to have business interests in. The attacks on Abortion Rights are also scandalous.

But what is most alarming and intellectually bankrupt is his Muslim Ban.

He uses 9-11 3 times to justify the Muslim Ban…

… you’ll all not that the 9/11 hijackers were from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE & Lebanon. None of those countries have been listed in the ban.

Ironically 5 of the 7 countries Trump has banned are currently being bombed by America.

If you want to stop terrorists coming to your country, stop making more by bombing them.

Trump has rewarded the white working poor and won over their Unions, all he needs to do is play to their fears for the next 4 years and keep the new Authoritarian America terrifying everyone else.

The only way forward is to gut the Democratic Party and destroy the elites who put Hillary forward. Identity Politics demanded it was a ‘womens turn’ as opposed to ‘who can beat Trump’. Bernie would have beaten Trump, yet the Democrats rigged the Primary’s and put a war hawk neoliberal wedded to the very free market globalisation that hurt so many of the Democratic working vote in instead.

And now we have on orange Nazi running the White House.

If all those women marching last weekend had voted Bernie we wouldn’t need to protest Trump today.

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What now for the Tongan Democrats looking ahead to 2018?

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Dr David Robie

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January 28, 2017