text:
City Creek Post Acute is currently seeking a Transportation Coordinator to join our outstanding team!
City Creek Post Acute is a 73 bed capacity skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility located in Salt Lake City, Utah between downtown and the University of Utah where residents and their families feel loved, informed, and comfortable. By creating an empowered, professional work environment, our employees are free to meet our customers' needs every day. The City Creek experience renews our residents' health and hopes for the future by providing a surprising level of attention and service specializing in stroke, orthopedic and cardiac wellness therapy.
This position will require a person who is willing to take responsibility and ownership of the transportation of residents to our facility from other facilities and to and from follow up medical appointments in a courteous and timely manner. This person will be a key member of the City Creek Team in that they will provide a positive impression of our facility and impeccable communication to the medical offices in the community. The most successful candidate will develop caring relationships with the patients and practice quality customer service with residents and their families taking the role of patient advocate when necessary.
- Clear driving record
- Organizational skills
- Time organization and efficiency
- Assertiveness
- Resourceful
- CNA training helpful
Please ensure you fill in all information before sending your message
* Mandatory fields


text:
Foretaste of Spring
Running to and fro this afternoon, in one enterprise or another, I could not help but notice the beauty of the day. It is neither too hot nor too cold. There was the faintest breeze, just enough to move the air without being blustery. The sun shone bright against a brilliant blue sky, with just … Continue reading Foretaste of Spring

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Sala Changó is reinventing its place in Madrid's nightlife as a dynamic space where music and light take centre stage. This project, where programming and design are combined to give you an unforgettable night, was done by Necsum.
The Lighting Design team chose to bring out the architectural forms of the interior with plays of light that dance with the rhythm of the music. The new dynamic lighting has stunning visual effects that combine pulses, waves and lines of light on the ceiling and balconies in a space that's been rejuvenated for the Madrid nightlife.


text:
Even though reasonably new, has quickly turn out to be a quite well-liked spot to purchase inexpensive but high top quality audio/video cables and adapters on-line. At this point, I am fairly intimate with Credit Cards (CCs), Credit Card fraud and net safety in general After all, our job was to safeguard our users' information, to prevent it from being hacked, stolen or misused. The much more cards you have open, even if you in no way use them, help give you a bigger obtainable credit quantity to divide by.
In final month that is 25th July 2014 there is a news spread about numerous SBI salary accounts of IAF officers being hacked and all the Transactions are being produced in Canada. I referred to as the reconsideration hotline and had them split the credit amount I was granted for the 1st card, say $10k, between the two cards, now $5k every single. We advise that you continue following up with your bank in order to get your cash back. Debit Cards: Alternatively of utilizing a credit card, you can equally effortlessly use a debit card.
I presently use BOA cash-back credit card and make about $600/year off of it. We're not large shoppers and hardly ever consume out, so most costs are groceries, gas, and property depot/lowes as we work on our property. Accuracy credit cards for negative credit immediate approval high limit credit totally free hacked credit cards numbers and confirm. Rather, they had been gift cards that had been re-encoded with data from cards that have been stolen from a selection of information breaches at merchants, including the Connecticut vehicle wash. I had never truly thought about this as a side hustle, mainly because it is rather passive beyond signing up for the new credit card (that is type of perfect, no?). You can gather money from any account just by typing the persons account quantity e-mail me.(janeashey333@).
As you can see from the list above, there are a lot of distinct techniques that fraudsters can obtain and use your credit card information—it may well seem like it really is not possible to shield your self. If you in no way preserve a balance on these cards, then it is usually not going to hurt you, but if you have an excessive quantity of cards with open credit lines, that may throw up a red flag to the underwriter. A good place to begin is to take a look at your final month's costs from bank or credit card statements. Some of you will want the ready created card to keep away from the anxiety of doing it oneself and i don't give the prepared made card out for free of charge because i spent days attempting to make it accessible for you. My wife and I just booked tickets to Japan and back ($2400) for cost-free using this habit.
All in this card has saved us about $900 for carrying out absolutely practically nothing diverse in addition to carrying around a various credit card to ensure we met the minimum to get the bonus points. HDFC Bank presents the Easy EMI system to make your credit card usage a tiny more practical and hassle-totally free. It is really challenging to get through the present law program to recover our challenging earned money. In a related turn, many college students who apply for credit cards and loans for the initial time locate that their identities had been stolen years prior. They aid hold track of your spending significantly a lot more simply than money, and they let you download your transaction history for totally free. You don't need to have exceptional or even good credit to qualify for the Capital One® QuicksilverOne® Cash Rewards Credit Card. We are sorry to hear about your circumstance and the income you have lost to a fraudulent transaction.…


text:
Find A Hacker – Hacking Services
Find A Hacker – Hacking Services –
Do you desire your service to have a safe system? Safeguard it from uncertain characters that intend to take delicate papers by employing a reputable information protection professional. They could supply ethical hacking, penetration testing, and also Payment Card Industry (PCI) training as well as consulting. Here is more info concerning exactly what this is and also what it can do for your firm.
Exactly what is a details safety and security professional?
One more term for an info security specialist is a computer protection professional. This specialist is in charge of protecting the computer system from dangers. These dangers can be internal or external in nature. Apart from, personal services, the professional gives solutions for federal government companies and also educational institutions.
The requirement for these knowledgeable specialists continuouslies expand. This is because risks to computer systems and also networks establish rapidly along with technological developments. Due to this, the expert should remain to upgrade his or her degree of knowledge. They need to additionally raise toolbox of helpful tools, applications, and systems.
A fundamental safety action includes the control of passwords. A computer safety professional could call for the participants of the business to transform their password regularly. This lowers the chances of unapproved access to private programs, networks, or data sources.
Who would I secure my company from?
Generally, the most dangerous threat to any type of computer network comes from outside resources. The professional sets up firewall softwares for hackers. They regularly installs programs that have automated informs when there is any kind of effort to penetrate the system. You could also discover sophisticated programs that can point out where the hacker is by determining the web method address of the trespasser.
2 preferred services offered by computer specialists are ethical hacking as well as infiltration testing.
Ethical hacking and also Penetration testing 101
Proficient computer experts generally carry out moral hacking. They utilize their programming abilities to know the weak points in computer systems. While you can find non-ethical hackers abusing the susceptabilities for personal gain, the honest cyberpunk reviews and points them out, then recommends modifications to enhance the system. Computer experts keep systems and also details safe with their ethical hacking services.
The majority of IT experts take into consideration moral hacking as plain hacking due to the fact that it still utilizes knowledge of computer systems in an effort to collapse or permeate them. A lot of business owners consider it moral because of its function, which is to enhance the security in systems.
Penetration screening, on the other hand, is a type of safety assessment done on a computer system. This entails a person attempting to hack right into the system. The goal of this solution is to figure out if a person with harmful intent could get in the system. Infiltration screening can disclose what programs or applications cyberpunks could access as soon as they penetrate the system. There are several companies as well as online businesses providing penetration screening. This is highly-recommended, as damages to a computer system caused by a hostile strike can be costly to fix.
A lot of companies are needed to have infiltration screening. Conformity with the requirement could seem difficult in the beginning, but you can discover several firms that have sufficient experience in order to help services fulfill the requirements in any way levels.
For More Information About I Need A Hacker, Hire A Hacker, Find A Hacker, Hacking Services . professional hacker


text:
Never mess with the Hadids
These stylish A-listers came out in full force while attending the fashion...
21 September 2016
It's all about gothic chic glamour on the runway
07 March 2016
We are loving the out-of-the-box collection by the high-street store
07 March 2016
Olivier Rousteing's supermodel squad took over the show
The regional designer's latest collection was a hit!
It's all about the celebrities and what they're wearing!
25 January 2016
From oversize fisherman knit sweaters to silk crepe dresses unadorned, we are...
11 March 2015
A fierce collection to unleash your inner wanderer
11 March 2015
Its the moment we've all been waiting for!
10 March 2015
It's all about the rock and roll with plenty of leather
10 March 2015
Talk about unique!
09 March 2015
The highstreet brand brings out the earthy colours on the catwalk
05 March 2015
Experience all the excitement through the brand's social media
The model bares it all
Kimye are booed by paparazzi and attacked by Vitalii Sediuk
Karl Lagerfeld put on an impressive show as Kris Jenner, Alexa Chung and Gisele
Ahlan! Live TV
The A!List
Get our biggest stories and galleries delivered direct to your inbox


text:
Sebelius Touts Benefits, Savings of ACA Ahead of Third Anniversary
Since its enactment three years ago, the Affordable Care Act has helped Medicare beneficiaries save more than $6.1 billion on their prescription medications because of discounts offered to those who reach the Medicare Part D "doughnut hole," HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced Thursday, The Hill's "Healthwatch" reports (Viebeck, "Healthwatch," The Hill, 3/21).
Prior to the ACA, Medicare Part D beneficiaries paid 25% of the cost of their drugs until the total bill reached $2,830. Beneficiaries then paid the full cost of drugs until their total out-of-pocket spending reached $4,550, the gap in coverage known as the doughnut hole.
The ACA called for Medicare beneficiaries in 2010 to receive one-time, $250 rebates when they reached the doughnut hole. In 2011, the rebate was replaced by a 50% discount on brand-name drugs. The discount will increase gradually until 2020, when the coverage gap will be closed (California Healthline, 12/5/12).
Sebelius noted that in 2013, the discounts will increase to 53% for brand-name drugs and to 21% for generic medications. "By making prescription drugs more affordable, the [ACA] is improving and promoting the best care for people with Medicare," she said (Viebeck, "Healthwatch," The Hill, 3/21).
During an interview Thursday on MSNBC's "Morning Joe," Sebelius also noted that the ACA is helping consumers get a "better bang for their buck" because the law is helping to decelerate premium rate increases and ensuring that insurers are spending those dollars on consumers' health benefits, Politico reports.
Sebelius said, "We have seen far fewer double-digit increases in the last three years than in the previous decade," adding, "And more insurance commissioners ⦠are really reviewing those rates carefully [and] are rejecting the double-digit increases."
For example, California's insurance commissioner is challenging premium rate hikes of more than 20%, which insurers have blamed on a health insurance fee that is scheduled to take effect in 2014, Politico reports (Robillard, Politico, 3/21).
Sebelius also cited several key ACA provisions that are scheduled to take effect in 2014 that will help further increase savings. She acknowledged that "there's still some misunderstanding" about the law and touted the benefits of the ACA's insurance exchanges.
"For the first time ever, people who are uninsured because of cost, and a lot of people who are buying insurance on their own and a lot of small-business owners will finally be part of insurance plans that have to compete side by side" (Baker, "Healthwatch," The Hill, 3/21).This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.


text:
As a composer, I feel most at home making music at the fuzzy borders between established traditions, and I will happily use any technique or style I can wrap my head or hands around. I am particularly interested in shared spaces between Western concert music and non-notated music, between popular and art song, between acoustic and electronic instruments, and between human beings and the natural world. I have created music for traditional Western orchestras, electronic laptop orchestras, acoustic chamber groups, voice, piano & electronics, solo percussion, mp3 players, and electric guitars.
Designing music around the physicality of particular performers and instruments gets me excited. I have had the pleasure and good fortune to work with many outstanding performers and ensembles, including Kathleen Supové, Samuel Solomon, Benjamin Schwartz, CATCH electric guitar quartet, JACK string quartet, NOW Ensemble, members of New Millennium Ensemble, the Nash Ensemble of London, the Princeton Laptop Orchestra, and the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. As a performer, I play electric guitar and write music for the duo X10. I occasionally perform and write music with the electronic ensemble Sideband, a collective of composer-performer-programmers. Under the name ThreeAcrePlot I write and record songs for my voice and a variety of instruments.
I enjoy writing, thinking, and talking about music, and recently presented some of my doctoral dissertation work at the popMAC International Conference on Popular Music in Liverpool, UK. Theory is a way for me to make sense of the music that I love and that I make. Teaching is a way to exchange my own experience, study and research with musicians and non-musicians who are also passionate about music. I have taught theory, musicianship, electronic music, and composition both privately and at the college/university level. Since 2011 I teach in the Music Composition MFA program at Vermont College of Fine Arts, where I give one-on-one instruction in contemporary concert music, electronic music, and songwriting.
I hold degrees in music from Yale University (B.A.), USC Thornton School of Music (M.M.), and Princeton University (Ph.D.) where I was a recipient of the Roger Sessions University Fellowship in Music. I have also received fellowships, awards and grants from ASCAP, the Percussive Arts Society, the OUTPUT guitar festival, the Aspen Music Festival, and the MIT Council for the Arts. My music has been performed at the Open Ears Festival of Music and Sound in Kitchener, Ontario; the ODC Theater in San Francisco; the Aspen Music Festival in Colorado; the OUTPUT guitar festival in Amsterdam; The Center for New Music and Audio Technologies at UC Berkeley; Grinnell College in Iowa; Denison University in Ohio; and many venues in New York City including Le Poisson Rouge, Galapagos Art Space, The Flea Theater, 92YTribeca, The Museum of the Moving Image and the MMIX festival.


text:
Goodwill Games Face Uncertain Future
Decent preliminary ratings, strong attendance and participation from high-profile athletes aside, the book's still out as to whether AOL Time Warner Inc. will give a future thumbs up to the Goodwill Games.
Some industry sources believe this year's summer games in Brisbane, Australia — which ended last Saturday — may be the last for the money-losing venture. AOL Time Warner is looking to trim expenses and hasn't announced whether it will continue the Goodwill Games, which have lost millions of dollars in each of its four previous incarnations.
For its part, the summer event was performing adequately in the ratings. Over its first four days through Aug. 31, the Goodwill Games averaged a 0.9 primetime rating, slightly below Turner's projected 1.0 and well short of the 1.6 rating generated by the 1998 competition in New York.
But the strong ratings of its live morning coverage (by U.S. time-zone standards) had pushed the event's cumulative ratings average to above a 1.7, said Turner Sports senior vice president of public relations Greg Hughes.
And several high-profile, ratings-generating events set for the games' final three days — such as figure skating, men's basketball and track and field — were expected to provide a significant ratings uptick.
"We're pretty pleased about the ratings performance so far," Hughes said.
The Games have also proven to be a major attraction for the host city. Sources close to Turner said event venues were filled to nearly 80 percent of capacity and local television ratings were 30 percent higher than projected.
Hughes would not comment on AOL Time Warner's plans for future Goodwill Games, but he pointed out that the 2005 Winter Goodwill Games are already set for Calgary, Canada.
AOL Time Warner executives had not returned calls regarding the issue by press time. But a company source said the media conglomerate would consider a number of factors — including the cost of the event and its international impact — before rendering a final judgement.
"A decision will not be based on ratings or expenses alone, but on a number of things," said the source. "But no decision will be made soon about future sites."
If AOL Time Warner decides to pull the plug on the games, AOL Time Warner vice chairman Ted Turner has said he may personally finance future events. At an Aug. 29 Goodwill Games teleconference, Turner — who founded the competition — said he would consider financially subsidizing future Goodwill Games events, if necessary.
"Since we created the Goodwill Games, there has always been speculation that whatever games we were in were the last," Turner said. "But here we are in Brisbane. I'd rather put my money in a poker machine than bet against the Goodwill Games."
The cloudy future for cable's first original sports franchise is in stark contrast to the success of ESPN's youth-targeted X Games franchise. The X Games — which are coming off a very successful event two weeks ago in Philadelphia — have become a ratings and marketing juggernaut for both ESPN and the industry, although the event's household numbers are comparable to the Goodwill Games.
ESPN averaged a 0.8 afternoon and primetime rating for events held Aug. 17 through Aug. 23, an increase of 24 percent over last year's numbers, said the network.
But the X Games reach the advertising-coveted young male 12-17 and 18-34 demographics, which has allowed ESPN to create numerous brand extensions, including a magazine and a series of X Games "skate parks" around the country.
"The X Games are taking off because they have more unique events that kids and teens are looking for and reflect what they're doing," Kagan Associates sports analyst John Mansell said.
He added, though, that the Goodwill Games are still a relatively inexpensive, viable programming resource for Turner.
"I think the Goodwill Games as originally conceived was a terrific idea," he said. "But I don't think it's fulfilled everyone's expectations."


text:
HD Cinema offers Digital Cinema camera rentals to individuals and companies within the independent film community who produce a variety of quality digital feature films, documentaries, music videos, and television programs. Our role is to simplify technical decisions for the creative people who are our clients; at affordable prices, with extensive industry knowledge, and with attentive service.
Contact email@example.com or call 310-434-9500
Zeiss Supreme Primes - Full Frame, fast T1.5 new Alexa Mini LF - Full Frame sensor
a beautiful set of new lenses for our Alexa Mini LF special pricing with Supreme Primes
ARRI Alexa Mini Super 35 Zeiss Super Speeds MKIII
RED DSMC2 8K Helium RED 5K Gemini dual ISO
ARRI WCU-4 wireless FIZ Angenieux EZ zooms SmallHD monitors
Zeiss Ultra Primes Sony FS7 M2 Fujinon Cabrio 19-90mm
Teradek 3000, 1000, 500 wireless video ARRI FF4 ARRI + Chrosziel matte boxes
Easyrig Vario5 DJI Ronin gimbal stabilizer SmallHD 703,702 monitors
Zeiss CZ zooms EF+PL Canon C300 MII Zeiss CP2 primes PL + EF
Sony PVM-1741 OLED Bartech wireless focus Heden Carat wireless focus


text:
Roland Talmadge
Condolence Messages
With happiness we always looked forward to our visits with Bogie, T-Bone and Cecil. Their wonderful personalities brought much joy to all of us. You have our sincere sympathy. Janet Couh Teer and Nello Teer
Three years ago, while at Atlantic Beach, we had the pleasure of meeting Bogie. Since then, we regularly return to stay at the cottage that was to the right of Bogie's place. We will miss hearing his stories of times past, sharing our Clam Chowder with him and seeing him faithfully walk to the taxi every morning, fishing gear in hand. Bogie will be missed by all who had the priviledge of knowing this wonderful person.
I am going to miss Uncle Bogie. He left me with the gift of a love for fishing. He was a very dear friend, mentor and teacher. How he had the patience to let a young kid tag along on the Iron Steamer Pier all those summers I will never know, but I am a much different person because he did. He was an extrodinary person and a dear friend who makes me feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to have known.
Bogie was one of the finest men we ever met. We always felt better by just being in his presence. He and my father were steadfast friends for many years. We heard of Bogie's passing on our return trip to Alaska and deeply regret we could not be there to pay our respects. He will surely be missed.
John and Judy Woody
Oh what a jewel Mr. Bogie was. We didn't know him very long, but long enough to love him. Our hearts are broken too because we didn't get a chance to take him out to dinner like we discussed just a few weeks ago when he called to say he had some fresh bluefish for us that he had caught that morning. He was always very proud to share his catch with us and my mother Mary Baysden who "assisted" him for the past few years prior to her unexpected passing this past February. Mr. Bogie made Mama's funeral very special by standing and tearfully expressing his love and appreciation of her.
My family is deeply saddened by his passing, but take comfort in knowing he is once again with Miss Virginia and Mama…..


text:
Steve Swan String Basses
String Bass Sales and Repairs
Subscribe via Email
Featured Instruments
Basses by Price
under $2,000
$2,000 – $5,000
$5,000 – $10,000
over $10,000
Basses by Maker
Samuel Shen
Zuechang Sun
Paesold Hofner
Bass Guitars
Bass Bows
Bass Covers
Electric Basses
Contact Us!
or Call Us! (650) 515-1014
Electric Basses
About Steve Swan
String Bass Repairs
Contact Us
Latest Instruments
New Shen SB 200 Rogeri maple carved back large 3/4
New Swan Workshop large 3/4
1905 German 7/8 flatback
1999 Dominic Zuchowicz 7/8 "Montagnana" model
1926 Otto Rubner gamba shape 3/4 carved back
© 2013 Steve Swan String Basses All rights reserved.
WP Premium Theme by
Premium Wordpress Themes


text:
Shipping to Democratic Republic of Congo
Demurrage and Detention
The freetime for export containers is 32 days for Timber, 21 days for others commodities, to be counted between the day the export laissez-suivre has been issued and the arrival date of the vessel on which the containers were loaded. After the freetime period detention of 10 USD/day/TEU will apply.
Export booking
Make your booking thru our Website bookingmodule. EDI solutions (e@sydoc) in french, for non stable Internet, directly sent to you by Email. Contact Customer Service email@example.com if you require assistance.
Pick up containers
Empty containers can be taking at: Matadi port or Kinshasa depot
Scrap: A Licence for export scrap must be allowed by DRC government. All exports to China are subject to China scrap import licence. No export are allowed to New Delhi.
Weight: General weight limitation is 23 tons. Each container has it own weight always check plates scales on containers to avoid overweight.
There has no overweight tax; vessels are not allowed to load overweight containers.
Reefer: DRC do not to export reefers containers for the moment.
Verified Gross Mass Deadline (VGM)
The Deadline to submit the Verified the gross mass (VGM) details is 48 hours before the vessel arrival at the load port.
|Port Name
|Matadi Port Terminal
|48 hours before vessel arrival at load port
As a general guidance, the VGM should be received by Maersk prior to the cargo gate cut-off, before loading containers on the vessel.
No container will be loaded on board on a vessel without VGM, resulting in cargo delivery delays. Additionally, potential demurrage and/or detention charges may apply when a container is sitting idle at the terminal awaiting for VGM submission.
Contact us
If you want to speak to a sales person about a new shipment or if you have a question about your existing shipment, you can email us and we will respond within the next two days. If you have a more immediate question, you can search for help online.


text:
Labour and NZ First sign up to TPPA – "is this capitalism with a human face"?
"Far too many New Zealanders have come to view today's capitalism, not as their friend, but as their foe. And they are not all wrong. That is why we believe that capitalism must regain its responsible – its human face. That perception has influenced our negotiations." – Winston Peters, 19 October 2017
8 March, Wellington, New Zealand: As sign the TPPA in Santiago, around a hundred people gathered in Parliament's grounds to oppose the Coalition government's decision to accept the deal;
The message from speakers and the assembled people was best summed up with this message;
Grant Brookes, from the New Zealand Nurses Organisation was one of several speakers to address the protest. He was highly critical of the so-called "revised" agreement;
He said;
"The NZ Nurses organisation objects to this government's intention to sign the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement in Chile later today. We assert that despite some improvements, the CPTTP is not ready to be signed. Trade Minister David Parker […] acknowledges that the deal is not perfect. Speaking on Newshub last week he said he would give it a score of seven out of 10 for New Zealand.
Let's imagine for one minute that that score is accurate, but what does seven out of ten mean when it comes to your health?
What if you turned up to the Emergency Department with a serious cut, and you were told you could have stitches to seven tenths of your wound? What does it mean if you were in pain and you were given a treatment that left you 30% sore?"
On 3 March, Minister David Parker was interviewed by Lisa Owen for TV3's The Nation. He told Ms Owen;
Lisa Owen: Yes, exactly. Scale of 1 to 10 – 10 being out of this galaxy, deal of the century – what grade do you give it?
David Parker: Probably a 7 to good, improved access into Japan, where beef exports have been dropping; they've dropped by 38 per cent recently because of Australian competition with lower tariffs. That'll be fixed. Not an especially good deal for dairy but better than nothing, and relatively more important than it was before the attacks on the World Trade Organization architecture that are happening because of some other countries who seem to want to blow the system up.
Though Parker defended the signing of the agreement, he appeared lukewarm to the deal, adding;
"I don't think it's the best trade agreement; that's why I gave it a seven."
Parker's lack of enthusiasm echoed criticisms made by Grant Brookes at the protest;
"Although there have been improvements, threats to population health and all that sustains it, remain in the text. There are, for example, intellectual property provisions which have been suspended but they are still there, and they could still delay access for new medicines.
The same is true for the Investor State Dispute Settlement provisions. They remain [in] the text. And these privileges benefit multinational corporations over our sovereign and indigenous interests."
He specifically mentioned;
"The Treaty of Waitangi exception, as it's called in the text, is not robust enough that indigenous rights are protected and is not consistent with the recommendations of the Waitangi Tribunal. This means that Maori efforts to address health disparities could be undermined."
Perhaps one of the greatest criticisms of the trade agreement lay in it's omissions;
"The environment chapter – it doesn't even mention climate change which the World Health Organisation has called the greatest threat to global health in the 21st century."
He added;
"The defenders of this deal […] point to possible economic gains, although no one is saying today these are going to be huge."
Some estimates put any economic benefit to this country at around 1% of New Zealand's economy – over time.
As if to underscore Grant's list of flaws with the TPPA, this protestor listed each one;
Following Grant was Rick Zwann, from Action Stations;
Rick pointed out the large number of Labour MPs who had attended anti-TPPA protests in previous years, and who were now nowhere to be seen. He also pointed out some fairly basic flaws in the process by which National, Labour, and NZ First had signed up to the deal;
"When we did polling around this, 75% of New Zealanders wanted independent analysis of this agreement before it was signed. […] This is an issue that New Zealanders right across the board, no matter what political party they voted for, no matter their age, no matter their backgrounds, they want to know actually what this deal would do and mean for us.
They don't trust the MFAT analysis that has happened which is basically a re-write of the analysis that happened for the initial agreement […] the analysis that many of the parties who now voting for it, heavily critiqued. It just makes sense that we should have some independent analysis so we're able to really look at what this deal would mean for us."
He added;
"It makes sense because if you're buying a house […] you wouldn't just trust what the real estate agent is saying. You'd go and get a builder to look at that house and give you an independent report on what that house would actually be like to live in. If you're going to do that for an investment like a house, why wouldn't you do that for something as massive as this agreement which affects all parts of our society and all parts of our economy?"
While Labour and NZ First were noticeably "missing in action" from the protest, the one party in Parliament to stay true to it's pre-election commitments was prominent;
One thing that can be said about the Greens – they rarely back-track on what they say.
Following Rick, Lisa McLaren spoke for Generation Zero;
Lisa raised concerns how the TPPA would impact on climate-change legislation currently being drafted by the Coalition government. Her speech was brief but straight to the heart of the matter;
"We're really lucky because the new government has come in and said they're going to create this new climate law and they're going to pass it through next year. In fact it's being drafted across the road as we speak.
But we're really concerned about what this new TPP deal will do to this new climate law. What policies are not going to be able to be put in place for future generations to reduce emissions. We're really, really concerned that there hasn't been any independent analysis […] We're calling for the government if they do sign on, to go through that independent process before this deal is ratified. They have the opportunity to do that."
Lisa raised the very real spectre of future generations being bound by a flawed international agreement;
"Personally, I'm worried about when my kids are in Parliament, I want them to aim for the stars and be the leaders. But I'm really really concerned by what they're going to be bound by if we don't get this right. So I'm calling on them to get it right, for my future."
Other citizens had their messages for the Coalition government;
On 9 March, Trade Minister David Parker announced that "side letters" had been signed with five participating nations of the TPPA, prohibiting investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) lawsuits. The five are;
- Brunei Darussalam,
- Malaysia
- Peru
- Viet Nam
- Australia
Parker announced through a Beehive press statement;
"I'm pleased we have been able to make so much progress in just a few months. We haven't been able to get every country on board, but signing letters with this many CPTPP partners is a real achievement."
He added;
"A further two countries, Canada and Chile, have joined New Zealand in a declaration that they will use investor-state dispute settlement responsibly."
A cynic (or realist) would immediately want to know the definition of what constitutes "using investor-state dispute settlement responsibly" ?
The real problem is that the TPPA has eleven signatories – not just the five listed above. The others are;
- Canada
- Chile
- Japan
- Mexico
- Singapore
Five countries have not agreed to signing "side letters" prohibiting ISDS lawsuits.
It would be a simple matter for a company to relocate it's Head Office from a signatory-state to a "side letter" (eg, Peru) to a non-signatory state (eg; Mexico).
As Green Party leader James Shaw said on 21 February;
"There is the continued existence of the Investor-State Dispute Settlement mechanisms for some countries and that allows large multi-national companies to what we call 'jurisdiction shop' and simply locate where they still have that possibility."
This is precisely what took place in November 2011, when tobacco corporation Philip Morris sued the Australian government to prevent implementation of plain-packaging laws;
Tobacco giant Philip Morris is suing the Australian government over a new law making plain packaging mandatory for cigarettes from December 2012.
Australia's parliament has passed legislation that means all tobacco will need to be sold in plain olive-brown packets with graphic health warnings.
Canberra said the law was "one of the most momentous public health measures in Australia's history".
But Philip Morris Asia said the move breached a bilateral investment treaty.
It said it had served a notice of arbitration under Australia's Bilateral Investment Treaty with Hong Kong.
Philip Morris Asia said it wanted the legislation to be suspended. It said it would ask for compensation for the billions of dollars it said the new law would cost it.
To carry out it's law-suit under the 1993 Australia-Hong Kong Bilateral Investment Treaty, Philip Morris first had to move it's registered office from Australia to Hong Kong.
Once that step was accomplished, Philip Morris had the legal right to sue the Australia government using the ISDS provisions of the Australia-Hong Kong Bilateral Investment Treaty. Which it did so in 2011.
After a protracted four year court battle, Philip Morris lost its case. But not before the Australian government spent an estimated A$50 million in taxpayers' money to defend it's sovereign right to pass health-related legislation. Philip Morris is resisting paying legal costs incurred by the Australian government.
Now imagine a New Zealand government having to stand up against a billion-dollar corporation and spend tens of millions of taxpayers' dollars dollars to pass legislation to protect the health of it's citizens.
If the previous National government's timidity in the face of it's own proposed plain-packaging legislation in 2016 was any indication, our own politicians may be extremely "risk averse" when it comes to confronting multi-nationals.
When asked if National would proceed with plain-packaging legislation in the face of potential billion-dollar lawsuits, then-Dear Leader, John Key responded;
"Late last year I asked for advice on that matter, and the advice I got back was that they felt we were on very firm ground and didn't feel there was really any issues."
"No real issues"? Yet Key was cautious enough to tread carefully on the fear-threat of possible litigation;
"It was waiting, and I think the view I initially took was given Australia was in the middle of this court case it probably didn't make sense for us to embark on that, and then potentially face exactly the same costs for the taxpayer in defending another legal action."
National revealed how risk-averse it was to litigation when it caved in the face of an alleged threat to be sued by Saudi Arabian businessman, Hamood Al Ali Al Khalaf ;
Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully told Parliament that Saudi businessman Hmood Alali Alkhalaf had a potential $20m-$30m lawsuit against the New Zealand Government, after he lost money when a ban on live exports for slaughter was continued.
The Government then spent $11.5m setting up a demonstration farm in the Saudi desert, including a $4m facilitation payment to Alkhalaf.
(Side-note: There is now a very real question hanging over Murray McCully's assertions that the New Zealand government was in fact facing a multi-million dollar lawsuit from Al Khalaf . It has been suggested that McCully fabricated or exaggerated the whole story.)
New Zealanders have just cause to doubt whether their own government would have the intestinal fortitude to stand up to a multi-national with deep corporate pockets to launch a lawsuit against us.
We caved in the face of French demands to release two agents convicted of sabotage and murder.
We caved to (apparent) threats from Warner Bros to move production of The Hobbit to another country. (The threat turned out to be baseless – but it nevertheless succeeded in 'spooking' the public.)
We (apparently) caved to demands from a lone Saudi businessman.
And then there was this curious event in June 2013, when the Chinese government may have exerted heavy pressure on the National government over a proposed fta with Taiwan – an island-state it considers a "renegade province";
The frightening possibility is that we, the public, might never even know if the threat of litigation under ISDS clauses forced a government-of-the-day to comply with demands from a multi-national.
When it comes to political self-interest and corporate "commercial sensitivity", we have the makings of a toxic brew of secret back-door machinations.
After all, the entire TPPA negotiation was conducted in secrecy. Not exactly an auspicious start for such a supposedly beneficial trade agreement.
And not exactly a good start for Labour and NZ First.
At the protest, Bryan Bruce of "Inside Child Poverty" fame, conducting an interview for his latest documentary-project;
Based on his past documentaries exposing poverty, homelessness, and growing inequality, an exposé on the TPPA should prove illuminating for middle New Zealanders.
Thank the gods for independent documentary-makers. It will be refreshing to see an investigative doco on the TPPA, even if 'sandwiched' between "reality" tv shows such as My Kitchen Rules, Real Housewives of Eketahuna, The Block, Survivor 'Wherever', etc.
Refreshing indeed, to watch some real reality for a change.
Scoop media: Peters – Post-Election Announcement Speech
Radio NZ: New TPP deal signed by NZ in Chile
Scoop media: The Nation – Lisa Owen interviews David Parker
Radio NZ: New TPP deal signed by NZ in Chile
Beehive: New Zealand signs side letters curbing investor-state dispute settlement
Radio NZ: Greens remain opposed to TPP
BBC: Philip Morris sues Australia over cigarette packaging
NZDRC: 1993 Australia-Hong Kong Bilateral Investment Treaty
Sydney Morning Herald: Australia versus Philip Morris. How we took on big tobacco and won
The Guardian: Secrecy over costs in Philip Morris plain packaging case stokes TPP fears
Fairfax media: Tobacco plain packaging likely to be law by end of year – John Key
Fairfax media: Govt accused of telling Saudi businessman to sue
Radio NZ: Saudi sheep deal – MFAT didn't provide legal advice on lawsuit risk
SBS News: NZ at risk of losing the Hobbit
NZ Herald: Sir Peter – Actors no threat to Hobbit
NZ Herald: Strong reaction to damning TV child poverty doco
Other Blogposts
The Daily Blog: Let's be clear – when Labour & NZ First sign the TPPA this week – it will be as cheap traitors for less than 30 pieces of silver
The Daily Blog: Open letter to Trade Minister David Parker
The Standard: TPPA rally at parliament today
The Standard: March 8 2018 – the TPPA and our nuclear free moment
The Standard: TPP2 – Electric Boogaloo
Previous related blogposts
Doing 'the business' with John Key – Here's How (Part # Rua)
Some thoughts on the Plain Packaging Bill
Public opposition grows against TPPA – Wellington
Even Tim Groser was in the dark?!
Key's TPPA Falsehoods – "We've never, ever been sued" ***up-date ***
Citizens march against TPPA in Wellington, send message to National govt: "Yeah, nah!"
Citizens march against TPPA in Wellington: Did Police hide tasers at TPPA march?
The Mendacities of Mr Key # 15: John Key lies to NZ on consultation and ratification of TPPA
Taiwan FTA – Confirmation by TVNZ of China pressuring the Beehive?
Copyright (c) Notice
All images stamped 'fmacskasy.wordpress.com' are freely available to be used, with following provisos,
» Use must be for non-commercial purposes.
» Where purpose of use is commercial, a donation to Child Poverty Action Group is requested.
» At all times, images must be used only in context, and not to denigrate individuals or groups.
» Acknowledgement of source is requested.
This blogpost was first published on The Daily Blog on 12 March 2018.
= fs =
Trumpwatch: Trump escalates, Putin congratulates
It started…
It started on 23 December, when President-Elect, Donald Trump made this unexpected, alarming "tweet";
With 115 characters, Donald Trump declared a return to a global nuclear arms race.
It started on 9 November, when Trump – described by BBC journalist
It started in 1949, when George Orwell's Nineteen Eightyfour was published, an alternative reality of a world ruled by three totalitarian superpowers, constantly at war with each other;
It started in 1948, with the beginning of the "Cold War"…
The Scene is set…
Trump's 23 December "tweet" that the US will resume a build-up of its atomic weapons arsenal should come as no surprise. On 8 September, on the campaign trail, he announced;
"History shows that when America is not prepared is when the danger is greatest. We want to deter, avoid and prevent conflict through our unquestioned military dominance.
I'm gonna build a military that's gonna be much stronger than it is right now. It's gonna be so strong, nobody's gonna mess with us."
The Military Times assessed Trump's promised build-up of US forces;
Trump wants an active-duty Army with another 60,000 soldiers in the ranks, an unspecified number of additional sailors to man the 78 ships and submarines he intends to see built in coming years. He wants up to 12,000 more Marines to serve in infantry and tank battalions, and at least another 100 combat aircraft for the Air Force.
If Trump's administration can accomplish even a portion of this, it could have sweeping effects on rank-and-file military personnel, touching everything from individual advancement opportunities to the number of U.S. troops stationed overseas and overall operational tempo. The scope of growth being suggested would require many more officers and noncommissioned officers, influencing, over the course of several years, how each service recruits, promotes and retains its workforce.
It could reshape how many American troops find themselves assigned to geopolitical hot spots, including the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia. And all of this, in theory, would ease the pace at which service members are deployed or actively preparing to go overseas, which amounts to time away from their homes and families.
Curiously, none of Trump's hyper-jingoistic election rhetoric seemed to faze Russia's president, Vladimir Putin. On the contrary, Putin remained zen-like and complimentary of the billionaire-turned-politician. In December 2015, Putin was reported in state media, Sputnik, as saying;
"He is a very bright person, talented without any doubt. It is not our business to assess his worthiness, but he is the absolute leader of the presidential race. He says he wants to move to a different level of relations — a fuller, deeper [level] — with Russia, how can we not welcome this? Of course we welcome this."
Putin's comments were also reported in Russian state-controlled media, RT News.
A veritable "love-fest" of compliments were exchanged between the two men. A "bro-mance" had obviously developed between the Oligarch and the Billionaire;
Trump: "It is always a great honor to be so nicely complimented by a man so highly respected within his own country and beyond."
Trump: "He is really very much of a leader. The man has very strong control over his country. Now, it's a very different system, and I don't happen to like the system, but certainly in that system he's been a leader, far more than our president has been a leader."
Both Putin and leader of the far-right National Front, Marine Le Pen, congratulated Trump on his presidential success.
Their relationship continued, even as Trump 'tweeted' on 23 December that the "the United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability".
Putin seeming remained utterly unperturbed at Trump's sabre-rattling;
"I was a bit surprised by the statements from some representatives of the current U.S. administration who for some reason started to prove that the U.S. military was the most powerful in the world.
Nobody is arguing with that.
In the course of his election campaign he (Trump) spoke about the necessity of strengthening the U.S. nuclear arsenal, and strengthening the armed forces. There's nothing unusual here."
"We need to strengthen the military potential of strategic nuclear forces, especially with missile complexes that can reliably penetrate any existing and prospective missile defence systems.
We must carefully monitor any changes in the balance of power and in the political-military situation in the world, especially along Russian borders, and quickly adapt plans for neutralising threats to our country."
So Who is the enemy?!
If, as Putin and Trump are at pains to assert, their relationship is on firm, cordial grounds – why the need for a massive modernisation and build-up of both superpower's military force? A build-up that could cost both nations billions of dollars and rubles?
Who is the enemy?
Relations between Russia (formerly Soviet Union), China, and the US has always been a "balancing act". The three have constantly played each other off against each other.
In Nineteen Eightyfour, Orwell took the three-superpower rivalry to its ultimate, destructive, insane conclusion;
On the sixth day of Hate Week, after the processions, the speeches, the shouting, the singing, the banners, the posters, the films, the waxworks, the rolling of drums and squealing of trumpets, the tramp of marching feet, the grinding of the caterpillars of tanks, the roar of massed planes, the booming of guns — after six days of this, when the great orgasm was quivering to its climax and the general hatred of Eurasia had boiled up into such delirium that if the crowd could have got their hands on the 2,000 Eurasian war-criminals who were to be publicly hanged on the last day of the proceedings, they would unquestionably have torn them to pieces — at just this moment it had been announced that Oceania was not after all at war with Eurasia. Oceania was at war with Eastasia. Eurasia was an ally.
There was, of course, no admission that any change had taken place. Merely it became known, with extreme suddenness and everywhere at once, that Eastasia and not Eurasia was the enemy…
Oceania was at war with Eastasia: Oceania had always been at war with Eastasia.
Our own three super-powers
In 1972, then Republican-president, Richard Nixon made his historical trip to the People's Republic of China. As History.com portrayed the momentous event;
The American fear of a monolithic communist bloc had been modified, as a war of words—and occasional border conflicts—erupted between the Soviet Union and the PRC in the 1960s. Nixon, and National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger saw a unique opportunity in these circumstances—diplomatic overtures to the PRC might make the Soviet Union more malleable to U.S. policy requests (such as pressuring the North Vietnamese to sign a peace treaty acceptable to the United States). In fact, Nixon was scheduled to travel to meet Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev shortly after completing his visit to China.
Nixon's trip to China, therefore, was a move calculated to drive an even deeper wedge between the two most significant communist powers. The United States could use closer diplomatic relations with China as leverage in dealing with the Soviets, particularly on the issue of Vietnam. In addition, the United States might be able to make use of the Chinese as a counterweight to North Vietnam. Despite their claims of socialist solidarity, the PRC and North Vietnam were, at best, strongly suspicious allies. As historian Walter LaFeber said, "Instead of using Vietnam to contain China, Nixon concluded that he had better use China to contain Vietnam." For its part, the PRC was desirous of another ally in its increasingly tense relationship with the Soviet Union and certainly welcomed the possibility of increased U.S.-China trade.
That increased trade eventuated with then-President Jimmy Carter consenting to China gaining a "Most Favoured Nation" in 1980; re-affirmed by Bill Clinton in 1994, and later by George W Bush in 2001.
However, in recent times, China has flexed its military muscle and increased its presence in the South China Sea. This has set it on a collision course with other regional neighbours, as well as the United States;
Chinese expansion in the South China Sea is bringing conflict between Beijing and its neighbours – Japan, South Korea, the Philippines and Vietnam – closer than it has been for decades. Vietnam has fortified several islands it controls, while Japan has been publicly rebuked by Beijing over its 'interference' in the sea – most of which China claims. The Philippines has called for "restraint and sobriety" as its own dispute with Beijing rumbles on.
But the South China Sea and a lesser-known spat with Japan over islands near Taiwan has not only brought talk of a regional war in the Pacific to the fore, but raised the prospect of the US being dragged into open warfare with China. Beijing's expansionism threatens not only the interests of US allies in East Asia but also global trade, given that some 40% of all shipping passes through the disputed area of ocean.
"As horrific as a Sino-US war could be, it cannot be considered implausible," warned the authors of the RAND Corporations August report, War with China: Thinking through the Unthinkable.
But in reality US-China relations have been strained for some time, as demonstrated by the scrutiny of Barack Obama's visit to Hangzhou, where American reporters scuffled with Chinese security staff and Beijing was widely accused of snubbing the US president on his final international visit. Chinese hacking of US companies has been widespread, leading to America's indictment of five senior Chinese army officers in May 2014.
Meanwhile in the South China Sea and East China Sea, Chinese expansion has come at the expense of major US allies, including Japan. Japan's ownership of the Senkaku Islands, north of Taiwan, is enshrined in the US-Japan Treaty that was signed after the end of the Second World War. China's increasingly hostile stance towards its neighbour over the islands risks dragging the US into a conflict between Beijing and Tokyo.
This has already resulted in confrontations between the two nuclear super-powers;
A U.S. navy destroyer sailed near islands claimed by China in the South China Sea on Friday, drawing a warning from Chinese warships to leave the area.
The U.S. action was the latest attempt to counter what Washington sees as Beijing's efforts to limit freedom of navigation in the strategic waters, U.S. officials said.
The Chinese Defense Ministry called the move "illegal" and "provocative," saying that two Chinese warships had warned the U.S. destroyer to leave.
The guided-missile destroyer USS Decatur challenged "excessive maritime claims" near the Paracel Islands, among a string of islets, reefs and shoals over which China has territorial disputes with its neighbors, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The latest U.S. patrol, first reported by Reuters, is expected to anger Beijing and could further escalate tensions over the South China Sea. The destroyer sailed within waters claimed by China, close to but not within the 12-nautical-mile territorial limits of the islands, the officials said.
The U.S. shows little sign in backing down, as Chief of U.S. Naval Operations Admiral, John Richardson, said during a trip to China in July this year;
"The U.S. Navy will continue to conduct routine and lawful operations around the world, including in the South China Sea, in order to protect the rights, freedoms and lawful uses of sea and airspace guaranteed to all. This will not change."
A spokesperson for the incoming Trump Administration, Sean Spicer was equally belligerent (without specifically mentioning China);
"I think it's putting every nation on notice that the United States is going to reassert its position in the globe."
Trump himself has made antagonistic and disparaging remarks about China;
The CNN report continued;
Trump has repeatedly accused China of manipulating its currency to make its exports more competitive on the global market and has claimed that China is "killing" the U.S. on trade.
Sunday marks the first time in this campaign that Trump has used the term "rape" to refer to what he views as China's dominance in trade with the U.S.
"We're going to turn it around. And we have the cards, don't forget it. We're like the piggy bank that's being robbed. We have the cards. We have a lot of power with China," Trump said Sunday before referring to China's relationship with the U.S. as rape.
Trump added that he is not "angry at China," but with U.S. leaders whom he accused of being "grossly incompetent."
Trump previously claimed in 2011 that "China is raping this country" as he toured a defense manufacturer in New Hampshire.
Many considered the doomed Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement to be designed to contain China;
From its inception, the TPP has been considered by many as a strategic instrument to isolate or contain China. Given the country's ambitions, its leaders are understandably concerned about the concerted effort by the U.S. and other Asia-Pacific countries to curtail its economic growth and geopolitical influence.
China's outsider status could also be seen as an indictment of its inadequacies, such as limited intellectual property protection and a lack of government procurement standards. The exclusion of China not only has caused the country to lose face, but has also provided a painful reminder of its continued struggle to gain an equal status in the international community. Finally, the lack of TPP membership will prevent China from enjoying new tariff reduction and preferential market access. If this regional pact is to operate according to design, it will divert trade and manufacturing from China to TPP members.
Our own expert and campaigner, Jane Kelsey, also remarked on the anti-China nature of the TPPA;
"In the past month both US presidential candidates have positioned the TPP at the centre of their strategy to neutralise China's ascendancy in what they call the 'Pacific' region.
New Zealand already faces the prospect of being piggy in the middle, with potentially conflicting rules and foreign policy pressures from agreements with China and the USA.
Tim Groser is kidding himself if he thinks China will sit quietly by and allow us to play both sides. This is a high-risk game and we need to have an honest debate about its long-term implications for the country."
Note President Obama's statements over China's increasing geo-political influence;
"And we believe China can be a partner, but we're also sending a very clear signal that America is a Pacific power, that we are going to have a presence there.
We are working with countries in the region to make sure, for example, that ships can pass through, that commerce continues.
And we're organizing trade relations with countries other than China so that China starts feeling more pressure about meeting basic international standards. That's the kind of leadership we've shown in the region. That's the kind of leadership that we'll continue to show.
As part of his populist campaigning this year, Trump publicly rejected the TPPA. This left him to devise other options to "contain China".
The Trump Deal between Russia and US
The new-found rapprochement between Russia and the US could be based on mutual interest. With Trump's penchant for deal-making, the U.S. and Russia would have much to gain by stitching together a secret deal.
In return for the U.S. gaining Russian support against growing Chinese influence in the South China Sea, Trump would allow Russia a free hand in supporting its ally, Syria (where U.S. interests are minimal anyway, unlike the Pacific).
This would explain why the U.S. and Russia have been 'cosying' up together.
More critically, it answers the perplexing question as to why Russia seems utterly unperturbed at American plans to build up its military. And why the U.S. seems to have stepped back from taking action over Syria.
Nixon went to China.
Trump may be going to Moscow.
Oceania has always been at war with
Russia China.
Twitter: Donald J Trump
BBC: US Election 2016 Results – Five reasons Donald Trump won
Wikipedia: Nineteen Eightyfour
CNN: Trump calls for military spending increase
Military Times: Trump's military will have more troops and more firepower — if he can find more money
Sputnik: Putin Welcomes Trump's Words of Readiness to Improve Russia-US Relations
RT News: Putin says 'talented' Trump is 'absolute front-runner,' welcomes pledge to work with Russia
Business Insider: Here's a look at what Trump and Putin have said about each other
The Independent: Vladimir Putin congratulates US President Donald Trump as Russian leaders celebrate
RT News: 'So correct': Trump responds to Putin's holiday letter
Reuters: Putin shrugs off Trump's nuclear plans, says Democrats sore losers
ITV News: Trump and Putin both hint at expansion of nuclear arsenal
Ebook: Ninetween Eightyfour
History: 1972 – Nixon arrives in China for talks
CNN: Clinton Proposes Renewing China's Most-Favored Trade Status
China.org.cn: Chronology of China-US Relations
The Tech: Clinton Grants China MFN, Reversing Campaign Pledge
International Business Times: Could the South China Sea dispute trigger a Sino-US war?
NY Times: Trump Says U.S. Would 'Outmatch' Rivals in a New Nuclear Arms Race
CNN: Trump – 'We can't continue to allow China to rape our country'
Fortune: How China's exclusion from the TPP could hurt its economic growth
It's Our Future: Obama casts TPP as Challenge to China
Washington Times: Inside the Ring – Obama, Romney on China
Previous related blogposts
Taiwan FTA – Confirmation by TVNZ of China pressuring the Beehive?
The Rise of Great Leader Trump
The Sweet'n'Sour Deliciousness of Irony: Russia accused of meddling in US Election
Protestors condemn Russian involvement in atrocities in Aleppo
This blogpost was first published on The Daily Blog on 27 December 2016.
= fs =
Letter to the editor – give us a chance to vote, Mr Key!
from: Frank Macskasy <email@example.com>
to: Dominion Post <firstname.lastname@example.com>
date: Mon, Jun 27, 2016
subject: Letter to the editor
The editor
Dominion Post
British voters have voted to leave the European Union, and our esteemed Prime Minister, John Key responded statesmanlike;
"This was always a decision for voters in the UK and we respect the decision they have made."
I wonder if our dear leader will also give New Zealand voters the opportunity to vote in our own binding referendum whether to Remain or Exit the controversial TPPA?
Will Key demonstrate the same respect for New Zealand voters?
I call on John Key to give us a referendum so that we, like our British cousins, can determine our own future.
-Frank Macskasy
[address and phone number supplied]
Radio NZ: Brexit's impact on NZ will be limited – PM
= fs =
National MP Mark Mitchell and his breath-taking display of arrogance
In a recent Radio NZ "Morning Report" interview, National MP, Mark Mitchell, revealed the government's true objective with the so-called "TPPA Roadshow" and Parliamentary Select Committee hearings. Behaviour by other Select Committee members has also drawn harsh criticism by some members of the public who attended the sessions.
The Roadshow and Select Committee hearings are being held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFAT) and Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Select Committee (respectively) to seek public submissions on the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement, aka, the TPPA;
More than 330 people have asked to give their views on the controversial trade treaty to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Committee in person.
The committee will hold hearings in Christchurch on 31 March and 1 April, and in Auckland the following week, before returning to Wellington, where it has already heard some submissions.
Committee chair Mark Mitchell said there would be more than enough time for the hearings.
"I've made sure that we allow plenty of time, so that's going to allow us enough time to be able to hear everyone that wants to make an oral submission to the committee."
Mitchell, the Chairperson of the Select Committee, was defending the shortened reporting time of the Select Committee back to Parliament. As Mei Heron reported for Radio NZ;
MPs have been given just five days to consider hundreds of submissions on the controversial TPP trade deal after the timeframe was drastically cut from four weeks.
The select committee was originally give a month to write its report and present it back to Parliament.
Opposition MPs were furious at the sudden change and they called it an attack on democracy.
The trade deal has already been roundly criticised by its opponents for being too secretive and lacking consultation.
The Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Select Committee had been hearing submissions on the TPP from hundreds of people across the country and that will continue until the end of the month.
But opposition members on the committee say they were told yesterday the government wanted to cut down the time they had to analyse the submissions, so the legislation could get through by the end of the year.
Predictably, Opposition members of the Select Committee expressed dismay and anger at National's unilateral change of the Committee's timetable, with Green MP, Kennedy Graham, roundly condemning the move;
"It's just a slap of indifference and dismissal of some very sincere, very capable and hard-working New Zealand people. It shows it up for what it is – which is essentially a 'roadshow' with a predetermined end."
Graham's assertion that the public submission process " is essentially a 'roadshow' with a predetermined end", is confirmed after a startling admission by the Committee's chairperson, Mark Mitchell. On "Morning Report" on 8 April, Mitchell vented his obvious frustration with the New Zealand public;
@ 3.45
"I think, I think some people are very set in their views. And to be honest with you my feeling is that it doesn't matter what evidence we provide or how we try to balance the information that could allay those fears, they're already set in their minds. They've decided what position they going to take and it's going to be very hard to probably move them of that position. But there's other people that are just genuinely worried about it because there has been some misinformation put into the public debate. And often when they get the full story, and of course the Minister's done a very comprehensive, um, series, at which he's continuing to do public meetings throughout the country. I think he's in excess of about 30 or 35 now. Is that people actually just wanted to have some proper information around the TPP."
Mitchell complained that "it doesn't matter what evidence we provide or how we try to balance the information that could allay those fears, they're already set in their minds" and "they've decided what position they going to take and it's going to be very hard to probably move them of that position".
For perhaps the first time in the history of the Westminster Parliamentary process, a member of Parliament has suggested that the Select Committee process is no longer a forum where the public offer submissions for their elected representatives to listen and consider. Instead, Mitchell's comments indicate that Select Committees are now viewed as useful tools for dissemination of "proper information around the TPP" for the public and businesses.
A Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade website page appears to echo Mitchell's views on the purpose of MFAT's travelling "Road Shows";
The Government will run a number of events on key TPP outcomes. These will be aimed at ensuring businesses are able to prepare to take advantage of new opportunities presented by TPP's entry into force, and to provide information of interest to the wider public and other stakeholders. These events follow the extensive public consultations carried out during TPP negotiations.
The Government is running TPP roadshows on the outcomes of TPP for New Zealand. Members of the public are welcome. The roadshows will also help businesses prepare to take advantage of new opportunities presented by TPP's entry into force.
However, the agendas of both the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee's submission process and MFAT's "Road Shows" is not shared with the Parliamentary Office of the Clerk;
The Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee is now calling for public submissions on the TPPA and the four related intellectual property treaties. Each treaty has a national interest analysis which sets out the advantages and disadvantages for New Zealand of becoming a party to it.
You have until Friday 11 March 2016 to share your views about these documents with the parliamentary select committee by making a submission.
The committee will consider the written submissions it receives and they will be posted on the Parliament website when released by the committee.
The committee is also expecting to hear from submitters who wish to speak to their submission. Committee staff will contact those submitters to organise a time for them to speak to the committee. Hearings may take place outside of Wellington depending on the number of submitters from each region.
Mark Mitchell seems not to have received the emailed memo from the House Clerk.
The "Road Shows" have also drawn criticism from the way they have been carefully orchestrated. From a Radio NZ story;
Albert-Eden Local Board member Graeme Easte said the event was more of a show and tell, in which Trade Minister Todd McClay and the senior negotiator described what they were doing.
"It was very much pro the agreement," Mr Easte said.
"Even though half the questioners were clearly sceptical or anti, there wasn't really an opportunity for a discussion or a debate."
A member of the public complained that the "Road Show" was being held at a time guaranteed to minimise public attendance;
One placard holder, a teacher, has slipped away from school and down the road to make that point: "Let's consult widely with the public. How about on a Monday morning when everyone is at work? Yeah right!"
Blogger, 'SkepticNZ', related his experience at the Dunedin Roadshow event;
Now attending a Roadshow is not as simple as popping along. In fact in order to attend you have to first register via the MFAT website.The good people at MFAT no doubt in the interest of open debate and inclusion have the following requirement upon interested citizens to gain entry.
Please note:
You will need to bring photo ID (e.g. passport or drivers licence) in order to collect your name badge when you attend the roadshow. You may not be permitted entry to the roadshow unless you present photo ID.Entry to the roadshow on the day is entirely at the discretion of the event organizers. Disruptive, threatening or offensive behavior will not be tolerated and may result in you being required to leave the venue.
You must comply with the instructions and directions of the event organizers. You may be required to leave the roadshow if you do not do so.Right, have you got that? before you can enter Mr McClay's 'open debate, informed discussion' you first have to agree to doing what you are told.Being a curious and dutiful citizen I prepared my identification, completed my registration, and printed off my MFAT confirmation including individual Bar Code, and off I went to the show.On arriving at the Venue in Harrop street, I was greeted by some very friendly people keen to hear my views about the TPPA, and happy to give me information sheets. But enough about the protesters, onto the front door.The front door itself was guarded by a heavy police presence supported by private security contractors from Amourguard. A young man from Armourguard asked for my photo ID and then told me I wasn't on the list and asked me to stand to one side while they check if I could enter. Which under a watchful Police eye I did.I didn't have long to wait before another slightly older young man from Armourguard came to speak to me and ask if I had my registration form, which of course I did. After a moment of reading my licence, checking my registration , and checking my licence again I was allowed in the door.Hallelujah I haven't had so much scrutiny to enter a door ever in my life. Not even as an under age drinker in the last century, nor at Passport control at Heathrow, have I ever faced such close observation and suspicion. Crikey there must be something really really important inside.Inside the door was more police, and more security, and a desk to register to attend the day. I must say the folks from Orbit (Event Staff) were genuinely friendly and helpful. In a very short time I was given my ID Card and lanyard and direct to the stair well. Apparently the Lift was out of order. This was when yet another Security Officer asked to search my bag. Being a good citizen I handed my bag over. Apparently my pen and paper and Banana for morning tea did not constitute dangerous items and I was allow to begin my long climb up the stairs.The climb itself was uneventful except for the presence of Security Personnel on every landing carefully watching our every move to ensure we went were we where supposed to.Upon reaching the top floor I was greeted by even more security staff and a lobby to wait in. The lobby contained some MFAT TPPA Fact Sheets and that is about it.After about 10 minutes of standing and being watched we were all allowed to enter the conference room itself.I must admit by now my expectations where very high. After all why have a small army of security guards if there wasn't something spectacular inside?
SkepticNZ's experience is worth reading in it's entirety.
Another member of the public, Tim O'Shea, who was presenting a submission to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Select Committee on 8 April in Auckland, became upset when he realised that "thirty minutes in, and two National MP's are missing";
Acknowledgement: Image courtesy of Tim O'Shea
Tim also complained that "of the three who are here, [National MP] David Bennett… spent more time looking at his smart phone than he has spent listening to oral submissions." [See image above]
Tim has lodged a formal complaint with the Foreign Affairs Defence Trade Committee chairperson;
"On Thursday I observed that the hearing was well attended by those on the Select Committee, and that all submitters (whether pro or anti the TPPA) were dealt with in a predominantly fair and courteous way. All attending members showed respect for those submitters by making a clear effort to listen to, and look at, the various submitters. The day was a long and busy one – i.e. there were many submissions, and very few unplanned interludes and gaps between the submissions.
On Friday, several submitters expressed their dissatisfaction and disappointment at how few government committee members were in attendance compared to the previous day. I counted just three (including the chairman), compared to five who attended on the Thursday.
That in itself, however, was of less concern to me than the rude, discourteous and totally disrespectful behaviour shown by one of the attending committee members, namely National MP David Barnett.
Despite the fact that the hearing didn't start until the relatively leisurely time of 10:00am, Mr Barnett clearly felt, as the attached photo that I took at 10:22 shows, that looking at his cell phone was far more important than listening to, or looking at, the first THREE submitters !
It wasn't until part the way through the third submission that Mr Barnett eventually put his phone down."
When Tim asked David Barnett "to put his cell phone down for ten minutes to show some courtesy and respect";
"The chairman, Mark Mitchell told me that I should not address committee members directly in that way, and that the members had other important work to do during the hearing – I responded that I also had work to do, and that the least he could do is listen to me and show some respect."
Tim added;
"As I continued to the end of my submission, David Barnett showed complete and utter contempt by looking at his cell phone for the whole time that I presented, showing no interest at all, and not even looking up at me. Chairman Mark Mitchell said nothing about it whatsoever.'
The complainant claims that Committee Chairperson, Mark Mitchell then criticised Tim for his "bad behaviour". According to Tim O'Shea;
"Mr Mitchell then told me that he didn't like the fact that I stood up to do my submission."
In an obviously increasingly tense atmosphere, another Select Committee member, Labour's David Shearer, was allegedly over-heard referring to Tim as an "arrogant twat" to fellow-committee member, Green MP Kennedy Graham.
David Shearer is a known supporter of the TPPA. In January this year, he was censured by Labour-leader Andrew Little for breaking ranks with Labour over the TPPA.
The complaint is on-going.
Whatever purpose the "Road Show" has, it clearly has upset members of the public. According to comments made by Mark Mitchell, and repeated on an MFAT website, Green MP, Kennedy Graham was correct when he condemned the exercise as;
"…essentially a roadshow with a predetermined end."
Certain MPs seem to hold the attitude that they are not so much highly-paid civil-servants, elected to represent us in Parliament – but instead "members [who] had other important work to do". These MPs forget that they hold office at our pleasure.
The clear perception is that public participation is not welcome at the "TPPA Roadshow" or Select Committee.
The farce surrounding the TPPA continues.
|Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Select Committee
|MP Name
|Party, Electorate
|Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
|Mitchell, Mark
|National Party, Rodney
|Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
|Reti, Shane
|National Party, Whangarei
|Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
|Bennett, David
|National Party, Hamilton East
|Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
|Graham, Kennedy
|Green Party, List
|Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
|Muller, Todd
|National Party, Bay of Plenty
|Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
|Ross, Jami-Lee
|National Party, Botany
|Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
|Shearer, David
|Labour Party, Mt Albert
|Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
|Tabuteau , Fletcher
|NZ First, List
|Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
|Tisch, Lindsay
|National Party, Waikato
|Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
|Woods, Megan
|Labour Party, Wigram
Trade Minister Todd McClay appears to be labouring under an illusion when said;
"But you've got to remember it's been over seven years or more of negotiation, so not all of that consultation or engagement will be remembered."
MFAT repeated the fantasy;
These events follow the extensive public consultations carried out during TPP negotiations.
One of the most trenchant criticisms of the TPPA is that there was no public consultation carried out during the negotiations. It was all done in secret.
In fact, Professor Jane Kelsey won a court case on this very issue.
So one has to wonder how Todd McClay and MFAT can make the startling assertions that there was "extensive public consultations carried out during TPP negotiations".
Too soon to be re-writing recent history, yes?
National MP, Mark Mitchell, is closely connected with far-right activist,Simon Lusk, who runs (ran?) a private, self-styled "candidates school" for potential National Party candidates. Amongst those National MPs linked to Lusk are Taupo MP Louise Upston, Maungakiekie MP Sam Lotu-Iiga, Napier MP Chris Tremain, disgraced former list MP, Aaron Gilmore, and Minister Judith Collins. (Lusk, in turn, is associated with "Whaleoil's" Cameron Slater; "Kiwiblog's" David Farrar; and "Taxpayer Union's" Jordan Williams.)
To Tim O'Shea, for kind permission to use his material (images, quotes, etc) and for proof-reading my story to ensure accuracy.
Radio NZ: Over 330 ask to have say on TPP
Parliament: Select committee begins examination of TPPA
Radio NZ: New TPP timeframe an 'attack on democracy'
Radio NZ: Morning Report – Select committee chair defends shortened TPP timeframe (audio) (alt.link)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade: Trans-Pacific Partnership – Events
Scoop Media: Select committee begins examination of TPPA
Radio NZ: TPP meeting one-sided, local politician says
The Spinoff: Tea, pee and pecuniary gains – Amid the clowns at the trade deal roadshow
SkepticNZ: Inside the #TPPA Roadshow Experience
Facebook: Tim O'shea – Submission
Facebook: Tim O'Shea – Facebook Post
Fairfax media: David Shearer faces 'consequences' for not toeing Labour line on TPPA – Little
NZ Herald: David Shearer to be censured over breaking Labour line on TPP
Parliament: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Select Committee Members
Radio NZ: TPP requests – Groser acted unlawfully
NZ Herald: National Party had high-level concerns over member's influence
Fairfax media: Seriously happy to upset the status quo
Bryce Edwards: Invite to Selection Training Weekend
Other bloggers
Bowalley Road: Protecting The TPP
No Right Turn: Government propaganda on the TPPA
The Daily Blog: Josie Butler – Why I attacked the TPPA roadshow
The Standard: TPPA review time slashed
Wheeler's Corner: TPPA's Road-show SEAN PLUNKET tongue flaps
Previous related blogposts
Power Struggle in the National Party?!
David Farrar – Challenging Slater for Sultan of Sleaze?
National MP admits collusion with bosses to set up strike-breaking law!!
11 May: End of the Week Bouquets, Brickbats, & Epic Fails
The secret of National's success – revealed
So who's a "conspiracy theorist" now?!
National's Ohariu candidate admits contact by Simon Lusk
This blogpost was first published on The Daily Blog on 13 April 2016.
= fs =
The Mendacities of Mr Key # 15: John Key lies to NZ on consultation and ratification of TPPA
As this blogger reported last year, on 16 June;
In the ongoing debate on the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement negotiations, Dear Leader John Key has been at pains to try to reassure New Zealanders that any TPPA document would be "first presented to Parliament".
"With all [free trade agreements] the way that they work is that have to be ratified by Parliament, and we have to build a parliamentary majority, and all of that has to happen through the transparency of the deal."
"…my advice is that the Trans-Pacific Partnership will require legislation, so, ultimately, once it has gone through the select committee and the public have had their chance to have input, and it has gone through all of those various stages, the Government of the day will require a parliamentary mandate, so by definition people would have had a lot of input."
And on 31st March this year, Key asserted on NewstalkZB;
"In the end, this thing has to go through our Parliament has to be ratified by our Parliament and has to bear scrutiny and I believe is in the best interests of New Zealand."
At every opportunity, our esteemed Dear Leader and other National MPs and Ministers have been eager to assure New Zealanders that the text of the TPPA would be submitted to a select committee; scrutinised, and ratified by Parliament before it was signed.
Key's assurances were seemingly air-tight. (Though I, for one, am always skeptical of any assertion made by our esteemed Dear Leader.)
However, a media statement from Chile's General Directorate of International Economic Relations head, Andrés Rebolledo Smitmans, has seemingly given the game away. On 5 January, Smitmans stated;
"En la oportunidad expuso en primer lugar sobre el contexto en que se desarrolló la negociación de este tratado, que será firmado el próximo 4 de febrero en Nueva Zelanda."
Google translation;
"At the time I first spoke about the context in which the negotiation of this treaty, to be signed on February 4 was developed in New Zealand."
Also, according to Bloomberg the impending signing-ceremony is confirmed by the Peruvians;
Peru's Trade and Tourism Ministry (Mincetur) confirmed that Deputy Trade Minister Edgar Vasquez, the country's TPP negotiator, will be on hand for the signing ceremony in New Zealand.
And the Mexican financial periodical, El Financiero, reported;
"Los 12 países integrantes del Acuerdo Estratégico Transpacífico de Asociación Económica ( TPP , por sus siglas en inglés), firmarán el documento el próximo 4 de febrero en Nueva Zelanda, informó el secretario de Economía, Ildefonso Guajardo."
Google translation;
"The 12 member countries of the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement (TPP, for its acronym in English), [will] sign[ed] the document on February 4 in New Zealand, the Minister of Economy, Ildefonso Guajardo said."
The fourth of February is five days before Parliament resumes sitting, on 9 February.
Which makes a lie out of Key's promises that the TPPA would be put before the House for Select Committee scrutiny and Parliamentary over-sight. By the time Parliament resumes, the TPPA will have been ratified by all participants according to the Chileans, Mexicans, and Peruvians.
Evidently someone forgot to mention to our South American friends not to reveal the up-to-now-secret ratification date, leaving Simon Bridges to do some fast-explaining;
"Arrangements for the signing of the Trans Pacific Partnership are not yet confirmed, as a number of countries are still working through their domestic approval processes required before signature.
Further details will be announced when and if they are confirmed."
National's media spin-doctors must still be on leave if that statement is the best damage-control they can come up with.
It is clear that National was planning on "pulling a swiftie" by keeping the ratification date secret from the public – a point not lost on University Law professor and TPPA-critic, Jane Kelsey;
"Consistent with the government's obsessively secrecy throughout the TPPA process, we have to get confirmation of what is happening in our own country from offshore.
Polls have shown the government doesn't have popular support for the deal. Presumably it wants to limit the chance for New Zealanders to make their opposition heard. We were reliably told by offshore sources some time ago that the meeting is in Auckland, but we expect the government to try to keep the actual venue secret until much closer to the day."
National has (again) been caught attempting to deceive the public.
It beggars belief that they really thought no one would notice.
It is now up to other political parties – Labour, Greens, NZ First, Maori Party, and Peter Dunne – not to support any enabling legislation put to Parliament on this trade deal. Otherwise they risk being associated with, and tarred, by a political process that has been uncovered to be patently dishonest.
Any government that has to employ deception to enact policy is afraid of it's own people. National is not fit to govern.
TV3: Key accused of spreading TPPA 'mistruths'
Parliament: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers
NewstalkZB: Key defends TPPA negotiations
Dirección General de Relaciones Económicas Internacionales: Direcon expuso sobre el TPP en el Instituto Nacional de Derechos Humanos (INDH)
Parliament: House sitting programme
Bloomberg: TPP Countries to Sign Trade Pact in New Zealand Feb. 4
TV3 News: TPPA to be signed in NZ – report
El Financiero: TPP se firmará el 4 de febrero en Nueva Zelanda
Scoop media: Ministers to sign TPPA in NZ on 4 February 2016
Salon.com: The 10 biggest lies you've been told about the Trans-Pacific Partnership (Note point 5 in this article)
Previous related blogposts
Some thoughts on the Plain Packaging Bill
Public opposition grows against TPPA – Wellington
Public opposition grows against TPPA – Wellington
Even Tim Groser was in the dark?!
The Mendacities of Mr Key # 14: The TPPA – "We've never, ever been sued"
This blogpost was first published on The Daily Blog on 8 January 2016.
= fs =
Citizens march against TPPA in Wellington: Did Police hide tasers at TPPA march?
NZ, Wellington, 14 November – As previously reported (16 November), police failed to provide any form of presence during the Wellington anti-TPPA protest march.
"Policing" was effectively left up to March Marshalls who controlled traffic and supervised protesters as they made their way through Wellington's CBD, to Parliament.
As I also reported, a msm journalist present noted the lack of police presence, expressing his surprise and nervousness.
However, at Parliament's grounds, there was no lack of police presence. At least twentytwo policemen and women lined up in front of the old Parliament Building.
The building was not only empty on a Saturday afternoon, but the entrance had been boarded up due to refurbishment activity.
It was apparent that police had positioned themselves on the Parliamentary forecourt waiting for protesters to arrive, and in the process had forgotten another of their primary duties; traffic management and escorting the protest march through Wellington's narrow streets.
Fortunately, the March Marshalls achieved a good result in both areas.
But there was another curious aspect to the policemen and women on Parliament's forecourts.
On a previous anti-TPPA march in Wellington, on 15 August, protesters were 'greeted' with police wearing tasers on their belts;
Last Saturday's (14 November) police did not appear to be displaying tasers.
But – were they armed with tasers concealed in their pockets?
These images were taken on the day, and appear to show bulges in their pockets that do not appear in the above images, or similar images taken three months ago;
For a better comparison;
Following the 15 August anti-TPPA march and the open display of tasers, there was some public disquiet at police carrying these weapons to a political protest.
On this occassion, someone within the Police hierarchy may have made an unfortunate 'call' to have their officers carry concealed tasers.
There is no clear evidence to prove this assertion one way or another. The bulges may have been hankies stuffed deep into trouser pockets (quite a few hankies, judging by the bulges).
But if true, it may be appropriate for an urgent "Please Explain" between the Minister's and Commissioner's offices.
Previous related blogposts
Citizens march against TPPA in Wellington, send message to National govt: "Yeah, nah!"
Copyright (c) Notice
All images stamped 'fmacskasy.wordpress.com' are freely available to be used, with following provisos,
» Use must be for non-commercial purposes.
» Where purpose of use is commercial, a donation to Child Poverty Action Group is requested.
» At all times, images must be used only in context, and not to denigrate individuals or groups.
» Acknowledgement of source is requested.
This blogpost was first published on The Daily Blog on 17 November 2015.
= fs =


text:
Friday, May 14, 2010
Saturday, May 15th is Straw Hat Day
Straw Hat Day the beginning of the season when men may wear their straw boaters and Panamas rather than the fur felt fedoras, porkpies, homburgs, and bowlers that we wear (You do wear a hat, don't you?) the rest of the year. For more information see http://www.thefedoralounge.com. Straw hats may be worn until Felt Hat Day which is September 15th.
Posted by David Trumbull at 9:47 PM
No comments:
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)