Gordon Campbell: On The School Climate Strike

Locally, the school strike has won a ton of support for bringing climate change to the fore. Yet the strikers don't want mere expressions of support. They want action. More>>

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• School strike 4 climate - An Open Letter from the Youth of Aotearoa - We're striking and we're doing it right! - Wairarapa college students will join international protest - Christchurch students to join global Climate Strike
• RNZ - Climate change protest on school day divides MPs - Principals seek guidance over students climate strike
• The Nation - National Party leader Simon Bridges
• TVNZ - Student climate change strike gets backing from Gov Minister
• BusinessDesk - Gradual transition to sustainable agriculture key - O'Connor - Renewable power climbs in 2018 despite increased coal burn
• Science Media Centre - Student-led climate strikes - Expert Reaction
• NZ Govt - Climate legislation progressing - Ministers prioritise consultation on climate change
• Public Service Association - Strong support for School Strike for Climate from PSA
• CTU - NZCTU supports Climate Strike
• Māori Climate Commissioner - Māori Climate Commissioner: 'Everyone should march' - Māori Climate Commissioner on Student Protests - It's time NZ children went on strike - Greta Thunberg : A Wahine Toa of our Times
• NZEI - NZEI supports student action over climate change
• NZ Taxpayers' Union - Teachers bunking off tomorrow shouldn't be paid
• Amnesty International - Amnesty International stands in solidarity with strike
• CensusAtSchool - Kiwi students believe climate change is an 'urgent problem'
• OraTaiao - Health professionals support students in their strike
• Forest And Bird - Forest & Bird supports School Strike 4 Climate
• Generation Zero - Zero Carbon Bill Announcement Due Friday - Hundreds turn out to 'Zero Hour for Climate action' protest
• Sustainable Christchurch - Students Speak for the Planet
• Auckland Council - Our climate future today
• FIRST Union - Trade Union Supports Student’s Climate Strikes
• Lincoln University - Lincoln on board for climate change strike
• Hawkes Bay DHB - Hawke’s Bay DHB taking climate change seriously
• Bay of Plenty Regional Council - Climate change, passenger transport and rescue services
• Oxfam - Oxfam supports young people in School Strike 4 Climate
• Unions Wellington - Students on strike are fighting for all of us
• Stand Up - Stand Up supports the School Strike
• Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington - Students are witnesses to the urgency of climate change
• Binoy Kampmark - Saving the Planet One Child at a Time - Agreed Rules, COP24 and Climate Change Protest
• UN - Make this the year of solutions to climate change - Humanity 'at a crossroads' as damage to planet poses risk

"Grabbed And Struck In The Face": Greens Co-Leader Attacked While Walking To Work

Green Party co-leader James Shaw was the victim of an unprovoked attack when he was walking to work in Wellington. More>>

ALSO:

• NZ Police - Man charged in relation to Kelburn assault - Witnesses sought to assault in Kelburn, Wellington
• Free Speech Coalition - Free Speech Coalition condemns assault on Shaw

████████ ████ ███: Latest OIA Statistics Released

The latest statistics cover 110 agencies that collectively completed 18,106 official information requests between July and December 2018, a 16.4% increase on the 15,551 requests for the previous six months. More>>

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• Office of the Ombudsman - Latest OIA data released by the Ombudsman
• NZ Taxpayers' Union - Government’s excuses over OIA inaction are astonishing

'Hit And Run' Inquiry: New Legal Action Over Secrecy

The lawyer representing the Afghan villagers in the inquiry into Operation Burnham has launched legal proceedings calling for a judicial review in the investigation. More>>

ALSO:

• Inquiry into Operation Burnham - Minute - memoranda from Afghan villagers and Mr Hager

Tax Bill Passes, Drops: “An End To Unnecessary Secondary Tax”

“The changes mean Inland Revenue will more closely monitor the tax paid by wage and salary earners through the year. If it appears the worker is being over taxed, Inland Revenue will suggest a more suitable PAYE tax code tailored to that worker.” More>>

ALSO:

• NZ First - NZ First Applauds Changes to Remove Burden of Seconary Tax
• Equality Network - Anti-CGT assault masks real support for increasing fairness

Ethiopian Airline Crash: Boeing 737 Max Aircraft Operations Temporarily Suspended

New Zealand’s Civil Aviation Authority has suspended the operation of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft to or from New Zealand. Currently this affects only one operator, Fiji Airways. There are no other airlines that fly this aircraft type to New Zealand. More>>

ALSO:

• Science Media Centre - NZ suspends Boeing 737 MAX – Expert Reaction

Sorting Out DNA: Crime-Busting Software Wins Top Science Prize

Software developed in New Zealand that has contributed to identifying suspects in tens of thousands of criminal cases around the world has won the 2018 Prime Minister’s $500,000 Science Prize. More>>

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - PM’s top science prize goes to DNA crime scene software
• PM's Science Prizes - Urgency sparks action for PMs Science Communication winner - Winning researcher brings hope for those with gut issues - Teacher bases winning ways on developing curious minds - Young physicist third student to become Future Scientist

News Deserts: The Death March Of Local Journalism

Joseph Cederwall: The corporate media sector seems unable to do anything to halt the raging dumpster fire of consolidation, layoffs and centralisation of content production. All this means we are increasingly seeing ‘news deserts’ appearing in local communities. Illustration by Paul Sahre. More>>

ALSO:

• Joseph Cederwall - Journalism Has a Problem - It’s Called Capitalism! - The End of Objectivity in Journalism
• ScoopPro Sale - 25% off Annual Service Until 31 March

Joseph Cederwall: Journalism Has A Problem - It’s Called Capitalism!

To the extent that solutions exist, they must be solutions that allow journalism to move outside of the broken system that has caused this situation. For this reason, a resurgence in more engaged and community focused local journalism offers hope for a way out of this situation. More>>

ALSO:

• ScoopPro Sale - 25% off Annual Service Until 31 March
• Joseph Cederwall - The End of Objectivity in Journalism
• BusinessDesk - NZME targets positive earnings from paywall in 2 years

Gordon Campbell: On Why Justin Trudeau's Fate Matters To NZ

The scandal now engulfing Justin Trudeau and his Liberal Party is the kind of train wreck that confirms the public's worst feelings about politicians and their back-room dealings. More>>

Joseph Cederwall: Venezuela; Oil, Neoliberalism And White Supremacy

Venezuela has been suffering a slow-burn, yet devastating internal insurgency and economic war since the optimistic beginnings of the ‘Bolivarian’ socialist revolution in 1998. More>>

ALSO:

• Gordon Campbell - On why we shouldn’t support the US-led coup in Venezuela

Ramzy Baroud: What Price Netanyahu’s Victory

It is quite typical for Israeli politicians to carry out confrontational measures against Palestinians shortly before general elections are due. The nature of these measures is determined by the kind of political constituency that Israeli leaders aim to appease. More>>

Dog's Brexit: UK MPs Vote Against Amended Deal

MPs in UK's House of Commons this morning have rejected British Prime Minister Theresa May's amended Brexit deal... If a no-deal option is rejected, MPs could get a vote on Friday on whether to request a delay to Brexit from the EU. More>>

ALSO:

• RNZ - UK MPs Vote Against No-Deal Brexit
• Gordon Campbell - Gordon Campbell on tax dodges, and the Brexit vote
• BusinessDesk - NZD slips against pound as British MPs prepare to vote - NZ dollar higher against British pound on Brexit jitters
• deVere - A second Brexit vote is the only credible solution

Climate Change: The World Talks While Kiribati Suffers

As public discussion on climate change and ways to arrest its impact continue around the world, one of many low-lying atolls in the Pacific wrestles with the issue right now. More>>

Gordon Campbell On Kashmir Escalation And... Why This Guy Shouldn’t Get Nukes

All but unnoticed, two of the world’s nuclear powers have been preparing to go to war this week. Military action has been ramping up between India and Pakistan over (as usual) the disputed territory of Kashmir... More>>

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - NZ expresses concern at tensions in Jammu and Kashmir - Tabuteau to visit the Gulf to strengthen links

Gordon Campbell: On The Anti-Corbyn Split In British Labour

The resignation of seven UK Labour MPs in protest against the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn is another example of the centre-left’s readiness to sabotage its own cause ... More>>

Joseph Cederwall: WOMAD - Love Will Lead Us Home

The events of Friday, moments before the gates opened cast an entirely different shadow over the festival and highlight the importance of such events as a way of growing closer together. More>>

Howard Davis: The Puzzling Poetic Praxis of J.H. Prynne - Pt II

Given the historical and socio-cultural context from which Prynne's poetry emerged, a panoptical perspective on what his poems might be trying to say is indispensable to its comprehension. With some sequences this can be an exceptionally demanding challenge, requiring a great deal of perseverance, concentration, and endurance. More>>

Truth And Beauty: 2019 Ockham Book Award Finalists

The Cage by Lloyd Jones, This Mortal Boy by Fiona Kidman, All This By Chance by Vincent O’Sullivan, and The New Ships by Kate Duignan are shortlisted for the $53,000 Acorn Foundation Fiction Prize. More>>

ALSO:

• Otago University Press - Hudson and Halls biography shortlisted for Ockham awards
• Image Out-Link - Longlist 2019 | New Zealand Book Awards Trust

Measles: Two Measles Cases Notified In Auckland

Auckland Regional Public Health Service (ARPHS) is asking people who may have been exposed to measles in three public locations to be alert to symptoms. More>>

ALSO:

• Science Media Centre - Measles in Canterbury - Expert Q
• RNZ - Vaccine boost as measles cases rise in Canterbury
• NZ Govt - Vaccination the best protection against measles
• Ministry of Health - National measles immunisation schedule remains on track - Ministry issues reminder to stay safe from illness
• Canterbury DHB - Twenty-five measles cases now confirmed in Canterbury
• Northland DHB - Immunisation only sure way to avoid measles
• The Scoop Team - PM's Post-Cab 11/3/19: China, Jones, Tax