Scoop Feedback: Compressed Protest
The following is a selection of feedback and other unsolicited email received by Scoop recently. The opinions they
contain do not necessarily reflect those of Scoop.
They do not appear in any particular order.
Send feedback to Scoop: http://www.scoop.co.nz/about/feedback.html
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I am so worried and angry about the way our world is being treated by our governments. They spy, they invade countries
illegally, they are involved in torture and at no point are they doing what they were elected to do - look after the
interests of the people of their countries. I can think of no decision in the past few years that was made for my good
by my government. I know too that many,many people feel the same. But what is worse, we feel unable to do anything about
it.
Personally, I have attended marches, been to a major International Peace Conference, written countless letters to
politicians and media and signed a ridiculous number of petitions - and nothing happened. My voice is not heard. My
anger with the government grew even more when I recently searched Google for anti-war/peace groups and well over 3
million appeared. All these groups have concerns about the legality of the war in Iraq and concern about impending wars
in Syria and Iran. The issues move faster than the protesters can keep up with and again, no- one is listening anyway
(except the 'intelligence' agencies who are spying on their own citizens).
I wondered how many it would take - how many anti-war/peace groups increase the volume and visibility enough so that
governments can realise we are more against the war, than for. How can we make them see that the people who elected them
disagree with the decisions they are making and the actions they are taking in their citizens' names? I don't want my
tax each week to kill an innocent civilian, mis-informed soldier or anyone else - I am responsible for this war waged by
my government - in my name. I wish I wasn't.
So, to finally reach the point of this letter. How do you feel about the war in Iraq? Would you like to have an end to
it? Do you oppose your tax paying for it? Do you object to the death of our young soldiers? Do you object to the reasons
for war? If you do want an end to the war in Iraq for any reason then please, please do me just one favour - one
concerned human being for another - wear a strip of white fabric around your arm.
I realise it sounds small, insignificant and futile - but, I truly believe, that a show of opposition is essential in
order to get media and government to be in a position where they can no longer ignore the many, many people who oppose
this one point in unison. I realise there are so many issues that need to be tackled, but believe that tackling just
one, gives us a united start. The reason a white armband of any fabric was chosen is important. I know that not all
people the world over, who oppose the war in Iraq, can afford to attend demonstrations or spare the time, many people do
not want to affiliate themselves with specific anti- war/peace groups as they may not agree the rest of the agenda, many
people cannot spare the time to write letters, make calls and bother their (largely ignorant) governments who rarely, if
ever respond - so a simple white piece of fabric is available to everybody, all the time, without purchase, without an
agenda.
If you choose to wear the white armband you are saying just one thing "I WANT AN END TO THE WAR IN IRAQ". You are not
agreeing to any agenda, movement or politics - you are acting as an individual saying just one thing "I WANT AN END TO
THE WAR IN IRAQ". This form of voicing your opinion is a way to make this statement at all times, peacefully, until we
are noticed. I know the instant response in your heart will be "what is the point?".but please ignore that and just make
this one move, take this one step in the direction you want the world to improve. No war in Iraq would be a start - and
a start is exactly what we need, at this moment, to begin. This is a highly visible way to show the governments that
their people object in large numbers, to the actions they are taking. Please, please join me - if only to make one
person happy ?
Thank you so much for reading and thank you so much for your support, each of us is a vital part of humanity with a
right to have our say.
Namaste
Tina Louise
www.armsagainstwar.info
www.pledgebank.com/armsagainstwar
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Hey Editor... there is another nuclear drill coming to Charleston SC... via Fort Monroe.
Scheduled for Jan 31 to Feb 2? Second nuke drill for this Holy City... What;s up with that>?
Considering in Columbia we have the unmarked white airplane brigade flying over homes at the
treetops... are we being set up or monitored for reaction or what????? There is a story here in South Carolina... who
knows it>????
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Gentleman,
I had opportunity this past weekend to read an article published by Scoop entitled Video Compression Players Should
"Compress" Hype, authored by Predrag Filipovic, Ph.D. I thought the piece contained interesting observations and
opinions regarding the current status and future direction of video compression technology. But I feel it necessary to
take serious issue with one of the the author's statements, to wit:
"However, the promise of fortune and fame has also led to "snake oil" posturing on the part of many players, some of
which are spouting exaggerated and erroneous claims. Valiant marketing efforts aside, the hype surrounding new video
compression solutions by Euclid, Blaze, On2, and Qbit has created a general mood of skepticism."
The obvious intention is to impugn certain companies regarding their proprietary video compression technology claims.
Perhaps there are some that deserve to be challenged. Yet the author provides absolutely no substantive basis to support
his statement nor to differntiate the nature of the dubious claims he says create a "general mood of skepticism".
With specific respect to one of the firms mentioned, On2 Technologies (On2), Mr. Filipovic has done a disservice with
his unfounded characterization of the company being engaged in "snake oil postruring". Even a cursory investigation into
the background of On2 and its publicly idenitifiable partners would contradict such an asertion.
On2 Technologies developed the VP video codec that powers Flash 8 from Adobe (Macromedia) and it is used by AOL for both
its video streaming service and AIM video instant messaging service. It is also the same technology that powers Skype
video telephony over IP and has been selected by XM Satellite Radio for its satellite video system which was recently
previewed at CES in Las Vegas. Vividas Ltd. Vividas.com) out of Australia utilizes On2 VP to deliver full screen
streaming video and Viewpoint produces internet video advertising using the same technology. There are many additional
examples I could cite. But by now you probably get the gist. Would perhaps an apology to On2 technologies would be in
order?
Sincerely,
Douglas Wiegand
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"However, the promise of fortune and fame has also led to "snake oil" posturing on the part of many players, some of
which are spouting exaggerated and erroneous claims. Valiant marketing efforts aside, the hype surrounding new video
compression solutions by Euclid, Blaze, On2, and Qbit has created a general mood of skepticism."
Snake oil? I would like to point out that many large companies such as Adobe/Macromedia, AOL, Skype etc selected On2 as
their video compression solution of choice. I am quite sure they did their due dilligence on all availble codecs before
incorporating On2 into their latest products. Did you do yours?
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"Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's,
and to God, the things that are God's"
PURERUA
A $12 million memorial centre is planned on the Purerua Peninsula, to mark the 1814 landing in NZ of Samuel Marsden and
the early missionaries and their contact with Maori.
The Marsden Cross Centre Day, held at Peter Cooper's property, began with a Maori welcome. Speakers included MP Shane
Jones, Archbishop Sir Paul Reeves, Bishop Kito Pikaahu (Maori Bishop of the North), Bishop Richard Randerson, Rangihoua
Pa Reserve chairman Hugh Rihari, Allan Hubbard and Bill B irnie.
Auckland based Rev Patricia Bawden, whose vision it was to establish a memorial centre on the peninsula, has been
working towards this since the 1960s.
It is her wish that Maori and Pakeha walk together to achieve the project.
To the Anglican Church of Aotearoa:-
Surely this is more of a monument to arrogance and ego rather than an act of Christian charity? Jesus Christ came to
show us the 'Way to the Truth and the Light'. Christian Churchmen (and women) seem to have lost their WAY.
The $12 million could be better spent relieving the abject poverty of the Maori 'flock' of Northland who, since the
arrival of the 'shepherds', have been fleeced, year in and year out, since 1814.
For Example:
WHEREAS there is real and personal property in New Zealand held on trusts for and in connection with the Anglican
Churches in New Zealand and Melanesia: And whereas the powers of the trustees in relation to the investment of the trust
assets are limited by the instruments creating the trusts: And whereas it is desirable to consolidate and extend the
powers conferred on trustees by the Church of England Trusts Act 1913 and its amendments and to give greater powers of
investment to the major Trust Boards holding property for the said Churches: And whereas there are trusts held for
religious or charitable purposes in connection with the Anglican Church where it has become impossible or impracticable
or inexpedient to carry out the trust objects or purposes, and by reason of the limited assets of the particular trusts
or for reasons of expense it is desirable to provide a means for varying the trusts in addition to the means provided by
the Charitable Trusts Act 1957:
http://www.anglican.org.nz/canons/Parl.%20Acts.pdf
FOR EXAMPLE:
" On the contrary, the New Zealanders, a hardy and active people, appear well fitted for useful employment and are
always ready for vigorous enterprise................Contrasting, therefore, the genius and habits of this people with
those of the other Islanders in this immense Ocean, he found them much more prepared for cultivation than the generality
of savage tribes, and less tenacious of their own barbarous institutions. But he rightly concluded that moral lectures
and abtruse religious discourses, however proper at a subsequent period, when the mind became susceptible of their
importance, could do but little at first towards reclaiming a people so totally immersed in ignorance; therefore he
resolved on a better plan, and paved the way for introducing the mechanic arts, by creating artificial wants to which
they had never before been accostomed, and which he knew must act as the strongest excitement to the exercise of their
ingenuity. Accordingly he did not apply to the Society for men only of scriptural attainments, but for experienced and
useful mechanics, who could instruct the natives in cultivating their ground, building their houses, and regulating the
whole system of their internal and external economy"
J.L. Nicholas of Samuel Marsden from "Narrative of Voyage to New Zealand" Published by James Black and Son London 1817
reprinted by Wilson and Horton. Auckland.
WHICH GOD WAS HE SERVING, WHICH GOD ARE YOU SERVING?
Would Jesus not say "Aue, Aue, taukiri e"?
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[Probably Re:Driver sex cases breach Bill of Rights Act]
The effect of a conviction is not a punishment. Thousands of New Zealanders are affected in their employment by previous
convictions. What should exist here,as in other blanket situations eg CYFS funded employment,is some element of
discretion so that the historical indiscretion is not treated the same as more serious recent offending.
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