Crosses better than billboards at saving lives

Green MP, Jeanette Fitzsimons is calling on Transit New Zealand to review its decision to remove white crosses from the side of motorways.

“Crosses serve as a reminder of the dangers of careless driving,” said Ms Fitzsimons, the Green Transport spokesperson. “They serve as a very effective visual reminder for motorists to slow down and take care.

“Removing the crosses would also cause unnecessary grief to families who want some form of memorial at the place where their loved ones died.

“If Transit is so concerned about distractions to motorists then it should start by removing the huge number of advertising hoardings along our roads,” said Ms Fitzsimons. “These billboards are designed with only one thing in mind, and that’s to grab and hold the attention of passing motorists.”

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>