Gordon Campbell: On Chilling The Warm Fuzzies About The US/China Trade Deal

PGF Kaikōura $10.88M: Boost In Tourism & Business

The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) is investing $10.88 million to boost business and tourism opportunities in Kaikōura, Parliamentary Undersecretary for Regional Economic Development, Fletcher Tabuteau announced today. More>>

ALSO:

• Kaikoura District Council - $10.98 million of PGF funding announced

Whitebaiting: Govt Plans To Protect Announced

With several native whitebait species in decline the Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage has today released proposals to standardise and improve management of whitebait across New Zealand. More>>

ALSO:

• Forest And Bird - Proposed whitebait rules are pitiful, won’t save native fish - Whitebait rules needed to save fish from extinction
• Science Media Centre - Fisheries management helps prevent overfishing - Reaction
Earlier:
• National - Whitebaiters set to lose thousands on stands - Government attempting to ban whitebaiting

Education: Resource For Schools On Climate Change

New resource for schools to increase awareness and understanding of climate change... More>>

ALSO:

• Science Media Centre - 2019 NZ's fourth warmest year on record - Expert Reaction
• Federated Farmers - Simplistic climate change lessons counterproductive
• Taxpayers' Union - Climate change curriculum

In Effect April: New Regulations For Local Medicinal Cannabis

Minister of Health Dr David Clark says new regulations will allow local cultivation and manufacture of medicinal cannabis products that will potentially help ease the pain of thousands of people. More>>

ALSO:

• MCANZ - Unveiling of Medical Cannabis regulations "Bittersweet"
• Peter Dunne - Dunne Speaks: Cannabis-based medicines edge a step nearer
• MedCan 2020 - Cannabis scheme to ensure higher standards for all
• Helius Therapeutics - Medicinal Cannabis Scheme, a big win for patients

Australian Bushfires: SMC Expert Reaction

Fires continue to rage across south-eastern Australia and three blazes may join forces to create a mega fire on the Victoria-New South Wales border. More>>

ALSO:

• Gordon Campbell - On the Aussie bush fires and Suleimani
• The Conversation - Bushfire Crisis: Climate Politics Turning Point Aus Needs? - Scott Morrison: the bushfires demand a climate policy reboot
• Binoy Kampmark - Incendiary Extinctions: Australian Fires
• NIWA - Aussie bushfire smoke reaches NZ – update 2nd Jan 2020
• SMC - 2019 NZ's fourth warmest year on record - Expert Reaction
• UN - 2019 second hottest year on record, UN confirms
• Eoin Higgins - Fossil Fuel Companies Called On To Foot Australia Fires Bill

And June Annual Growth Revised Up: Higher Retail Consumption Lifts GDP

Gross domestic product increased 0.7 percent in the September 2019 quarter, boosted by retail spending, Stats NZ said today. More>>

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - GDP growth reflects a strong economy
• National - NZ in ‘GDP per person recession’ under Labour
• Kiwibank - Kiwi growth remains potential
• NZ Council of Trade Unions - Economy serving working Kiwis better

Gordon Campbell: On The Harry/Meghan Affair, And Iran

Those “Meghzit” headlines seem apt, given how closely Britain’s January 31 exit from the European Union resembles the imminent departure from the Royal Family’s top team of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. For young Iranians, the accidental downing of the Ukrainian airliner is just the latest example of the deadly incompetence and dishonesty of their leaders... More>>

Gordon Campbell: On The Iran Aftermath

So, evidently, you can get away with murder. It looks as though a further escalation in the ongoing war between Iran and the US has been avoided – mainly thanks to Iran NOT responding in kind to the recklessly unhinged behaviour by the United States. Given the massive outpouring of public grief in Iran over the murder of Qassem Soleimani, some reciprocal action by Iran was necessary, but (so far) it has been almost entirely symbolic in nature... More>>

Gordon Campbell: On The Aussie Bush Fires And Suleimani

In popular culture, Australia is often portrayed as Western civilisation’s last unspoiled frontier, or as its final refuge from planetary disaster. In Nevil Shute’s best-selling 1950s novel On The Beach for instance, Melbourne served as the backdrop ... More>>

Gordon Campbell: On The Iran Aftermath

So, evidently, you can get away with murder. It looks as though a further escalation in the ongoing war between Iran and the US has been avoided – mainly thanks to Iran NOT responding in kind to the recklessly unhinged behaviour by the United States. ... More>>

ALSO:

• Caitlin Johnstone - “Iran Must Begin Acting Like A Normal Nation,” Says Totally Normal Nation - So The US Is Invading Iraq Again - Full-Scale War Avoided, Trump Right Back To Warmongering - “We Do Not Seek War,” Says President Who Just Started A War - US Assassination Of Iranian Military Official May Ignite War - US Empire’s Passion For Iraqi Democracy Magically Disappears
• Eric Zuesse - Soleimani’s Successor Is Failing - How Iran Can Checkmate Trump
• John Stanton - The USA’s System of Checks, Balances and Reality Crumbles
• Julia Conley - World Leaders Call on US To Resume Diplomacy With Iran
• Jake Johnson - Iran Launches Rocket Attack on US Airbase in Iraq - UN Rapporteur Demands Probe of Soleimani Assassination
• Binoy Kampmark - Vague Imminence: US policy on Pre-emptive Force - Disruptive Assassinations: Killing Qassem Soleimani
• Hugh Steadman - Avoidable Nuclear War
• Paul Martin - Soleimani & the Red Flag of Qom
• Eoin Higgins - Did the Iraq War Just End? - Ocasio-Cortez Joins Chorus Against War With Iran
• United Nations - Guterres pledges ‘active engagement’ in de-escalation effort - UN chief calls for de-escalation across Gulf region
• NZ Govt - Statement from Acting PM Winston Peters
• National - Statement on unfolding events in Iraq

COP25 Ends: World Screams Out For Action But Climate Summit Whispers

“The world is screaming out for climate action but this summit had responded with a whisper. The poorest nations are in a sprint for survival yet many governments have barely moved from the starting blocks. Instead of committing to more ambitious cuts in emissions, countries have argued over technicalities." More>>


ALSO:

• NZ Govt - NZ will continue to showcase ambitious climate action
• UN News - As COP25 goes into the night, Guterres calls for ambition
• Global Climate and Health Alliance - COP25 is a failure of leadership of historical proportions

Howard Davis: 1917's 1,000 Yard Stare

Sam Mendes has created a terrible and barbarous trek, one that we appreciate all the more for being catapulted right into the midst of this ear-splitting melee from the film's opening sequence. More>>

Floorball: NZ To Host World Cup Of Floorball In 2022

In a major coup for a minnow nation in the European-dominated sport of floorball, New Zealand has won the rights to host one of the sport’s marque international events. More>>

National Voyage Continues: Tuia 250 Ends

Tuia 250 has unleashed an unstoppable desire to keep moving forward and continue the kōrero about who we are, say the co-chairs of the Tuia 250 National Coordinating Committee, Dame Jenny Shipley and Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr. More>>

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - Tuia 250 ending is just the beginning
• Tuia 250 - Final stop for Tuia 250 Voyage celebrates past and future - Tuia 250 Voyage flotilla arrival in Capital - Image Tuia 250 Voyage flotilla arrival in Capital