Response to A.C. Stark’s post on the existential crisis of climate change
Posted: September 20, 2017 Filed under: Other, responses | Tags: A.C. Stark, climate change, consumer society, cultural history, existential cricis of climate change, Jared Diamond, John Key, media, New Zealand Leave a commentRight on the money, A.C. (sort of a pun, perhaps?) This ‘existential crisis’ which you describe is necessary to understand the politics of the day in New Zealand. Read the rest of this entry »
Response to a Scoop discussion on concert venues
Posted: September 14, 2017 Filed under: responses | Tags: concert band, concert venue, Scoop Leave a commentOn a related topic, a small-ish indoor concert venue, primarily used by local arts groups (music, etc.), is missing from the current scene. There are popular spots, such as St Andrews on the Terrace, known for its accoustic, which are too small for this niche. We could use a public (council supported) ‘medium-sized’ (300-500?) venue designed accoustically for music events.
Why do we think so much of large venues? Sell more tickets?
David Slack and ‘for any damn reason’ to vote
Posted: September 5, 2017 Filed under: Letters | Tags: climate change, climate disruption, David Slack, desperation, electoral politics, fear, nuclear weapons Leave a commentThe Editor, The Sunday Star Times, Auckland
31 August, 2017
Dear Editor:
David Slack (27 Aug) says that “ . . . you can vote for whatever reason you like. . . It doesn’t have to make any sense at all”. Analysts and speech writers like Slack have thought that a good rational argument was their best friend, but now know that that was “Wrong.” Read the rest of this entry »
response to Scoop / Congestion Free Wellington article
Posted: September 1, 2017 Filed under: Other, responses | Tags: fear, Hutt Valley, Kapiti, light rail, post-truth politics, trolley buses, Wellington Leave a commentStill, most of the discussion here is about moving traffic faster. This is the wrong priority and if that priority persists then the majority Hutt / Kapiti influence on Regional Council will pounce on more and more lanes and expressways and again Wellington City needs for mass transit (trolleys now and light rail later) will surely be out onto the back burner again. Be warned; this is the ‘post truth era’, the former rationales are not the dominant form of thinking and pushing any more.
Island Bay’s car cult uprising
Posted: August 30, 2017 Filed under: Letters | Tags: car cult, Cook Strait News, Donald Trump, Island Bay, Tea Party Leave a commentThe Editor
The Cook Strait News, Wellington, 28 August, 2017
Dear Editor:
Isabella Wishart (CSN 24/08) says she is perplexed by Chloe Bisley-Wright’s letter to the Cook Strait News, but then goes beyond perplexity in aggressively connecting ‘cyclist’ with ‘unable to begin to see other (perspectives)’.
I have no trouble understanding either perspective with the Tea Party – type (read Donald Trump) uprising in Island Bay continuing unabated in 2017 after it began in 2016. This is the car cult mentality which is strong nationwide but has seldom reached the surface to the extent it has in Island Bay. Ms Bisley-Wright may or may not understand that the car cult is not to be challenged, in ‘Kings New Clothes’ fashion, but in apparent ‘childlike’ honesty (sorry, Chloe) is simply describing what she is hearing.
Where will the next car cult Tea Party uprising pop up in New Zealand? Perhaps the next neighbourhood that has the temerity to actually build a transport option that is a local alternative to the car cult?
Sincerely,
Richard Keller
published 31/08/2017
New Zealand Navy in North Korea
Posted: August 27, 2017 Filed under: Letters | Tags: fear, navy, New Zealand, North Korea, nuclear free legislation, nuclear free NZ, nuclear free reputation, NZ international reputation, NZ military, President Trump, USA Leave a commentThe Editor, The Listener,
Private Bag 92512, Wellesley St., Auckland 1141
04 September, 2017
Dear Editor,
New Zealand Navy ship Te Kaha returned to Devonport in July after sailing with the USA Seventh Fleet through the Western Pacific. Consider the implications for NZ anti-nuclear stance if any NZ Navy ship was sailing with a US fleet when an attack was launched over the Korean crisis. Read the rest of this entry »
Metiria’s attempt to bring more honesty into the political debate on poverty
Posted: August 25, 2017 Filed under: Letters | Tags: child poverty, electoral politics, fear, Green Party, Jacinda Ardern, Labour Party, metiria turei, politics, poverty Leave a commentThe Editor, The Dominion Post, Wellington
22 August, 2017
Dear Editor:
Trying to inject more honesty into the political discussion on poverty apparently is unforgiveable to a significant section of the body politic. That is what Metiria Turei was trying to do and was viciously attacked for it. Read the rest of this entry »
