Cogito, ergo sum. I think, therefore I am. (René Descartes, mathematician and philosopher,1599-1650)

BREAKING NEWS - SNIPPETS

11 September

Nauru
https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/mediawatch/audio/2018661392/nauru-squirms-under-the-spotlight

New Zealand
Abby Hartley has died in Bali, unable to take advantage of the$237,000 raised to assist her medivac.  Government had declined to assist, saying this was the insurer's responsibility and not government's.  National's Simon Bridges helped organize the money collection. Abby's family said they did not blame Government.

"Life on earth is faced with a situation in which Washington is so determined to overthrow Assad and to leave Syria in the same chaos as Libya and Iraq that Washington is willing to risk war with Russia.  Never before have irrationality and immorality had such a firm hold on a government. The world should be scared to death of the recklessness and irresponsibility of the US government." -- Craig Paul Roberts

Opinion shifts back and forth on whether the Tax Reform Goup will recommend a capital gains tax.

7 September
Auckland Harbour Bridge lights: showing us the way to go. "Powered by a mix of leading technology, including solar, battery and peer-to-peer systems, Vector Lights transforms the Waitematā as a guiding light toward a smart energy future. Part of a ten-year smart energy partnership between Vector and Auckland Council, Vector Lights is an experience and a destination, giving Aucklanders a focal point for celebration and recognition"

I liked @WilldeCleene's tweet:    "And lo. Simon  Bridges did take his limo into the Desert Road, where he stayed for forty days and forty nights."

4 September
From the Forum meeteing in Nauru, Winston Peters announced big Pasifika radio boost 
http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2018/09/new-zealand-announces-10m-pacific-broadcasting-expansion/#more-29764

An amazing series about Otara, NZ's most amazing and maliagned suburb
https://interactives.stuff.co.nz/2018/09/southside-rising/?utm_source=stuff&utm_medium=edm&utm_campaign=southside&utm_content=button&cid=stuff:edm:southside:button

3 September

New Zealand.
Might your bank go bankrupt? https://bankdashboard.rbnz.govt.nz/summary 

Check how it compares with other NZ banks on capital quality, asset quality, profitability, balance sheet, liquidity, credit concentration and credit rating on this new,  simple to underst and  interactive Reserve Bank dashboard -- and note, the Bank  clearly defines each of these measurement variables. If only others who should would do the same.

Bryce Edwards, the media and Jacinda Adern

Hawai'i.  The East-West Center will soon cease publishing its Pacific Islands Report http://www.pireport.org/articles/2017/10/26/pacific-islands-report-ends-its-twenty-year-run but its valuable archives will still be available. 

Australia's new foreign minister is in Niue well aware of concerns about climate change
http://www.abc.net.au/radio-australia/programs/pacificbeat/payne-pif/10194030

Letter from America: Trump Voice


1 September

FIJI
Opposition leader NFP's Dr Biman Prasad complains about the lack of consultation on the nomination of the President b ut would like to see the President re-appointed. ,He  dissassociates NFP from SODELPA on the issue 
http://fijilive.com/news/2018/08/nfp-disappointed-with-lack-of-consensus/64542.Fijilive

The Sun says SODELPA must be out of its mind if itr wants to reconstitute the Great Council of Chiefs and let it choose the President. http://fijisun.com.fj/2018/09/01/analysis-why-would-sodelpa-want-us-to-go-back-to-a-dark-past/

Download book 'The People have Spoken' about the Fiji 2014 election edited by Steven Ratuva and Stephanie Lawson
http://press-files.anu.edu.au/downloads/press/p337333/pdf/book.pdf?referer=1839

SAMOA PM Tuilaepa's vision of the Pacific http://samoaobserver.ws/en/01_09_2018/local/36418/What-PM-Tuilaepa-told-Lowy-Institute.htm

PNG Enga male initiation ceremony
 http://www.pngblogs.com/2018/08/engas-sangai-foregone-culture.html

WEST PAPUA. An appeal to Jaciinda Adern for support http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/pacific-media-watch/west-papua-plea-pm-be-game-changer-pacific-support-10223

COOK ISLANDS. Nine of the 24 water stations on Rarotonga are unsafe
http://www.cookislandsnews.com/national/health/item/70560-nine-water-stations-unsafe


31 August. 

NZ.  We've shown the Aussies how to behave again. Chelsea Manning has been given a visa. 


Fiji. SODELPA's Ro Teimumu says the reappointment of the President is  illegal and could have repercussions on the elections. http://fijilive.com/news/2018/08/presidents-appointment-is-illegal-sodelpa/64544.Fijilive  
They walked out of Parliament in protest.

Tonga. PM 'Akilisi Pohiva will lead the Tongan delegation to the 49th Pacific Islands Forum Meeting held in Nauru from September 3-6. The theme this year is "Building a Strong Pacific: Our People, Our Islands, Our Will". https://matangitonga.to/2018/08/31/pm-attends-pacific-islands-forum-nauru

Princess Pilolevu welcomes officials of the Pacific China Friendship Association https://matangitonga.to/2018/08/29/pacific-china-association-president-visits-tonga

Samoa

The Office of the Ombudsman has appealed to the Parliament to defer the amendment on the use of reasonable force by teachers in schools. That is until the Parliament and the Government have had the full opportunity to consider the Inquiry Report and its recommendations, which will be launched early next month.

FIJI. PM Bainimarama's salary (expenses not included) total F$230,00, A-G  Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum earns F$185,000, and Speaker Jiko Luveni F$135,000 .  F$1 = NZ$0.71.
http://fijivillage.com/news-feature/FijiFirst-Partys-declaration-published-today-9sk25r 

AN urgent sitting of Parliament is scheduled for this Friday to decide the term of Fiji’s President, Jioji Konrote. The term  will either be extended or there will be a new appointment.


NZ: MISCARRIAGES OF JUSTICE --  FORENSICS CAN GET IT WRONG. "It would be naive to think New Zealand was immune to flawed forensics", says forensic scientist Anne Sandiford. "We've had some very difficult and very demonstrable miscarriages of justice, and I don't necessarily think they are exceptions ... There are three main contributors to miscarriages of justice – poor police investigation, poor defence and poor forensic science. If you've got one or more of those in any particular case, the chances of a miscarriage of justice increases."
NZ forensic researcher Niki Osbourne, adds, "When there is a rich contextual environment – at a crime scene, if you were analysing data with a whole lot of case information – if that context is coupled with the ambiguity, and the subjective methodology, that's when you're getting into the danger zone."    

https://www.stuff.co.nz/science/106163245/in-the-dock--how-fallible-is-forensic-sciencecan-we-trust-forensic-science

These factors, and stereotyping, go some way towards explaining the high Maori/Pasifika/working class crime rates.


NZ YOUTH WELLBEING REPORT.. What is important to young people. https://www.youthwellbeingreport.com/


NAURU  BANS ABC at Pacific Islands Forum which meets 3-6 September. Condemned by all free speech people. But  does Nauru have a point? Two weeks ago Bougainville accused Australia of bullying. 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/02/nauru-blocks-abc-from-pacific-forum-over-bias-and-false-reporting

NZ ELECTRICITY PRICE REVIEWAnother Government Avsisory Committee. This is part of my letter from Trustpower. The link at the bottom takes you to the Ministry announcement, with details of Committee members

The New Zealand Government has decided to take a closer look at the price of electricity in this country and is currently carrying out an Electricity Price Review. The Government’s aim is to investigate whether the current electricity market structure is delivering fair pricing to New Zealand households and ensure the regulatory framework is suitable for the future as the Government aims for 100% renewable electricity by 2030. 

We think it’s a good idea and we're supporting them in this review. if you’d like to read more click here.

Kind regards,   The Trustpower Team

DONALD TRUMP's ADMINISTRATION
"The Trump Administrations’ point scoring mentality and politicization of trade is becoming harmful to the US economy, and it is only a matter of time before the duties on imports will raise prices in the US; bringing on inflation. Raw materials have already become much more expensive for some manufacturers."  -- Fat Profits, Australian share researchers


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