ANZAC Day has changed Wheelers Corner 22 26th April 2019

I joined the army in 1961 retired in 1980.

It is 5.30 am on the 25th of April 2019 ANZAC day, and normally I'd be on my way to the Dawn Parade as I have done for forty years...but this year I've found the strength and will power not to do so...

It's not because I feel less for those who have died since Gallipoli and all the wars that have been fought since.

But I believe that the great mass of those who died, civilians massively never really knew what it was all about.

The editorial in the Manawatu Standard said these words:

There is an abiding message there. Wars have no "winners". They bring permanent loss on all sides. What they should turn our minds to, even as we commemorate those of our number who made the ultimate sacrifice, is reconciliation and peace.  

And I say hear hear to that! So my medals stayed in the cabinet and my white poppy as well...for a retired military [Army] person that is a big individual step and I believe a huge progressive step forward.

I remember the woman Minister who always gave the reading here in Palmerston North at the ANZAC dawn parade, I've forgotten her name, but she was wonderful for she always said something about the futility of war, and that somehow our dream results never matched reality. And she was correct, at least in my view. 

Seriously when one looks at Gallipoli from a military perspective it was total disaster waiting to happen, and happen it did, not only at Gallipoli but through-out the entire 1st World War. This wasn't the first time New Zealanders began fighting other peoples wars. It was simply the start, but it has grown this willingness to die for Britain, or the USA, was it for freedom, or in reality was it for others financial gain. We should never forget, the bravery of individuals but stupidity of war. this says it all:

Our values have become totally confused, you can join the army and be paid while learning how to kill...but training via the education system to become say a doctor or nurse cost thousands and thousands in student fees. So much for the neo-liberalism clap trap as practiced today in NZ under all governments.

It has been clearly proven that if the world reduced military spending by half, we could solve world poverty in five years.

It's taken me a longtime [78 years] to reach a final conclusion that in all cases, greed rules the world, greed equals war, hence the need for the US and others to have never ending wars, and we the public are simply pawns in this massive rip-off. 

We are the ones who die, are murdered in the name of a false democracy that is never reached unless you are extremely wealthy like Donald Trump and buy your way out of putting yourself in danger.

I have joined a organisation named "World beyond War" and it celebrates ANZAC day by having picnics and other peaceful types of activities, now that is progressive...Go to: https://worldbeyondwar.org/ and have a read, it is most enlightening. 

Of course different people view wars from different perspectives, hero worship being one of them, naturally the state uses it to recruit and to bask in the so-called glory of war. 

Andy Hickman is a local Anglican Priest here in PN at the all Saints Church, he is dynamic and highly active in being anti-war and a true Christen humanist in all respects he wrote this in reply to his uncle who was questioning his view of what ANZAC day has become, I have his consent to publish his words: And I agree with all that he wrote and implies. 

This is a conversation that we all need to have with our children, relations etc. It creates a pathway toward actual and real understanding...lets get rid of the Hollywood BS and enter instead the real world of forced PR spin and hero worship.

"Tortured by their own patriotic countrymen, these men were known as ‘conscientious objectors’, because they placed their own consciences and beliefs before the demands of the state".

conscientious objector

He went on say:

" Of course I honour and respect all those who served and died for our country.
But Anzac day is now taken to the extreme, like a national religion, making the wars that "we" initiated as being well intended. But minimal acknowledgment of conscientious objectors, nor of others who were victims of "our" military invasions.

I'm not protesting those who died, but I'm protesting the dominant narrative of the justification of Australia, New Zealand involvement.
 
Here in NZ the ferocious anger at the mere suggestion of acknowledging we are more than just European kiwis has been violently vitriolic.

The biggest opposition has come from those who want Anzac Day reserved to remember and honour those who took part in wars. If the 50 people who were shot and killed in Christchurch on March 15 aren't New Zealanders who fell in a war, then I don't know who qualifies". [Quote ends]

Maori Television has just played a brilliant video of the number of Maori troops executed for various reasons during the first world war...it was shocking and they had to wait till Helen Clark was PM to receive a pardon...it was shocking TV.

Well enough of the inhumanity of man to their fellow human-beings, it simply proves than man's worst enemy is man himself... if that is not understood then one would have to be blind, deaf and emotionless and most certainly lack a heart. 

One last read:

This is a really interesting read about the death Stats amongst Afghan civilians, just another American never ending wars that we assist in fighting...

https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/04/24/unprecedented-un-finds-us-backed-forces-killed-more-afghan-civilians-taliban

And have a listen to this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_E9Nu8JinM0 

   

Wheelers Corner 22 Sunday 21st April 2019. Women yet again led the way.

Yet again it takes a woman to tell it as it is: No bull shit...just the truth...AOC sure has America in a buzz...

Here in NZ and around the world women assisted by a few men who care are alerting us all to the destruction of the environment around us...

They are marching on the streets, singing in our Plaza's and public spaces. Pasting banners and signs in public spaces, blocking off our motor ways, while at the same time practicing non-violence, of course police particularly in Europe and the USA respond with violence and arrest. Especially if the protesters are coloured or black

But even this over-kill by an governmental desire to stop the public actions by those who recognise what science is telling them and has done so years from getting the vital and urgent message out for public consideration. We are all now aware that the difference between US and NZ politics is hugely different in all most all respects.

Yet another woman tells it as it is...her words are few, the meaning is powerful it its message about behaviour.

Compare the actions of our PM with the actions of POUSA...

Sure there are common behaviors between the US and NZ over other matters, such as financial, taxation and trade where we [NZ] need to stand up and be counted.

Military behaviour needs a closer inspection, as we continue to fight other peoples wars. 

These stand out as obvious subjects that we need to act more boldly on. in the pursuit of equality and justice for all.  
The time has come for bolder behaviours by all of us as we attempt to create a bolder and fair world society for our children and grandchildren.

Fox News a Donald Trump backer pushes his vile message daily on America media, and a huge problem for us is that various members of our government and opposition push the same line, by remainly silent over his behaviour and what it leads to:

We had a crazied Australian come to our shores praising Trump and his insane conceptions, and murdered 50 plus men women and children as they prayed to their God.

We need to speakout against this POUSA and his weird anti-human behaviour. 

You will have noticed that I have not named NZ Women who are leading the XR movement here in NZ, because it could incite any mentally deranged individual to seek to harm these brave and intelligent women and children I might add who have made it a campaign of change here in NZ.

Watch your TV news broadcasts and observe what us humans can do in forcing our so-called leaders to act responsibly in response to the vital and important message being demonstrated throughout Aotearoa, talk about it with your children and grandchildren. 

The time is right to speak-out loud and clear about the need for collective action as we seek to get a more balanced view of our present and future behaviours as we attempt to solve the many problems facing us. This wonderful display the Churches in Palmerston North proves what is possible... read this wonderful report from the Manawatu Standard 

https://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/112163408/palmerston-north-christians-march-in-easter-pilgrimage-through-the-citys-streets

All Saints Church shares in Pilgrimage around PN.

Julian Assange Vs Mark Zuckerberg The money or the bag: Wheelers Corner 21 April 2019.

Assange Vs Zuckerberg...both doing the same thing but for different reasons and rewards, one a journalist the other an information manipulator of private information.

Every now and then we get the chance to compare two people who in many respects are in the same business...well they are communicators of sorts: One is a journalist the other a money maker...they are as different as heaven and hell.
or chalk and cheese, hero or bad guy, you decide. 

One makes billions or is it trillions, selling off your secrets to governments and or to friendly political parties with big bank accounts or business corporations with equally massive bank balances, so that they can use the info to control your life and especially reach into your almost emply wallet.

While the other guy attempts to tell the world of the evil side of politics, the murder and mass killings that are ordered so as to control the local and international masses that inhabit our universe.

Officially supported direct killing of civilians and others to achieve political and economic control over other countries is not new, in part or fully.

The shockingly murderous crimes that were committed in illegal wars such as Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan and a half a dozen other countries. Show clearly how vile and corrupt some powerful countries are. Yet these very same countries attempt to push a completely false image of their behaviours...you know, they are committing these murders to protect the people...yeah right, protecting democracy...yeah right.

Hell countries like the US and many others don't even know what the word democracy actually means...the work their guts out to ensure that voting is rigged and manipulated in faviour of the rich and their political cronies.

Now Government and especially dictator style leaders will pay huge big bucks to get early warnings about citizens who reveal secret information about the crimes committed by the state. You know assassination and such like. The Americans appear to bump off anyone they please to achieve their military / economic / strategic goals.

But alas when some whistle blower reveals their secret illegal behaviour...they are arrested and charged with all sorts of offenses. And those same governments keep them locked up illegally until forced by those countries that have a court and legal system that can work, and forces the government to release them...

Now in this latest episode Julian Assange published the information handed over to his organisation from the now famous and heroic whistle blower Chelsea Manning...Who is Chelsea Manning: She [Once a he]

U.S. Army intelligence analyst who released the largest set of classified documents ever, mostly published by WikiLeaks and their media partners. The material included videos of the July 12, 2007, Baghdad airstrike and the 2009 Granai airstrike in Afghanistan; 250,000 United States diplomatic cables; and 500,000 army reports that came to be known as the Iraq War logs and Afghan War logs.^[196] Manning was convicted of violating the Espionage Act and other offenses and sentenced to 35 years in prison.<sup>[197]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelsea_Manning</sup>  

Sometime back, the US Government was forced to release Chelsea while they put
together a new case against her and have re-imprisoned her: WkiLeaks owned by Julian Assange published the data...that clearly showed how the US broke US law during the Iraq and Afghan illegal wars...which I might add are still in progress...it would seem that the US doesn't know how to finish wars. But they take it on themselves to decide when wars are legal even when their country has no part in running the country involved, for example Valenzuela is the latest independant country that the US is interfering in. To learn a little more about Whistle Blowers I would suggest that you go to:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_whistleblowers

The week leading up to Easter has been a week of Extingtion Rebellion activity around the world, in many cities in Europe traffic was brought to a standstill as hundreds of thousands of people showed there dis-pleasure with their governments slow reaction to the massive evidence of climate change on out one and only world we have... We have no where else to go once the greedy have bled the world dry in the insatiable demand for more and more individual wealth. Unless you've been in a deep comia you must have read or watched the huge demonstrations that took place last Monday...they were truly stunning both is size and in behaviour. They prove what non-violent protests can achieve.

But the real question is "Will those with the power decide to move or react to the now clear evidence that climate change has arrived in a big way...You would have to be deaf, dumb and unbelievably out of touch not to have not noticed the massive changes to the weather patterns and not connected those patterns to the behaviour of human beings to the world around them.

Here in New Zealand a huge number of people are still trying to defend the behaviour of our dairy industry as it contaminates huge tracts of land by ever increasing numbers of cows. This massive stupidity is leading to the total pollution of our rivers and streams. And the amazing thing is while doing this we are giving away out drinking water to overseas owned bottling companies. I've heard that the government at last is planning to look at this activity...but I've no doubt that as usual the neo-libs and Roger Douglas left-overs will take the money and hide the harm. We shall see...

This leads to the question "Will our children and grand children and great grand-children have a future to look forward to: Or simply have a black hole to look into: Yes that subject has been in the news: They have actually created an image of a black hole... and here it is:

it was discovered during a brain scan, no brain was found but a black hole was...and it was not wearing a red cap with the words 'Make America great again'.

So maybe this is the right time to suggest that dear Donald Trump stands down as President of the United States and declares himself King of the Jews and a God...and pussy grabber Champion of the world!

Meanwhile the rest of us can play our part in reducing the negative effect of the past million years of our greed on this world of ours...

Maybe, just maybe some of the worlds top scientists could work together to locate Trumps lost brain, repair it and replace it so that he can then go back to being the spoilt rich brat built in the image of his rich daddy...

It has just been announced by the PM that Labour will not introduce the CGT, so labour has yet again continued to go down the path of Roger Douglas and Richard Prebble, and help the rich get richer while the poor get poorer...so much for being a peoples party.... Oh dear me when will we ever learn,

One last Easter request: From:

Palmerston North Women’s Health Collective
(06) 357 0314
53 Waldegrave Street
PO Box 4253
Palmerston North www.pnwomenshealth.org.nz facebook.com/pnwomenshealth

Dear friends,

I just signed the petition "Reinstate Funding for Te Hā o Hine-ahu-one Palmerston North Women’s Health Collective" and wanted to ask if you could add your name too.

This campaign means a lot to me and the more support we can get behind it, the better chance we have of succeeding. You can read more and sign the petition here:

https://our.actionstation.org.nz/petitions/reinstate-funding-for-te-ha-o-hine-ahu-one-palmerston-north-women-s-health-collective

Thank you!

Bec

P.S. Can you also take a moment to share the petition with others? It's really easy – all you need to do is forward this email or share this link on Facebook or Twitter:

https://our.actionstation.org.nz/petitions/reinstate-funding-for-te-ha-o-hine-ahu-one-palmerston-north-women-s-health-collective

Bec Hancock

Community Health Worker Te Hā o Hine-ahu-one Palmerston North Women’s Health Collective
(06) 357 0314 53 Waldegrave Street
PO Box 4253 Palmerston North
www.pnwomenshealth.org.nz  facebook.com/pnwomenshealth

The finial issue of the week.

Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin, by Alex Braae and supported by Vector. Heavy fallout from axing of capital gains tax.

(Getty Images) PM Jacinda Ardern has ruled out a capital gains tax. Not only now, mind you, she's ruled out Labour ever campaigning on it ever again while she's leader. The party has now tried to campaign on one for multiple elections, and it has never taken hold. It's a monumental moment for this government to reject one of the major recommendations of their own Tax Working Group wholesale – rather than just going for a lighter version. What happened? Arguably, Winston Peters is what happened to it. The deputy PM and long-standing opponent of any such tax was certainly happy to talk to media yesterday about it, and told Newstalk ZB there was neither a coalition consensus nor a public mandate for it. Certainly, Sir Michael Cullen who chaired the Tax Working Group was entirely comfortable blaming Winston Peters – One News reports he said that was "100%" the case. And it fits the pattern of so much of the history of this government, where NZ First has frequently flexed their muscles to stop things they don't want going through. The politics of all of this now are pretty incredible. Remember, NZ First isn't the only party propping up the government – the Greens are too. And they were huge supporters of a CGT, to the point where co-leader James Shaw earlier questioned whether the government deserved to be re-elected if they didn't pass one. But let's go back to just how total the rejection was – Labour under Jacinda Ardern will never campaign on it ever again. It raises the question – what exactly are the Greens in government to do? They've been bulking up on a dead-rat heavy diet over the last 18 months, while having their most important piece of legislation (the Zero Carbon bill on climate change) interminably delayed. And it throws into serious question just what exactly is actually being delivered on, in the government's so-called 'Year of Delivery', writes Danyl McLaughlan on The Spinoff. Could anyone have seen this coming? Well, Matthew Hooton in the NZ Herald did, on the grounds that the CGT recommended by the TWG was too extreme for Labour to be seen siding with. There may have been something in that – the proposed tax was after all described by National leader Simon Bridges as "big and hairy" and an "attack on the Kiwi way of life." Both sounded utterly absurd at the time, and still do now, but you've got to admit, he did get quite a bit of cut-through with his campaigning. And the proposed CGT was certainly hefty. The reaction to it all has been pretty explosive from interest groups. The Taxpayers Union are absolutely thrilled, as are Federated Farmers, the NZ Property Investors Federation, and Business NZ. The unions are horrified. For those who supported a CGT, it was cast as both an issue of fairness (or unfairness, when labour gets taxed but capital does not) as well as a mechanism for changing elements of the housing market away from property speculation. Jesse Mulligan – a huge supporter of a CGT – wrote about his disappointment in a piece published this morning on The Spinoff.   So what now? The CGT was just one proposal in a much wider suite of recommendations made by the TWG. Among the most important other bits were environmental taxes, which were covered here when the report was released. They're now going to be considered in depth by the parties of government, with new announcements likely over the rest of the year. And to again return to the politics of it all, Politik's Richard Harman argues that it's probably pretty bad for Simon Bridges, who now doesn't have a massive CGT-shaped target to aim at. Mr Harman, in fact, believes that the government have probably just ensured they'll get another term. Now, for some this whole exercise of debating and researching and polling and punditeering on the CGT might now seem like a massive waste of time. Not for me – I barely covered the CGT in The Bulletin because I assumed something concrete was going to be put forward by the government, and then it could be picked over properly. So even though I was wrong I've come away from this all feeling like the last few months have been worthwhile. But for those who do feel like they've just wasted a precious chunk of their life, my condolences, and we'll all strive to come up with some other issue to get totally worked up over.

Councillors sure differ in understanding democracy Wheelers Corner 20 14th April 2019

Non Listening "Bruce Gordon"

What the hell is happening to our sense of community?

The editorial in Saturdays Manawatu Standard reveals just how bad parts of our local government can be... by bad I mean undemocratic...who the hell does Horizons chairperson` Bruce Gordon think he is...God.
How can he ban people who care about the environment of the shit hole known as Lake Horowhenua from speaking at a council meeting.

Phil Taueki

Does he think that Phil "Taueki" is dangerous, so dangerous in fact that Horizons Councillors need protection when ever Philip speaks to them... especially it would seem when Anne Hunt accompanies him...Oh my what power these two environmental activists have...

Can you picture Rachel Keedwell cowering from the bitter tongue of Anne Hunt. I'm sure that Rachel is only too willing to listen to the tale of woe that is the history of the lack of effort in cleaning up the lake...

And for Councillor Rollinson to suggest that 'Speaking to council is a privilege rather than a right is simply so out-dated and undemocratic in this day and age...even our kids have a better understanding of local government democracy than does Bruce Rollinson.

Rachel Keedwell

His [Rollinson's] words prove how ignorant he is...I would agree that we need more Rachel's and less Bruce's on Horizons...now that would be a great leap forward for the future of Lake Horowhenua and the local environment and for humanity in general and particularly in this region. The impress ion I get is that both Bruce's would be best if they relocated to the West Coast and joined up with the all male old white council.

Dangerous Anne Hunt.

Bruce Gordon reminds me of the bad old days of ex PNCC CEO Paul Wylie who simply could not stand for any criticism of his dictatorial style of leadership...which the present CEO of the Horowhenua District Council has copied in full. It would seem that dictatorships are catchy in Local Government circles...
Jimmy Ellingham's editorial was titled 'Councillors should listen" at the very end he suggested that Gordon or Rollinson don't have to stand for Horizons in fact I got the strong impression that he was suggesting for the good of democracy they should consider departing the scene, so that democracy can be restored...

References:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/opinion/111982688/councillors-shouldnt-turn-away-people-wanting-to-speak-to-them 

https://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/111923203/horizons-chairman-bruce-gordon-blocks-requests-to-speak-on-annual-plan-submissions

Blog on  Anne Hunt from 2013: http://wheelerscornernz.blogspot.com/2013/08/anne-hunt-speaks-out-for-justice.html


2. The difference between Horizons and the PNCC vision of democracy is huge....Horizons believes its a privilege, PNCC believes its a right...

On Monday the 15th of April at nine am: speakers from the Extinction Rebellion Movement will be addressing the council on the issue of climate change etc. the Council, PNCC that is, has already made public its support for many of the issues that concern the XR world wide movement. They would simply love for all those who can attend to do so...this way you can actually prove that you value democracy in action. I will be asking Councilors to sign an individual statement which says..."

[1] The government must tell the truth

about climate change. And the wider

ecological emergency, and reverse inconsistent

policies and work alongside the media to

communicate with citizens.

[2] The government must enact legally binding

policy measures to reduce carbon emissions

to net zero by 2025 and to reduce consumption levels.

(3) Create a National Citizens Assembly to oversee the

changes, as part of creating a democracy fit for purpose:

I agree: Sign:

Date:

I am asking them to sign so that we can use their support to prove that the council will work for these important goals... And it may well be a good indicator of where you might place your vote during the upcoming local body elections.

Below is the climate Declaration from: go to www.ourclimatedeclaration.org.nz   This is most Suitable I would suggest for indviduals, so go there to sign the declaration::

3.
Free Speech American style:
https://truthout.org/articles/assanges-indictment-treats-journalism-as-a-crime/

Guns Guns who the hell needs them. Wheelers Corner 19 6th April 2019

https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/386306/watch-oral-submissions-at-parliament-on-gun-law-reform-legislation have a look at the reference, then lets have a chat about guns and families...

Was John Wayne a US heroic nut case?

GUNS and PEOPLE...

It's true now and then MP's can get off their backsides and make the changes requested by thousands if not millions of New Zealanders...change the bloody gun laws...get automatic weapons off the market...prevent the mass murder of thousands of innocent people...

Oh dear me its so emotional "Keeping weapons designed to kill human beings during times of war" out of the hands of emotionally damaged individuals, and I'd point out mainly male and WHITE,

It weird how white males who carry out mass killings in schools at black Church's [especially in the USA] or of Muslims, are all simply nut cases, or in the words of Donald Trump, "people with problems"...

Where as if they happen to be Muslim or coloured and especially Mexicans they are terrorists...it would seem that if you are white you can't be a terrorist [unless you are Muslim]  does this mean that there are no white terrorists, for example Israeli terrorists, The Israeli who came to NZ to steal passports were not terrorists...

Here is a typical American family armed to the teeth, prepared to kill to defend their honour etc.

Check out the number of guns they hold, hell they have more weapons than most of us would see in a life time.

And when these weapons are available they end up being used to commit murder on both a small and large scale.

Why are these individuals so deeply convinced that they are in danger...don't they live in the land of the free? Unless you are black, then the word free has a different meaning in real terms.

But to prove the point of how dangerous guns are in the wrong hands check this out...

Christy Sheats hardcore Republican gun rights advocate... who murdered her two daughters.

Our very own Australian visitor murdered 50 plus women, men and children.

And the local gun city shop owner was only too happy to sell him an automatic weapon to carry out his murderous behaviour...and is actually complaining that the government is actually doing some thing about it. Once again greed rules the roost...just as the key factor in Climate change is greed so is the the greed of the American arms industry and the corporations who run them...for them war, death, and the miss use of weapons is all a large part in their income flow:

The number of American school pupils, teachers killed by the white terrorists who own or were supplied with weapons by their families grows every year.  

At the select committee hearing on the proposed new gun laws were (clockwise from top left: Federation of Islamic Associations of NZ president Mustafa Farouk; Gun City owner David Tipple; select committee chair Michael Wood and National MP Judith Collins. Photo: Ana Tovey / RNZ.

Of course MP Judith Collins has a thing about guns especially hand guns...she has used hand guns to gain publicity at various times especially when she was Minister of Police...

   

She was John Key's hit lady, and chief Chinese wheeler and dealer...

But seriously folks, would you trust her with a hand gun...especially if you were Hekia Parata a woman of colour...

But that's enough about guns and the stupidity that leads males mainly to see them as a representation of male strength.

While many countries depend on fire arms to enforce their will on their populations...others have developed more and much more constructive connections between the state and their people.

Put simply guns don't defend democracy, they in fact destroy democracy. As I said in an earlier Wheeler's Corner. Mans violence toward humanity has since the 1st WW killed millions and millions of human beings, if we had spend just a fraction of that time, money and effort in designing new and more effective ways of killing people and instead spent it on helping people rather than killing them how much better off we all would be.

I know its ANZAC day later this month...and I attend ANZAC day being an ex-serviceman not to glorify war but to hope that the peace that thousands died for can actually achieve that peace and for that reason I wear the WHITE poppy as a badge of honour...I hope you will do the same...

Look at this well armed US Family...land of the free, yeah right.

Read this from Chris Trotter: about the history of the Crusaders Rugby team:

https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2019/04/05/shadows-of-the-past/