Show me an ethical leader. Wheelers Corner 07 09 February 2019

Which one would you trust?

American Presidents come and go or are bumped off from time to time...George Washington said "I can-not tell a lie", that of course was incorrect he was proven to have lied heaps of times...

Richard Nixon...in the end had to resign because he simply couldn't tell the truth...so rather than be given the chop he departed the scene...before they could jail him...

But now days the US has a simple minded President who simply can't tell truth from fiction...or reallity from actual real life honesty. "I can not tell the difference" Donald Trump

But all countries at some time or other have had big time liars as leaders...but not many are as brazen as Trump...he is so bad that the great majority of advisors appointed by him have ended up having to resign, or are sacked by him...or heading toward jail-time.

“Anyway here in Palmerston North there has been exceptional public movement toward cleaning up our social interactions toward creating the change climate, required to strengthen our very slack connections between our elected leadership and those who vote for them.
It's Our Future Manawatu is a highly active group of individuals who look carefully at what is happening here in the Manawatu and Palmerston North in particular.  Then together with other interested parties created an effective social movement locally called PAM: Peace Action Manawatu and mobilised in opposition to the Council backed NZ Defence Industry forum that was held in 2018. This cost the rate payers tens of thousands and tax-payers hundreds of thousands so that a bunch of overseas backed weapon makers could show off their hardware to our Military and other overseas parties interested in supporting military interventions using super high priced military hardware, such as bombs, long range targeting devices, and other combat style equipment.

Our Mayor agreed to review the consent process used to grant the NZ Defence Industry Association use of our Council owned facilities. A special [so-called] Councillor workshop has been planned for 18 March 2019 to carry out this task without public access or consultation...why it is being kept secret is unknown.
But the stupid aspect is that it would appear the Mayor has already told the NZ Defence Industry Association that the date planned for 2019, 29-31 October, is all (provisionally?) OK...this of course proves how hollow what the Mayor told the councillors about the up-coming closed door workshop...it is without doubt simply another Toyota style bit of clap trap...we know the Mayor just loves Toyota and Tin Soldiers...So IOFM is calling together again its PAM community groups and their supporters to come together and create a force to be reckoned with

Extinction Revolution Manawatu last Friday.

This PAM grouping brings together all those various community groups that take a keen interest in activities around, War and Peace, Climate Change activities, local democracy and ethical behaviour. 

The coaliction has close connections to various church groups, Catholic, Anglican, and peace activists for example the Quaker movement, plus connections to the local immigration support organisation. 

The bulk of these hard working and community minded groups are made of individuals who have a great interest in peace rather than war, in prevention rather than continuing the damage being done by greedy individuals. 

The latest group to join, the social net work scene via PAM is "Extinction Revolution Manawatu" and we at the IOFM welcome them with open arms but more importantly with open minds as we all seek the ways and means of correcting past errors. 

2.Stopping the ROT...

Mayor [Toyota] Grant Smith [begs, seeks] forgiveness for past poor ethical behaviour. 
Just as Donald Trump has been forced to resort to verbal trickery during his State of the Nation address...our wee imitation Donald has now resorted to word manipulation in an attempt to talk his way out of past mistakes. Go to the reference below and have a read:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/110451106/grant-smith-says-register-of-behindcloseddoor-council-decisions-will-be-set-up 

Smith said:
"He said there was no doubt the $391,000 grant had been important in convincing Toyota's foreign investors to consolidate in Palmerston North and close an experimental distribution warehouse in Auckland".  But he never offered any REAL evidence that this statement was correct!

"Smith said it was essential councillors held their discussions about sensitive commercial negotiations in private, but it needed to do better with letting the public know the outcome of those decisions". But yet again he never produced any actual evidence of the sensitivity of the Toyota gift or its relationship to other organisations for example Ford or any other motor company...

"A register of decisions made behind closed doors needed to be set up and reviewed regularly, he said". Yet again he offers excuses after the event...review doesn't mean change...this style of procrastination has always been a tool of local government as a means to justify bum choices, Smith is well practiced in the art of procrastination. He used that technique when he weirdly suggested that a Catering company was the main sponser for the 1918 NZ Defence Industry Association's forum. The Catering company was a minor player...as we all now know!

ark

A registrar does nothing. It still enables councillors to make decisions in secret & therefore they are not transparent. Mr Smith who last week said he was going to say no more about the secret grant, is happy to say more when he can't be questioned. If there was no doubt the grant had convinced Toyota to stay he should be happy to release all the meeting details to the public.

A registrar does nothing. It still enables councillors to make decisions in secret & therefore they are not transparent. Mr Smith who last week said he was going to say no more about the secret grant, is happy to say more when he can't be questioned. If there was no doubt the grant had convinced Toyota to stay he should be happy to release all the meeting details to the public.

3.  

Did you know that the CEO of MCH is possibly the highest paid public servant in the Manawatu...the tax payers are paying her almost five hundred thousand dollars per year...after reading the reference below you may feel just a little angry at the level of remuneration we pay a 'so called Manager' so we allow her and her government appointed board members can cut funding to a community group that actually assists those in need.  And I believe you have every right to be angry...
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/110396565/anger-and-dismay-about-threat-to-womens-health-service 

Here is a list of the Chairperson and board members of the MCDHB;
A profile statement of each member is provided and can be accessed by clicking on the members' name. 

Chairman
Dot McKinnon (appointed member)

Board Members
Diane Anderson (elected member)
Adrian Broad (elected member)*

Barbara Cameron (appointed member)
Ann Chapman (elected member)
Brendan Duffy (appointed member)*

Michael Feyen (elected member)*
Nadarajah (Mano) Manoharan  (elected member)
Karen Naylor (elected member)*

Oriana Paewai (appointed member)
Barbara Robson  (elected member)

Those with a * are serving or past councillors who seem to enjoy adding to their council income with MCHB income: if each of the people turned down their MCHB income...there would be no need to cut funding to the Women's health clinic...

So as a quick answer the CEO could agree to a 50.000 dollar salary cut, Duffy and Naylor could resign and not be replaced and Feyen and Broad could both resign...and not be replaced and no one would notice...but don't hold your breath...

So this is simply yet another aspect of community behaviour the IOFM will take an interest in:

Dr. Fred Hirst coordinator with IOFM.

Hi Peter,

This is certainly something for IOFM to oppose!!

 A Councillor is proposing writing to relevant PMs plus deputation at DHB meeting later this month. I'll send out more details but presume you will comment strongly in your blog.

Cheers, Fred

Thanks Fred and IOFM I'll do my best....cheers Peter W

 

    

 

Wheelers Corner Mondays 4 pm...

Money Vs Integrity a growing problem

Wheeler's Corner 41 6th October 2018.
“Connecting people who care”

1.
“Being a character – an interesting, unusual or amusing personality – and “Possessing character – being a person of integrity, probity, substance, resolute in the face of adversity.
This week I’m asking each Councillor publicly, and I include the Mayor “Are you being an interesting character...or do you possess character in regard to your council role.

Now don’t take offence, just read the first paragraph again and consider just where you fit. Consider your actions, over lets say the last three months and decide where you sit in regard to ‘possessing and living’ the items listed in paragraph one. Have you practiced integrity, probity, substance and resolution in your decisions and actions?
I imagine that this would depends on your understanding of the word ‘character’, never-the-less it’s a serious question worthy of serious consideration. In fact it’s a question worthy of being asked by all of us about ourselves and those with whom we interact.

Last Monday [1st October 2018] Brent Barrett moved a notice of motion and Lorna Johnson seconded the motion:

“That the Chief Executive be instructed to develop a PNCC venues Policy which includes hireage and allowable uses of PNCC venues, ensuring it is consistent with our investment policy and other broadly accepted ethical standards such as the Human Rights Act and the NZ Bill of Rights Act”

The reasons for the NOM from Brent Barrett has been well covered in our local newspaper, and it gave Councillors the chance to review the permission granted to the Defence Industry Association [DIA] for use of a PNCC controlled site, but sadly because staff had already [according to a staff member] signed a contract [without councillors knowledge ] that question was never debated, But the request for a full Council workshop on the Barrett / Johnson motion was successful. So I suppose we should be thankful for small mercies.

Those who opposed the motion were: Grant Smith [Mayor] Tangi Utikere [Dep Mayor] Bruno Petrenas, Adrian Broad. All the rest voted for the Motion, and an interesting fact was that all the women voted for!
The arguments put forward by the Mayor Grant Smith were interesting and while I might not have this in exact presentation order this is in basic terms what he said... “This is a Defence Force event” [It is not it is a Defence Industry Association event] He earlier had stated that the event was being sponsored by a catering company [Compass] but offered no evidence of that fact. The Compass web site doesn’t indicate it is sponsoring this event.

He also suggested without presenting any evidence that the notice of motion was politically driven because it was moved by Barrett [Greens] and Johnson [Labour], that claim was a very Donald Trumpish like claim...I was expecting him to accuse them of spreading ‘false news’ but instead he went on to say. “What next, would we stop the ANZAC parade! He even suggested that PN was not a peace city but a Defence City! He also suggested that his Father who served in the 2nd world war would be most upset if we banned the military!

This was really over the top, for no one had suggested that our military be banned, The Defence Industry Association only link to the military is that they sell them arms etc., and that’s the real problem.
The Mayor also talked about freedom of speech, after that I really lost interest. Is banning tobacco advertising, banning freedom of speech? Is banning boobs on bikes in the Square banning freedom of speech? Anyway the Mayor’s plea was rejected by a huge majority. [12 to 4]

So returning to my first paragraph, where do you think the Mayor and those three other males fit...Are they being a character or possessing a character, you decide, those who voted for the motion still have to prove their sincerity by taking part in a ‘Workshop fully and are not simply hiding behind a ‘closed door work shop’ they could do this by opening the workshop up to the public...now that would be clear proof of ‘possessing character’
Donald Trump is a character but he does not have character and that’s a fact...where do those who voted against the Notice Of Motion fit?
2.

On the far left you may recognise an ‘old white male’. This photo was taken at CARE workshop held at Massey, the workshop was conducted by Dr Sue Bradford and it related to how to get students once again active in ‘activism’ type behaviours.
I don’t doubt that I was the oldest person there, but I learned so much by listening to the views expressed by those participating. What it proved for me, was that you never stop learning and ideas and processes to encourage activism are ever expanding and changing.
A good example of dying student activism was when the ACT Party and the Massey Student Political Club [so-called] held a protest against Massey VC banning of Don Brash only five people actually attended and its uncertain if any of them were ‘students’ yet our local media and the MSM turned up in mass and screamed how wrong she was.  
Talk about false news, that so-called event was simply one example. I was at Massey at the time and asked a couple of students, 'What did they think of Don Brash? Their reply, 'Who is Don Brash". That says it all. But across the ocean the story is a little different:

3.  Judging America.

Brett Kavanaugh a so-called judge has united the women of America. But his accuser Dr. [Prof] Christine Blasey Ford was the real driving force...and a real hero to millions of women around the world.

Now this is truly a case for all to see of 'activism' in action. Have a look at this report and learn how the 98% are combating  the 2% that rule the US.

https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/10/04/mass-arrests-thousands-descend-senate-office-building-demanding-lawmakers-reject?cd-origin=rss&utm_term=Mass%20Arrests%20

And this from RNZ:

"It's a very scary time for young men in America when you can be guilty of something that you may not be guilty of," Mr Trump told reporters. "This is a very difficult time."
"You could be somebody that was perfect your entire life and somebody could accuse you of something - doesn't necessarily have to be a woman - but somebody could accuse you of something and you're automatically guilty."

The president repeatedly said in response to questions about his top court pick that he was waiting to see what would come out of the FBI investigation and did not want to "interrupt" anything.

It's nearly impossible to argue Mr Trump is referring to a genuine fear with his comments. Simply put, false accusations of sexual assault are rare - only 2 to 10 percent of sexual assault reports in the US are found to be false, and it is equally rare that false accusations lead to convictions.
According to the National Registry of Exoneration's in the US, there are only 52 cases where men convicted of sexual assault were exonerated because it turned out they were falsely accused. 
Meanwhile, it's estimated 1 in 6 American women will experience rape or attempted rape in their lifetime. Welcome to the scary party, young men - it might be a scary time for you now but, as someone on Twitter said, it's been a scary millennium for women". RNZ quote ends.

Hence my admiration for those women who speak out, regardless of ones point of view, and as I said before courage comes in many forms, but exposing ones past sexual history must be high on the list. I can only speak as a man, because I am a man, but I truly feel we need to accept responsibility as a gender for our learned behaviour...as our PM said 'Me Too' should become should become 'We too' I would only add that the WE must include the male gender. 

That's it for this week, I hope you are all well and that the sun will shine on you this weekend. Below a film not to miss...

The Man Who Saved the World is a 2014 Danish documentary film by Peter Anthony which tells the gripping true story about Stanislav Petrov, a former lieutenant colonel of the Soviet Air Defence Forces and his role in preventing the 1983 Soviet nuclear false alarm incident from leading to nuclear holocaust. On 26 September 1983, Petrov was duty officer when the computers in the Serpukhov-15 bunker outside Moscow, which housed the command centre of the Soviet early warning satellite system, twice reported that U.S. intercontinental ballistic missiles were heading toward the Soviet Union. 

Come along to the GLOBE on SUNDAY the 14th October 2018 at 2.30, its free, but you may like to make a donation...