Posts by Hilary Stace
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Not sure how many people know about global people's network AVAAZ. Campaign on injustice anywhere. Tried to post the link but got the whole message,below, about their Murdoch campiagn.
"For decades Murdoch has ruled with impunity -- making and breaking governments with his vast media empire. But we're fighting back, and winning! We played a key role in stopping Murdoch's grab for media control in the UK. Now we're taking our red-hot UK campaign global, to roll back the Murdoch menace everywhere with campaigns, investigations and legal action. Click to donate:
Hacking murdered children's phones, paying off police, destroying evidence of crimes, threatening politicians -- UK leaders say Rupert Murdoch's empire has "entered the criminal underworld". For decades, Murdoch has ruled with impunity -- making and breaking governments with his vast media holdings and scaring opponents into silence, but we're fighting back, and winning!
Through almost 1 million actions, 7 campaigns, 30,000 phone calls, investigations and countless stunts and legal tactics, we've played a lead role and stopped Murdoch from buying over 50% of UK commercial media! Now we're taking our red-hot UK campaign global, to roll back the Murdoch menace everywhere.
Here's the plan: together we can a) hire investigators to expose Murdoch's corrupt tactics beyond the UK b) organize prominent voices to break the cycle of fear and speak out on this issue and c) mobilise people in key countries behind new laws and legal actions that stop Murdoch and clean up our media for good.
Avaaz members live in every country where Murdoch works, making our movement the only one that can truly take a campaign against his global empire and win. The time is now -- If just 20,000 of us donate a small amount each, we can seize this once-in-a-generation chance. Click below to chip in:
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/stop_rupert_murdoch_donate/?vl
For weeks, nearly daily revelations have uncovered the extent of Murdoch media's corruption in the UK. His operatives hacked the phones of thousands of people, including grieving widows and soldiers who died in Iraq, stole a Prime Minister's bank information and harassed him for 10 years, paid huge sums to police officers, and Rupert's son, James Murdoch, himself authorized hush money to victims.
But this is the tip of the iceberg -- Murdoch is a global problem. He's famous for dictating editorial positions to his papers. He corrupts and controls democracies by pushing politicians to back his extremist ideas on war, torture and a host of other planetary ills, and destroying the careers of politicians with smear campaigns unless they do his bidding. In the US, he helped elect George W. Bush and has most of the Republican presidential candidates actually on his payroll (see sources below). His Fox News Network spread lies to promote the war in Iraq, pushed resentment of Muslims and immigrants and spawned the right-wing tea party. Maybe worst of all, he has helped block critical global action on climate change.
Murdoch's reign of fear is breaking down, and many are on the edge of speaking out against his tactics. The dam is about to break in the US, Australia and elsewhere, but we need to give it an urgent push by investigating Murdoch further, organising high profile opposition, and making sure that our politicians pass laws that will clean up our media for good. Let's make it happen together:
Our community kept campaigning on this issue when almost everyone else in the UK gave up hope. Because we're people-powered, we don't have the same fear of Murdoch that almost everyone else does. It's part of the promise that people power has for change in the world. Today, hope is breaking out in the UK -- let's take it global.
With determination,
Ricken, Emma, Maria Paz, Giulia, Luis, Alice, Brianna and the rest of the Avaaz team
SOURCES:
Decision on BSkyB takeover could take weeks after surge in online campaigning (Huffington Post)
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2011/07/07/decision-on-bskyb-takeove_n_892244.htmlBSkyB bid final clearance unlikely to be given before September (The Guardian)
Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt will take 'several weeks' to review 100,000-plus submissions on News Corp/BSkyB takeover
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/jul/07/bskyb-bid-final-celarance-septemberMurdoch maimed by social media (The Scotsman)
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/opinion/Lesley-Riddoch-Murdoch-maimed-by.6799263.jp?articlepage=1Who is Rupert Murdoch? (Center for American Progress)
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2004/07/b122948.htmlThe global reach of Murdoch's News Corp (BBC)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-14104349Rebekah Brooks must go over Milly 'hacking' - Miliband (BBC)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-14027879Latest Updates on British Phone Hacking Scandal (New York Times)
http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/12/latest-updates-on-british-phone-hacking-scandal/Fox News 2012? Nearly All Potential GOP Presidential Candidates On FNC Payroll (Huffington Post)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/27/fox-news-has-nearly-all-p_n_740070.html -
From the UK Labour List blog - just another little intrigue in this case.
Tory MP gives Murdochs a helping hand
By Mark Ferguson / @markfergusonuk
Last night Labour MP Cathy Jamieson should have been elected unopposed to the DCMS Select Committee, replacing the recently deceased David Cairns ahead of today's showdown with Rebekah Brooks and the Murdochs. And yet Tory MP Nick De Bois decided to shout "object", which meant that Jamieson has yet to be elected to the committee, and won't be able to question the News International trio today.
Paul Waugh suggests that this was tit-for-tat after Labour MPs tried to keep David Laws off another committee, but it's surprisingly that the Tories are willing to play procedural politics with this issue.
Co-incidentally, Jamieson is a former Scottish justice minister, and has extensive knowledge of the Tommy Sheridan case, which (it has been alleged) may be "unsafe" thanks to hacking.
But De Bois didn't know that though...surely?
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This has been posted before but deserves another go
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When is the fall out going to reach NZ?
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Hard News: Angry and thrilled about Arie, in reply to Kracklite,
I know you don't think much of Grant, but he also supports good causes financially. He put an open bid on an item at the Autism NZ auction last month and then had to leave for another function before it came up. The item went for over $600.
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Grant
ROBERTSON
Spokesperson for HealthCarmel
SEPULONI
Spokesperson for Disability Issues
18 July 2011 MEDIA STATEMENT
Autism funding crisis needs to be addressed
A crisis in funding for people with autism and their families again raises serious questions about the priorities of the National-led government, according to Labour’s Spokesperson for Health, Grant Robertson, and the party’s Disability Issues spokesperson, Carmel Sepuloni.
The pair say news that Autism New Zealand has been forced to close its services in the Waikato, and potentially the Bay of Plenty, and cut back in other areas, should be a wake-up call to the government.
“These are essential frontline services for families who face a daily struggle. Referrals are increasing, not decreasing. It is simply wrong for the government to pull funding and leave these people to cope with no support," Grant Robertson said.
"Organisations such as Autism New Zealand do a great job in supporting families and autistic children to cope and achieve their potential. While they know that the overall economic situation is tight, it is simply impossible for them to continue to absorb the funding cuts of the last couple of years," said Carmel Sepuloni.
"Government support for education programmes and respite care is an investment in the future well-being of people with autism and their families and carers. Surely it should have a higher priority than giving tax cuts to the top earners, or money to Warner Brothers for publicity?
“The cases of Janine Albury-Thomson, and more recently that of Arie Smith-Voorkamp in Christchurch, highlight the need for greater awareness of how we help the 40,000 New Zealanders living with autism. As a country we can never let ignorance of autism cause similar situations to occur again,” Grant Robertson said.
"Reviewing the definition of disability that dictates the eligibility for government support – which currently excludes people with autism -would go part way to resolving the situation,” Grant Robertson said.Contact: Grant Robertson 021 2709023; Carmel Sepuloni 021 2727635
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Cracker: Another Capital Idea..., in reply to BenWilson,
In 1975, entranced by Muldoon and his whiteboard presentation, the people voted out compulsory superannuation. Retrospectively, that was a really stupid economic thing to do, and three decades later we have to tackle it again. People trusted Muldoon then just as people trust that nice Mr Key now. Logic doesn't really come into it (except on this forum).
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Cracker: Another Capital Idea..., in reply to giovanni tiso,
At least you and me agree on many things, Giovanni. That's nice. (I should remember to proof read before posting.) Craig and I might even agree, on rare occasions.
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Cracker: Another Capital Idea..., in reply to Damian Christie,
Damian, that's not how I read your post, and I certainly don't care about beer (Asahi or otherwise). So won't argue the point any more. But in our NZ political tradition of self interest, a $5000 tax free threshold would make an big difference to me, and I think selling off more of our productive assets to overseas interests will mean higher future electricity prices for me and my family and increased private debt for future generations. So I like this CGT policy and would have liked it if more NZers had seen the positive implications. But I am used people not thinking like me.
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Hard News: Angry and thrilled about Arie, in reply to W K,
Michael will probably tell you himself. You need to go to the Facebook Page Justice for Arie Smith-Voorkamp, ask to join and then ask. There are many people contributing to that page who have pieces of the puzzle, including Michael and Arie, their family,friends and other supporters.