The Riverman Reports - Inc. Huttz World

Monday, May 25, 2009

IS THE US UNDER OBAMA RETURNING TO EXPORT SUBSIDIES...

Is the US under Obama returning to outdated export protection subsidies...

First published at Qassia:

During the the 1980's and 90's the New Zealand economy underwent many fundamental changes during the changeover to market economics. Part of the process was the gradual reduction and eventual abolition of tariffs and export subsidies. This created much stress and economic hardship for New Zealanders. But the realisation that this was a process all economies were undergoing in the pursuit of a level economic playing field made the exercise more palliative.

But the announcement that the European Union and the United States were allegedly involving themselves in what could be termed another 'trade war' wasn't received too well by the New Zealand Government who fear NZ could become caught in a crossfire between the two economic superpowers, and could destroy hard earned progress in international trade talks, and put Kiwis standard of living at risk.

The NZ Trade Minister,Tim Groser, went close to slating the US for adopting new export subsidies for exporting dairy farmers, something described as the "most hated of all trade policy instruments".

The US move is a 'tit for tat' response to the EU action in January, a rather juvenile act in the 21st century one would suggest.

Mr Groser said the US action effectively destroyed the immensely difficult exercise of getting the commitment to eliminate export subsidies as part of the World Trade Organisation's Doha trade talks, begun in 2001. "The US and EU have gone back to sucking on that particular teat again". he said.

The US Dairy Export Incentive Program will pay exporters cash bonuses, enabling them to sell at lower prices to be more competitive. A return to the future, one could well say!

New Zealand, a nation of only 4.3 million people earns more than $6.3 billion in dairy exports annually, and were vulnerable to price levels and the potential damage if the situation escalated. The damage would not only affect NZ farmers, but the country as a whole - New Zealand's standard of living could deteriorate. It is potentially an extremely difficult situation. This would not be a positive signal to the rest of the world during the most severe economic contraction since the 1930's. Trade protection and retaliation is considered as being part of the Ark. Hopefully commonsense will prevail in both the US and EU.

Not a great signal from President Obama and the US Government at a time it seeks increased military support for its Afghanistan campaign against the Taleban?

Saturday, May 23, 2009

THERE ARE 120 MILLION LIVING DESCENDANTS OF SCOTTISH HIGHLANDERS LIVING AROUND THE GLOBE TODAY - SO MANY STORIES WAITING TO BE TOLD...

There are reportedly 120 million descendants of Scottish Highlanders living around the globe today - so many stories waiting to be told. While I'm predominabtly Scandinavian myself - my father's ancestors emigrated to New Zealand in 1873 from the Baltic Sea island of Gotland in Sweden, my mother's father was of Scots/Irish descent through Australia.

So I did a bit of 'googling research' to find just what relationships my Clark family had with the Scottish Highlanders(the same family as the recent prime minister of New Zealand, Helen Clark 1999-2008). I discovered we are septs or family related to both the Cameron and Macpherson clans; both clans ironically fought against each other at one stage in their history.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/clan_macpherson

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/clan_cameron

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/sept_(social)

If you are also descendants of Scottish Highlanders and would also like to learn about your ancestors:Read

Monday, May 18, 2009

COINCIDENCE, HAPPENSTANCE AND A BLINKING MIRACLE...

My grandson's disappearance on Sunday and reappearance this morning suggests too many coincidences.

There is absolutely no comparison to how I felt at 6 am and 7-15 am this morning.

At 6 am I felt deeply concerned and beginning to think of the worst possible scenario in relation to my grandson's disappearance. I'm not a deeply religious person, but I don't discount the power of prayer either. I believe a number of prayers were made across the Pacific Ocean to seek a higher power to bring Kellie home to us.

Do you believe in coincidences? How many can possibly go together? Once is a coincidence, twice is a happenstance and thrice is a blinking miracle!

What made Kellie's grandmother's niece's husband decide to go to work this morning after making a decision not to earlier? He became the right person at the right time to drive through that particular roundabout just after 7 am this morning. As he drove through young Kellie was walking through in the other direction. Coincidence? Kellie had apparently been walking back from Wellington City about ten miles away at that time of the morning. Coincidence?

We had all believed that Kellie had gone bush on Sunday afternoon, and was in the eastern hills above Taita, Lower Hutt. Kellie had actually gone into Wellington City on his own for the first time on Sunday and spent the next night and day there, returning to the Hutt Valley early this morning. We don't know who he met or saw there. He had some money and probably bought something to eat and some Coca Cola, his favourite, to drink. He had also been under cover from the elements somewhere - his clothing was dry but his shoes damp from walking beside the rail line. Another coincidence?

At 7-15 am this more I was a much happier man and grandfather after learning he was on his way home in a police patrol car. The local daily newspaper, the Dominion Post, who will be writing a story about Kellie's disappearance and reappearance tomorrow, sent a camera-man to take a few shots for tomorrow's issue. Lance, the niece's husband is the hero of the hour and was photographed with Kellie and his grandmother. Grandfather stayed in the background because getting photographed for newspapers is not his scene.

Coincidence, happenstance and a blinking miracle

Thursday, May 14, 2009

PALM OIL ACTION IN FINLAND - ANOTHER GREENPEACE PROTEST...

Before most of us even had our first cup of coffee this morning, 32 activists from Finland and Sweden were up and taking action at a palm oil diesel refinery in Porvoo, Finland. Neste Oil, an oil refining company that is largely owned by the Finnish government, has plans to rapidly expand over the next three years - to become the world’s largest consumer of palm oil.
Palm oil production is the leading cause of deforestation in Southeast Asia. Rainforests and peatlands are cleared and burned to make way for palm oil plantations releasing huge amounts of carbon dioxiode. This destructive practice is the leading reason why Indonesia is now the third largest greenhouse gas emitter in the world. If that doesn’t sound bad enough we can also blame this rampant deforestation for pushing species like the orang-utan and the Sumatran tiger to the brink of extinction.

The activists will be at the plant as long as they can demanding that Neste Oil stop contributing to forest destruction that is contributing to climate change. Do your part and join them in the action. Send a letter to Neste Oil and ask them to stop using palm oil in NExBTL diesel and to instead find a sustainable raw material before putting their planned NExBTL refineries into operation.

Neste Oil uses palm oil as the main component of the NExBTL-diesel and markets it as an environmentally-friendly alternative to fossil fuels. This ‘green’ marketing contradicts the warnings that climate scientists issued last year that palm oil grown on deforested land is many times more damaging to the climate than conventional fuels.

Update:

All 32 activists at a palm oil diesel refinery in Porvoo, Finland have been arrested by police. 6 of the activists have already ben released and we are waiting for the release of the remaining activists.

Do your part. Join these brave activists and take action - Send a letter to Neste Oil and ask them to stop using palm oil in NExBTL diesel and to instead find a sustainable raw material before putting their planned NExBTL refineries into operation.

Greenpeace protest

Wednesday, May 06, 2009

FIGHTING THE VIRUS - THE CASE FOR CERVICAL CANCER PROTECTION...

Fighting the virus - the case for cervical cancer protection...

Fighting the virus - the case for cervical cancer protection. Let me state from the outset that this is a subject that I, personally, know little about. But this has been the subject of both the printed media, radio talk back and television in recent days.

Dozens of New Zealand schools have decided to opt out of the government’s mass immunisation program to protect girls against cervical cancer. There has been considerable comment on both sides of the argument.

Girls as young as 12 years old started receiving vaccinations at their schools in Feb 2009. However, there has been 50 adverse reactions reported so far this year, with ten reports of fainting and one of an allergic reaction.

The previous Labour-led Government had qualified the value of its program by claiming the future death rate of cervical cancer would be halved in future decades by the use of the $177 million program over five years to provide free immunisations.

Each year there are 180 diagnoses of cervical cancer and about 60 women die from it. I wonder how this compares with Australian, British and North American diagnoses?

The Health Ministry’s chief adviser for population health, had confirmed 78 schools had declined to participate further in the program.

The program has been controversial from the beginning, with morals campaigners objecting to the vaccinations of girls against a cancer caused only by sexual activity.

The Womens Health Action group claimed the program was introduced too quickly and had asked for an urgent review.

The Privacy Commissioner had said her office had been working with the Health Ministry and the School Trustees Association to check on complaints about personal information contained in rolls being released. This should help to discover the faults in the first immunisation and how it could be managed better.

I wonder if Australia, Britain and North America have similar immunisation programs?

Just what is Cervical Cancer and how is the virus being fought?

1/ Cervical cancer is caused by the human papilloma virus. Some strains of HPV lead to cervical cancer.

2/ The HPV infection that causes cervical cancer is spread through sexual contact.

3/ The Gardasil vaccine protects against two HPV types that cause most cervical cancers and genital warts - provided a person is not infected already.

4/ An immunisation program began in September, offered to women born in 1990 and 1991, and younger school leavers.

5/ Women still need to have cervical smear tests.

6/ The school - based vaccination program begun this year is available to girls in years 8 to 13,

7/ The vaccine is most effective when given to girls who have never been sexually active.

I hope this has proven useful to understand why an immunisation program was thought necessary in New Zealand. How does it compare to other overseas programs?

Read today

Sunday, May 03, 2009

DON'T CRY FOR ME FIJI - THEN THERE WILL BE THE FINAL COUP...

From health to the health of a nation. A tragedy or the tragic opera that is Fiji?

Back in the 1980’s advertising brochures proclaimed, ”Fiji the way the world should be.” Yeah right!

Two Rabuka coups, a George Speight rebellion and the Commodore Bainimarama military takeover, delayed briefly by a rugby match between the Army and the Police, won by the Army naturally. Who needs enemies when you have such friends back home?

Despite last minute attempts by Fijian military dictator, Commodore Bainimarama to meet the leaders of Australia and New Zealand and negotiate a change of mind over sanctions against Fiji, Fiji has been kicked out, officially suspended from the Pacific Islands Forum, and possibly from the Commonwealth later in the year.

Bainimarama claims elections can’t be restored for another five years, but this a load of codswallop;the constitution can be amended at another date. He claims to be the hero of multiracialism in Fiji, but is just another dirty little dictator like Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe who dictated his country from being the bread-basket of Africa to becoming the basket-case of all time!

There are absolutely no democracy or civil rights in Fiji, the constitution has been tossed into a garbage can, judges have been sacked, the local media has been dictated to and controlled by the army, and foreign media and diplomats detained and kicked out of Fiji. Some Fijians have lost there lives, and others are missing.

Much foreign aid has already been suspended by Australia, NZ, Britain and the European Union. Fijian army peacekeepers may also be suspended from new contracts by the United Nations, and as a consequence much of Fiji’s economy will be affected with the loss of the soldiers income. With unemployed troops drifting around unemployed in the capital of Suva, Bainimarama’s regime could well have some substantial opposition. Fijians are pretty effective soldiers - good peacekeepers!

Then there may be the final coup for Fiji. Don’t cry for me Fiji!

The Bainimarama regime’s future is already in doubt - the clock is ticking!

Compliments of: Huttriverofnz.today.com

Sunday, April 26, 2009

SWINE FEVER ARRIVES IN NEW ZEALAND - HEALTH MINISTRY CLOSELY MONITORING WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION UPDATES...

The New Zealand Ministry of Health is closely monitoring updates from the World Health Organisation (WHO) on the recent fatal outbreak of Swine Influenza in Mexico, and non-fatal cases in the western United States.

A strain of Swine Influenza - "H1H1 Swine Influenza" - is the suspected killer of 80 people in Mexico, where authorities have closed schools, museums, libraries and theatres in the capital, Mexico City in an attempt to contain the outbreak of the disease that is raising concerns worldwide now.

This worrisome new virus - which combines genetic material from pigs, birds and humans in a way not seen before by researchers - has infected at least eight or more people in Texas and California at the time of writing, although no deaths have been reported in the US.

Back in New Zealand normal border control procedures are in place and will be continued, the Ministry Of Health stated yesterday. They are in regular control with the WHO, and will continue to act appropiately in accordance with their advice.

A group of secondary school students and their teachers from Rangitoto College have just arrived back in NZ from a recent trip to Mexico, and twenty five are in quarentine with ten displaying symptoms of the influenza. None of the affected patients are considered seriously ill; in fact they may well be recovering. Three other school groups who visited Mexico have been warned to watch out for symptoms of the flu. The Health authorities will continue to monitor their progress after sending their tests to the WHO.

WHAT IS SWINE FLU? Swine flu is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus. The H1N1 swine flu viruses are genetically very different from human flu viruses, so vaccines for human seasonal flu would not provide protection.
SYMPTOMS: Fever, lethargy, poor appetite, coughing, runny nose, sore throat,nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. The current strain is being spread by human to human contact through coughing and sneezing or from touching contaminated surfaces. You cannot get it from eating pork.

Friday, April 24, 2009

NEW ZEALAND ANZAC DAY DAWN SERVICES WELL ATTENDED...

April 25 2009:

New Zealand Anzac Day dawn services well-attended:

Thousands turn out for Anzac Day services; wet and windy at War Memorial Museum Auckland, fine in Wellington at Cenotaph.

Dawn services are underway throughout the country.

In Auckland, thousands of people have gathered at the War Memorial Museum on a wet and windy morning.

At the National Cenotaph in Wellington, it is a fine morning. Prime Minister John Key and other dignitaries are at the service.

In Christchurch, Dean Peter Beck is impressed by what he says is an ever-growing young crowd attending Anzac Day commemorations. Two services are being held in Cathedral Square. Nineteen services will be held in the region including at Akaroa, Diamond Harbour and Papanui.

Dean Beck says the number of people braving the dawn parade has been growing year by year.

"And it gets younger every year too. It's an extraordinary service really. Very, very moving indeed. But the real statement in that about a commitment of our people for a vision of the world of peace with justice."

Acknowledgements:
© 2009 NZCity, NewsTalk

Read here

Monday, April 20, 2009

THE STRANGER - A STORY FOR YOU ALL...

Just picked up a little story this morning, which I would like to share with you all.

"The Stranger".

A few years after I was born, my Dad met a stranger who was new to our small Texas town. From the beginning, Dad was fascinated with this enchanting newcomer and soon invited him to live with our family. The stranger was quickly accepted and was around from then on.

As I grew up, I never questioned his place in my family. In my young mind, he had a special niche. My parents were complementary instructors: Mom taught me good from evil, and Dad taught me to obey. But the stranger...he was our storyteller. He would keep us spellbound for hours on end with adventures, mysteries and comedies.

If I wanted to know anything about politics, history or science, he always knew the answers about the past, understood the present and even seemed able to predict the future! He took my family to the first major league ball game. He made me laugh, and he made me cry. The stranger never stopped talking, but Dad didn't seem to mind.

Sometimes, Mom would get up quietly while the rest of us were shushing each other to listen to what he had to say, and she would go to the kitchen for peace and quiet. (I wonder now if she ever prayed for the stranger to leave.)

Dad ruled our household with certain moral convictions, but the stranger never felt obligated to honor them. Profanity, for example, was not allowed in our home... Not from us, our friends or any visitors. Our longtime visitor, however, got away with four-letter words that burned my ears and made my dad squirm and my mother blush. My Dad didn't permit the liberal use of alcohol. But the stranger encouraged us to try it on a regular basis. He made cigarettes look cool, cigars manly and pipes distinguished.

He talked freely (much too freely!) about sex. His comments were sometimes blatant, sometimes suggestive, and generally embarrassing.

I now know that my early concepts about relationships were influenced strongly by the stranger. Time after time, he opposed the values of my parents, yet he was seldom rebuked... And NEVER asked to leave.

More than fifty years have passed since the stranger moved in with our family. He has blended right in and is not nearly as fascinating as he was at first. Still, if you could walk into my parents' den today, you would still find him sitting over in his corner, waiting for someone to listen to him talk and watch him draw his pictures.

His name?.... .. .

We just call him 'TV.'

(Note: This should be required reading for every household)

His wife is called Computer;

Their first child is named Cellphone.

Acknowledgements to Elaine Winchester:

The secret life of the television set

Sunday, April 19, 2009

ANZAC DAY, APRIL 25, IS ONE OF AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND'S MOST IMPORTANT ANNIVERSARIES - IT COMMEMORATES THE LANDING AT ANZAC COVE AS PART OF THE GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN...

First published at Qassia:

The Gallipoli campaign in World War One was part of the wider invasion of the Dardenelles by British and Empire troops against the Ottoman Turkish Empire to eventually capture Istanbul. For the troops from Australia and New Zealand in the "ANZAC" force, it was a form of baptism under fire and made an indelible impression on the psyche of Australians and New Zealanders for nearly a century later.

But first there was important business in Cairo to deal with: "THE BATTLE OF WAZZA"

The Battle of Wazza in Cairo in 1915 - and sex had a lot to do with it...

In 1915 the Anzac troops were training and resting in Egypt before moving towards the Dardenelles in Turkey and a date with destiny in Gallipoli and World War One history. These were mostly young men, some no more than boys, from the bush, towns and the cities in every state of Australia; and their New Zealand cousins over the Tasman Sea from the North Cape to the Bluff, the North, the South and Stewart Islands, from the countryside, the bush, the towns and the cities, Pakeha and Maori alike, even a few from Cook and Niue Islands as well. These were the Anzacs - the Australia New Zealand Army Corps. And history would, indeed, record and remember their deeds in coming months.

This is one of their stories: The Battle of Wazza.

The Anzacs had been stationed in Cairo in 1915 for a number of weeks leading up to the Gallipoli campaign. Suddenly one hot and dusty day they turned on some of their hosts, and rioted in one of Cairo's most notorious streets on which several handred Anzac troops set fire to brothels while hundreds of other troops looked on. In fact it has been recorded that over 3,000 Anzac troops rioted for three days throughout Cairo's red-light district burning and trashing dozens of these houses of ill-fame.

The actioned was allegedly precipitated by claims that alcohol supplies had been urinated in to make them go further. The difficulties in getting treatment for veneral disease probably didn't help the situation as well. Many troops had been left isolated from their comrades for days at a time in special compounds during this period.

An enquiry made later allegedly revealed that Kiwi troops were more heavily involved than their Aussie cousins. Perhaps it was the beginning of a century when New Zealanders were in the forefront of many campaigns involving social justice in a variety of theatres of action.

This riot, and the actual reasons which precipitated it, resulted in a New Zealand woman, Ettie Rout, setting up a social and sexual support service in Paris for Anzac soldiers on leave from the Western Front. She advocated the supply of condoms and antiseptic ointments to the troops, and the setting up of a safe sex brothel. She would be considered a 'saint' by the troops and the wickedest woman in Britain by a British Bishop. But this is another story for another time.

The Gallipoli Campaign

Saturday, April 11, 2009

WHAT WILL THE FUTURE BRING TO US ALL...

I have my political niched blog and another group of various niched blogs to sort out my musings and opinions into some order. But what of the future for us all in these days of change?

What will these economically disturbed times result in for us in western society? Will there be changes of the magnitude of those of the post- depression years? Will economic changes force social changes onto us by devious politicians seeking a short-cut in implementing their own ideological platforms, and in the process compromising the democratic process.

There have been a variety of political changes before and after the economic downturn. A swing to the left in Australia in late 2007 is bemoaned as a slide to economic ruin by the remnants of the right, a swing to the right in New Zealand in late 2008, and to the left in America also last year, but not implemented until early 2009. Britain has had a change in leadership but has retained the same party for a number of years. France has swung to the right while there have been similar changes in other European states as well in recent years. And in Fiji a swing to Zimbabwe type political insanity!

Already there have been criticisms that America under Barack Obama is becoming socialist, but I have suggested that those who make such claims wouldn't know socialism if they fell over it. We have had nine years of democratic socialism in New Zealand, but our economic system is still market driven - since the so-called reforms of the late 1980's and the 1990's when privatisation was so, so popular here!

There are no immediate signs of a change to that era early in the term of the John Key led National Party -led rightwing government, but there are signs that changes could occur if the government feels so secure another term of government appears inevitable. The recent retirements of the Labour Party's leadership of 15 years - six in opposition and nine in government, Helen Clark and Michael Cullen - received cross-party support for Helen's appointment to the United Nations, and Michael's appointment as deputy of NZ Post. And a weakened and inexperienced front bench opposes the new rightwing administration here.

So what will the future hold for us all? Just hold our collective breath, and let it out slowly, because things may not be too bad? What will our neighbours and close friends, Australia, do in the short term? Some Aussies are apprehensive of changes promoted there as well. The future for all of us is in the lap of the gods, or in one particular God?

Friday, April 03, 2009

BIG BROTHER IS LIVE AND WELL, AND TRAWLING SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES...

Big Brother is alive and well, and trawling social network sites...

I was just reading a weekend paper here in Wellington, New Zealand, where an article reveals how "Big Brother" is alive and kicking and trawling social network sites to gain possible information on their members.

The article discussed how NZ government departments are trawling these sites for information that can be used against people on social welfare benefits for fraud purposes. One woman had been caught, redhanded you might say, because she admitted a relationship on the social networking site, and the department took a fraud case against her.

Even employers are in on the act looking for information to use against employees: In one case an employee was caught bragging on the site that he was taking a "sickie" from work because he still had a massive hangover.

If this is happening in a little country like NZ, just imagine on what scale it is being used in larger countries like Australia, Britain or in North America and Europe?

In my opinion they are just a pathetic and despicable bunch of Sebastians!

read here

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

NOT SMITHY'S PLANE'S FINAL RESTING PLACE - NZ WRITER DISPUTES AUSSIE FILMMAKER'S CLAIM THAT SIR CHARLES KINGSFORD SMITH'S PLANE WAS FOUND OFF BURMESE COAST...

First published at Qassia:

A New Zealand writer has disputed and scorned the claims of a Sydney, Australia, filmmaker that he had found the final resting place of legendary and iconic Australian aviator, Sir Charles Kingsford Smith's plane, the Lady Southern Cross..

Sir Charles, or Smithy as Aussies love to call him,was the first pilot to fly the Tasman Sea in both directions in 1928. Seven years later he and his co-pilot Tommy Pethybridge disappeared off the face of the earth while attempting to break the record for a flight between England and Australia in the historic aeroplane, Lady Southern Cross.

Now 75 years later the Australian filmmaker,Damien Lay claimed he had solved Australia's last great mystery by allegedly locating the wreckage of the plane off the coast of Burma.

America has frontiersmen Daniel Boone and Davey Crockett, New Zealand the legendary conquerer of Mount Everest, Sir Edmund Hillary, and Australia has Sir Charles Kingsford Smith as its legendary icon, loved and applauded by generations of Australians.

"One of Australia's oldest mystery's and greatest legends. The war hero and adventurer, the world record attempt, and the sudden disappearance, and a number of small clues, hinting and whispering of their tragic end." (Justin Vallejo, March 21, 2009.)

He reportedly said that he had found the wreckage under 20 metres of water and mud off remote Aye Island, off the Burmese coast in the Bay of Bengal, after a five day search involving 63 dives and sonar tracking. But is it actually the Lady Southern Cross?

Not so says New Zealand writer,Ian Mackersey, author of SMITHY: THE LIFE OF SIR KINGSFORD SMITH, who dismissed Mr Lay's claim as outright nonsense.

Mr Mackersey apparentlt quoted two aircraft experts from Australian Defence Ministry Aeronautical Research Laboratory who,in 1992, concluded:" The two occupants bodies would have quite quickly disappeared without trace and so, in those tropical waters, would all the wooden components - followed eventually by the light alloy section which would include quite a bit of the engine."

"All that would remain somewhere probably spread across two hundred yards of the ocean floor, will be the few steel bits of the engine."

Ian Mackersey concluded:"There is no way that the object on the seabed can be Smithy's aeroplane. Alas, the discovery claim is nonsense."

So much for the claim at this point in time. Mr Lay would have to come up with his own expert witnesses to refute Mackersey's denial. We await with interest,further claims resulting from the alleged discovery?

Further news

.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

CHINA PUNISHES MORE SENIOR OFFICIALS OVER THE 2008 MELAMINE SCANDAL...

China punishes more senior officials over the 2008 melamine dairy scandal...

First published at Qassia:

China punishes more officials over the recent melamine dairy scandal.
China's Communist Party has punished more senior government officials for their part in the melamine tainted baby milk powder scandal last year which killed six infants and made another 360,000 severely ill - many with kidney disease.

The New Zealand giant dairy Fonterra was implicated through its Chinese joint venture partner, Sanlu. No New Zealand milk was ever sold to Chinese customers; Sanlu using only Chinese milk powder.

The scandal forced the head of the Chinese quality watchdog group to resign, and the courts sentenced two men to death for the production of melamine contaminants and supplying Chinese companies with the toxic milk.

The Xinhua news agency reportedly stated the Communist Party's disciplinary body had removed Wang Bubu, chief of the law enforcement and supervision department at China's quality watchdog, from all of his official and party positions.

It was also reported that the deputy chief of food circulation at the State Administration for Industry and Commerce(unnamed)was also dismissed from his position, and also six others, from state agencies, including the State Food and Drug Administration, and the Ministries of Agriculture and Health,received penalties, including demotion and having their misdeeds publicly recorded. It was one of the biggest ever shake-ups in the Chinese administration.

The Chinese Government is still embarrassed by claims the melamine milk powder scandal was repressed until after the Beijing Olympic Games. Are the claims true? You be the judge!

Contributor's Note
The scandal continues. It cost Fonterra $250,000,000 in compensation for its implication.

Saturday, March 14, 2009

SUPERBUG USA300 COULD BE MORE VIRULENT THAN HIV, IT HAS BEEN CLAIMED BUT IS IT REALLY...

New Superbug cases in New Zealand are soaring. The antibiotic - resistant Superbug MRSA(methcillin- resistant Staphyloccus Aureus) is taking hold in New Zealand with a huge increase in such cases during the last five years - and the Government is accused of failing to alert the public and health officials to the outbreak.

In the US, especially California, it is even being considered another 'Gay disease' potentially and virulently worse than HIV because of skin contact? But it could soon just be another disease perpetuated by sexual contact between people, whether homosexual or heterosexual. More research is needed here I would suspect.

Figures recently released by the NZ Health Ministry show the number of people infected with a new USA300 strain of the Superbug has risen from an estimated 12 to 420 in 2008.

The infection first presents itself as raised dots on the skin resembling pimples or boils. If these are left untreated they can become pus - filled golf ball sized abcesses and can go on and affect bones and organs, potentially fatal. It is not yet known whether there has been any fatalities in NZ. I suspect that personal hygiene has a lot to do with the contraction of this disease, people of any gender should be washing themselves with hot water, soap and disinfectant after having casual sexual relations.

In the USA and the UK the bacteria has reached epidemic proportions, but the bulk of the increase in NZ has been in people who have contracted the disease outside of hospitals - up from 96 in 2007 to 264 in 2008.

People who live and work in close proximity to other people are particularly at risk - in offices, hostels, rest homes, schools, gyms and sports teams.

Sunday, March 08, 2009

THE CONTROVERSIAL DAVID BAIN RETRIAL HAS STARTED IN CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND...

First published at Qassia:

The retrial of one of New Zealand's most controversial mass murderers - the David Bain retrial - has commenced in the Christchurch High Court in the South Island.
David Bain was originally convicted of killing his parents and three siblings in their Dunedin family home on June 20 1994. He served twelve years of his life sentence, after appeals in New Zealand were unsuccessful.

After a successful application to the Privy Council in London, his sentence was set aside by the Court of Appeal in May 2007. He was subsequently granted a retrial.

David Bain had been found guilty of the mass murders of his entire family on June 20, 1994, in Dunedin.

Bain then a 22 year old student, claimed to have come home from his paper delivery run and found his father, Robin, lying dead. He had then rung the 111 emergency number and told them his father was dead. The police arrived to find him wailing, "that they were all dead".

They were met by a bloodbath scene of slaughter, with father Robin shot dead, with a .22 rifle lying nearby; mother Margaret, 50 years, killed by a single shot to the head; and sisters, Laniet and Arawa both dead with headwounds. It was also obvious by the murder scene that younger brother, Stephen,14 yrs, had put up a furious struggle with his blood later being found on David's clothing.

David Bain had claimed to have heard his older sister, Laniet gurgling, so would have had to been around when she died. There was evidence in the laundry that he had attempted to wash blood from his clothing; there was a lens from his spectacles in Stephen's room, with the rest of the spectacles he had been being found in his own room.

The murders had been carried out by David's own .22 rifle, from which he had the trigger lock keys, and his bloody gloves were found in Stephen's room.

The later defence evidence had claimed that father, Robin, had been the murderer because he was trying to cover up his alleged incest with daughter, Laniet. If Robin had planned a murder/ suicide why would he wear gloves?

The prosecution had claimed David Bain had used his paper run as an alibi for the mass murder of his entire family.

Evidence produced during the original trial showed the Bain family to have been a very dysfunctional family. Much was revealed about the behaviour of the entire family who had prevously been on missionary service in Papua New Guinea.

The family home in Dunedin, the murder scene, inexplicably burned down shortly after the murders. Much evidence necessary for a retrial may well have gone with it.

A number of books were written about the Bain killings. Two that I read convinced me personally of David Bain's guilt, whereas previously I still had an open mind about the mass murders.

Another book written by former All Black rugby union international, Joe Karam, claimed David Bain's innocence. I never read this book, and was not convinced by later claims of Bain's innocence. Karam, who apparently had no prior contact with David Bain or his family and believed in David's innocence, was able to build-up a support group who fought publicly over many years to clear Bain's name, and produce enough alternative evidence to eventually get the case sent to the Privy Concil in London. The Law Lords claimed some miscarriage of justice, which has allegedly been enough to get Bain the retrial that has now started in Christchurch. What that new evidence is will be revealed by the defence during this coming retrial. Personally, I haven't a clue what it might be.

This case has already cost the state millions, with millions more expected to be spent over the next three months or so. The state will never be able to claim compensation from Bain even if he is again found guilty of the mass murders of his family.

Some may claim that there is no charge for justice? I would agree, if he is actually found innocence! But until this happens I still believe David Bain to be a despicable and pathetic mass murderer who deserves to spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Allan Arthur Thomas, who spent many years here in prison for the 1970's Crewe murders, and was later pardoned and paid close to a million dollars in compensation by the Muldoon administration, is also a supporter of David Bain and claims he should receive multi-millions in compensation. Of course he is way out of line because the retrial will have to review all existing and new evidence.

We will all have to wait for the result of this retrial and may have to eat our words if he is inexplicably found not guilty!

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

CLEAN AND GREEN NEW ZEALAND WIND POWER - WIND TURBINES AND WIND FARMS...

Clean and green New Zealand wind power - wind turbines and wind farms...

First published at Qassia:

Wind power - wind turbines and wind power. What better product can be produced in our own countries, than pure, unadulterated wind energy? The answer is, of course, none!

China now, and Japan all those decades ago, could copy and produce just about anything - a variety of products, machines and mechanical tools, musical equipment, computers, motor vehicles, boats and planes, clothing and accessories - and food too!

But pure, clean and green, unadulterated New Zealand wind power can never be emulated by China or anybody else for that matter. They may create or buy a New Zealand company to generate windpower here, but it will always be "New Zealand" energy. We will always be buying New Zealand energy products.

Wind power is undoubtably the energy of the future in New Zealand, with its mountainous and hilly terrain, and its reasonable closeness to coastal areas and wind and sea currents. And the sea too, is another enegy alternative - using the power of the sea and tidal currents to generate electricity.

In New Zealand the modern wind turbines are a far cry from the old windmills associated with countries like Holland and the other low countries, in ages past. The symmetrical and clean lines of the modern wind turbines are appearing in clusters of "wind farms" up and down the country, with many applications to planning committees to create even more of these wind turbine generators.

The majority of New Zealand power is generated in our rivers by hydro electric plants, supplemented by coal fired turbines, geothermal plants, solar energy, wind turbines; and the futuristically planned tidal generators off the coast of the country.

Nuclear energy has never been considered as an option in a country that has actually had a proud and determined anti- nuclear policy for just on a quarter of a century.

What could you expect, I wonder, in another quarter of a century; urban houses with rows of solar panels and a small wind turbine or two attached to their chimneys?

In rural towns and on hundreds of farms around the country rows of solar panels and a small windfarm could be utilised to make them self sufficient in energy. Perhaps in time the bulk of our hydro electric and coal fired plants could be used for industry, schools, universities and hospitals - all of which could have some form of alternative energy generators as well.

Wherever, and however, this energy will be clean and green, pure unadulterated New Zealand energy that cannot be emulated anywhere else on the globe. We will buy New Zealand without a doubt!

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

GERONIMO IS TO BE HONOURED BY US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES...

"Geronimo" is to be honoured by the US House of Representatives.

Americans will probably appreciate this story more than I.

The legendary Apache chief, Geronimo, so well known and depicted in dozens of western films for over a half century or more, is to be honoured for his bravery through a voice vote in the US House of Representatives, 100 years after his death.

The non-binding resolution honours his life, "his extraordinary bravery, and his commitment to the defence of his homeland, his people , and Apache way of life."

Geronimo - known as Goyathlay in the language of his Chiricahua Apache - died in 1909 at nearly 90 years of age, at Fort Still in Oklahoma. He had been held as a prisoner of war for twenty years despite the understanding he would be allowed to return to his people.

This is a wonderful gesture from the US House Of Representatives for a warrior chief of the then Apache Nation, and now recognised as a great American.

I believe that the name "Geronimo" was actually a war-cry of the American paratroopers as they parachuted out of their planes into battle. This has been confirmed by a reader of this story.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

FONTERRA PUSHING THEIR LUCK A BIT...

First published at Qassia:

Fonterra pushing their luck a bit...

Fonterra is New Zealand's largest company and in the top six dairy companies in the world. It is no small fry in the wider scheme of things.

While Fonterra was embarrassed by its involvement in the Chinese melamine milk scandal in China last year, through its involvement with a Chinese dairy company, it was not actually involved directly in exporting dairy products to Chinese companies. However Fonterra paid out about $NZ200 million in compensation. Six babies died and about 36,000 others became seriously ill through the melamine contaminated milk powder their mothers gave them. The melamine caused kidney stones in thousands of Chinese babies.

Three Chinese nationals directly responsible for adding melamine to milk products received the death penalties, and others were imprisoned for an number of years or received life sentences. Melamine is normally used in plastic products and should not have been added to food products in any form at all.

Back in New Zealand Fonterra distributes and sells dairy products on behalf of its farmer producers; probably up to 95% of all dairy farmers are Fonterra's clients. It certainly didn't help the image of New Zealand overseas as well.

During recent times the dairy industry had been booming in New Zealand, with many farmers changing from meat and wool to dairy products. But the economic tsunami now sweeping the world has harmed Fonterra and its farmer clients in no uncertain terms as well. Dairy prices are plumetting and a few farmers may now be wishing they had stayed in the meat and wool industry, rather than switching to the dairy market.

The increasing returns for farmers in export markets in recent years resulted in soaring domestic prices at the supermarkets. Many customers switched to cheaper butter alternatives such as margerine. While some prices have fallen, they are not being reflected by any increases in demand for dairy products.

Fonterra

Saturday, February 14, 2009

THE MIGHTY ALL BLACKS FROM NEW ZEALAND COULD PLAY A RUGBY TEST MATCH IN DENVER, COLORADO THIS OCTOBER,2009...

The mighty All Blacks from New Zealand could play a rugby test in Denver, Colorado...
Denver rugby officials could get an international rugby union test in their city if they get the green light.
They have been asked to put up a strong case why they should get a Bledisloe Cup test between the mighty New Zealand All Blacks and the Australian Wallabies. A precedent was set last year when one of the annual test matches between the two giants of rugby union was played at Hong Kong, and won by the All Blacks, as the two teams were on their way to the UK and Ireland for end of year test matches.

The President of the Metro Denver Sports Commission, KieAnn Brownell led a delegation to the NZRU(New Zealand Rugby Union) two weeks ago to state the city's case why the match should be played there in October this year.

One of the main concerns over the hosting of the test match in Denver, rather than Tokyo, Japan, the other option on the table,was whether enough people would attend a game in Denver, Colorado. After all, rugby union is a foreign game to most Americans, apart from those involved in supporting American teams.

But Brownell said its aim was to sell out the 76,125 seat capacity of the Invesco Field, the home of the Denver Broncos.

To achieve this the Denver rugby organisers would embark on a massive promotional campaign in the months leading up to the test. Their aim would to be to also attract fans and the curious from outside the Denver, Colorado area. The All Blacks and Wallaby players and officials would come over before the test and meet the local media.

They would do a lot of build-up work around what would be the biggest rugby match to have been played in the USA in the last 50 years. Companies from New Zealand and Australia would be invited to become involved with their trade association links.

The New Zealand All Blacks are that country's strongest iconic brand and they would use the opportunity to promote the country as well. The All Blacks were the world's biggest rugby brand as well.

New Zealand will host the next Rugby World Cup; the third biggest sporting occasion behind the Olympics and the Soccer(Football to some) World Cup.

Kieann Brownell said their aim was also to be Rugby City,USA. This game would achieve their aim because of its enormous sporting possibilities.