The Health of New Zealand

Posted August 30th 2019 to the Southland Times Newspaper Invercargill NZ

After reading the paper today it is interesting to reflect on how health has become a huge political issue in the USA with over 65 percent of the population putting on the heat for government assistance with healthcare, arguing their tax dollars are meant to be a kind of heath insurance seems to be a political no-brainer.

In NZ politically speaking the idea of maintaining the Nation’s Health is not such an urgent issue.
Yet all the indicators are that we are slipping not just in physical health but mental well being.

I don’t know about the current politicians but in the past we had the Values Party who pretty much put such things on the top of the list.

Since the 1980s when the USA encouraged us to ditch our Kiwi socialist ideals we have been overworked underpaid and exploited, now I think our
minds & bodies are paying the price... But worse yet we no longer care as much for each other as we once did and sadly overseas there is precious little hope at all in that direction.

Life on Earth can be tricky, still, on the bright side, we are not literally on fire.

The Young Turks - NZ Challenge

Posted August 9th 2019 to the Dominion Post Newspaper Wellington NZ

According to Radio NZs Te Radar our MPs are not generating much material to keep keep a healthy news cycle going compared to the news bite bonanza across the pacific in the USA. 
It can make it a hungry time for our critics and comedians .

It’s the old don’t rock the boat and be comfortable strategy at play again  but maybe there is a way to liven things up to keep our leaders in the news and the polls...

In the US one on-line news media outfit asks progressive politicians to sign a pledge that they stand for not only climate action but more importantly, justice.
This gives the political movers and shakers a united voice not only to the media but also to recruit more justice candidates.
In a NZ Context this could cross party lines as well.

Who knows National might even be up for it, after all it is known as THE YOUNG TURKS Challenge . 

Invercargill, what makes a good city?

Posted 22nd May 2019 to the Southland Times Newspaper Invercargill.

Talking about refurbishing Invercargill City... I did a check list about what makes a good city it seems well maintained and tidy buildings,
nice friendly street-scapes are important but their are a few other things you need like nice weather, Interesting shops, friendly people,
Recreational opportunities, education opportunities and first and foremost good job opportunities. I don’t know how city hall can tick all those boxes but
As long as Central Government is not helping cities much apart from the Auckland Mega City project so unless that changes it will be a hard road.

Silicon Valley Robber Barons - Booking Systems

Posted 27th December 2018 to the Mountain Scene Newspaper Queenstown NZ

I hate to point it out but NZ Tourism has been taken for a ride by Silicon Valley California which is clipping every ticket in the country so to speak, Yes every business that uses ON-LINE BOOKING is giving their hard earned money to modern day Robber Barons.

We had our own home grown Information sites that use to handle the flow of tourists but they did not keep up with technology nor did our feckless government tourism ministry  especially when it was run by our previous alleged Prime Minister.

There are some who refuse to partake in this nonsense money leeching algorithm but one has to take a hit because silicon valley has changed the nature of tourism its self to a point where the Idea of following one nose has become antiquated and human recreation its self is now controlled by some kind of destructive artificial intelligence.

But that is another story.  

Farming Algae in NZ ?

Posted 10th November 2018 to the Advocate South Newspaper Winton NZ

Southland Farmers are always on the lookout for new Ideas to improve their lot but have they thought about farming algae ?

Instead of draining swamps they could be helping reduce the need for imported fuel.. An interesting fact is Algae grows 100 times faster than land based crops it can be rendered into Jet fuel and the by-product can be used as animal feed.

Seaweed is a form of Macro Algae and has been farmed for centuries for food. The Japanese even harvest it now with underwater lawnmowers and rope forests.

Yes it is 2018 and the US Government wants everyone to burn fossil fuel like there is no tomorrow  but it pays to be one step ahead in their game because there will be no tomorrow for burning Fossil Fuel one way or another.

Also Wellington might encourage self sufficiency just in case. 

Faulty New Zealand Geology

Posted 18th May 2018 to the Otago Daily Times Newspaper Dunedin NZ

Every now and again we are reminded in the press that we are sitting on a Islands of doom when it comes to our geological
situation, begging the question how many resources should we put into preparation against our natural hazards.

As humans are gamblers by nature and risk is considered a big part of our freewill and even our evolution.
I don’t think we can factor in every mortal danger to our lives without feeling overcome with anxiety & despair.

That being said our collective government should see our geological situation as unique and treat it with respect
especially in these times when we all require constant internet, power and transport services to function.

It is not clear why we are more worried about art galleys and museums down south, when for some obscure reason
we have not built much redundancy into our service network which is already stressed with the unplanned summer tourism boom which one badly timed storm could easily turn into total mayhem. Let alone triggered earthquake faults.

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