Filed under: Journalism, New Zealand Election 08, Politics, religion | Tags: Abuse, Anti-smacking, Bob McCoskrie, Children, Christian Fundamentalism, Christianity, Crimes Act, Family First, Family Values, Green Party, Investigate, Law, Lobby Groups, Market Research, New Zealand, New Zealanders, Parents, Politician, Politics, Reasearch, Referendum, Section 59, Smack, Spin, Statistics, Stats, Sue Bradford, Survey, Violence
Statistics are great! If you’ve got an opinion, how better than to back up your point of view with some supportive numbers. Statistics give you credibility. I often use some numbers to back up one of my many online rants on this here blog you are reading. It often goes like, “here’s what I think and here’s the numbers that prove my point. Now you cannot disagree with me. I win and you lose! Back to the drawing board, you …(add insult here.)
However, sometimes statistics can be less than conclusive. And sometimes both sides of an argument can claim a stat supports either side’s point. This is what happened when the Christian lobby group Family First commissioned a survey into Sue Bradford’s repealing of section 59 of the Crimes Act (or what is lazily, but more simply, referred to as the “Anti-Smacking” Law) (more…)
Filed under: History, New Zealand Election 08, Politics | Tags: ACT, democracy, Election 08, First past the post, Green Party, Helen Clark, John Key, Labour, MMP, National, New Zealand, New Zealand First, NZ, Plato, Political, Politics, Referendum, Representation, Robert Muldoon, Tyranny of the Majority, Winston Peters
Alright, a little sensationalist, but, in my opinion, those who would have New Zealand revert back to first past the post from MMP are advocating a move away from democracy.
I’ve already covered this issue in a previous blog, however a recent poll has me concerned, as does John Key’s promise for a referendum on the issue if National are elected. So let me again outline why MMP is superior to FPP, which, in my humble opinion, can hardly be referred to as a form of democracy. (more…)
Filed under: Journalism, New Zealand Election 08, Politics | Tags: 2008, Budget, Budget 2008, Business, democracy, Don Brash, Economics, Elections, government, Helen Clark, Ideas, John Campbell, John Key, Labour, Michael Cullen, National, New Zealand, NZ, Party, Policy, Politics, Tax, Tax cuts, Tax relief
Ah, budget day! The day the country waits, in anxious anticipation, with sweaty palms and racing heartbeats, hoping, wishing and/or praying to be delivered a tax cut by Dr Michael Cullen with his sack full of money. Alas, like Christmas, today he delivered the present that every adult had asked for on the wish list, and everyone rejoiced. Well not everyone. The National Party expectedly rubbished the budget, promising to deliver a greater “tax relief” package for voters. Was anyone surprised? Politics can be all too predictable!
I’m not really interested so much in the budget, but in the reactions and how it fits into the whole scheme of things for our election later this year.
I won’t pretend to understand economics, so will not be discussing the pros and cons of tax cuts nor the details of todays budget. I will instead look at the politics surrounding this momentous day. I will look at one issue that has led to me being more disillusioned with politics and political reporting: parties campaigning on vague, broad (and therefore meaningless) ideas, instead of detailed and disclosed policy. (more…)
Filed under: Music, Philosophy, Quotes, religion | Tags: atheism, Atheist, bad religion, Belief, Bible, Brett Gurewitz, Christian, Christianity, Dark Ages, Evangelical, Evolution, Evolutionary Biology, Faith, Greg Graffin, Inquisition, Lyrics, Materialist, Music, Pascal's wager, Philosophy, religion
Every week I like to post quotes I have come across that I find thought provoking or sum up my opinion on something succinctly, and with wit. Instead, for a change, I’m going to occasionally select half a dozen songs that reflect my views on some particular issue. I’m going to start with my favourite band, on a topic of interest to me.
Here is Bad Religion on faith, God and atheism.
Bad Religion, as the name might suggest, are fairly critical of religion in their songs. That is perhaps an understatement! But instead of the mindless anti-religious abuse some bands have popularised, Bad Religion’s objections are considered and reasoned. This may have something to do with the bands front man Greg Graffin having a doctorate in evolutionary biology, but even before he obtained his degree the band has made intelligent philosophical statements in their music. Song writing duties are split between vocalist Graffin and guitarist Brett Gurewitz, and both musicians are equally capable of writing thought provoking intelligent lyrics.
So perhaps in the way the religious people reaffirm their beliefs through song, Bad Religion has written the perfect hymns for non-believers. However, Greg says in the song “No direction”, “no Bad Religion song can make your life complete”. They can make you stop and think though.
I’ve decided to be quite selective and only choose half a dozen Bad Religion songs, although there are of course many more to choose from. I’ve chosen no more than one from any one album, and added my interpretation of what I feel the song conveys. Enjoy. (more…)
Filed under: Journalism | Tags: BBC, BBC News, Birds, Global Warming, Great Tits, Headline, Journalism, Sex, Tits
How important is a good headline?
The most read BBC News story yesterday and today was titled “Great tits cope well with warming“.
Okay, I admit it, I read it! Needless to say, the article was not what I expected. I assume many others felt the same. Perhaps this shows how dirty minded BBC News readers are.
As it turned out, it was a fascinating read!
Filed under: History, Journalism, Politics | Tags: Politics, China, Asia, Journalism, Britain, BBC, News, al Jazeera, Impartiality, Guardian, Associated Press, ABC, Fox, Washington Post, Qatar, Middle East, CNN, Reuters, Media, Bias, New York Times, South Africa, Mail and Guardian, Africa, New Zealand Herald, Newspapers, Australia, Journalist, America, United States of America, CBS, MSNBC, Cyclone Nargis, Burma, Myanmar, Rangoon, Yangon, UN, United Nations, United Kingdom, Canada, Networks, Websites, Independent, Telegraph, Express, Times, Sky News, Europe, Der Spiegel, Bild, France24, Le Monde, La Repubblica, La Stampa, El Pais, El Mundo, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, USA Today, Washington Times, Newsweek, Time, National Post, The Star, Toronto Sun, Vancouver Sun, Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian, West Australian, National Nine News, 7 News, Faifax, One News, 3 News, Asian, Dubai, Al Arabiya, Israel, Jerusalem Post, Independent Newspapers, The Times, South America, Argentina, Buenos Aires Herald, Brazil, Folha, Venezuela, El Nacional, Xinhua, Poeple's Daily, Japan, Japan Times, Hong Kong, South China Morning Post, Korea Herald, South Korea, Indonesia, Jakarta Post, Chosun Ilbo, Times of India, India, Calcutta Telegraph, New India Times, Aung Sin Suu Kyi
The recent devastation caused by Cyclone Nargis has displaced perhaps over a million and killed tens of thousands. The initial storm flattened villages and sent a tsunami wave crashing over low-lying coastal areas. Waterborne diseases now pose a further threat to those affected. The military dictatorship has hindered relief efforts from across the world, as agencies struggle to get the aid in to the country that is desperately needed.
When will the people of Burma get the assistance they so badly need? Or will the government of Myanmar continue to hinder relief efforts? (more…)
Filed under: Philosophy, Science, religion | Tags: Altruism, atheism, Atheist, Biology, Charles Darwin, Christian, Christianity, ethics, Evolution, God, Group Selection, Herbert Spencer, Kin Selection, morality, Philosophy, Reciprocal Altruism, religion, Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Selfish Gene
To complement my Monopoly of morality post, this post looks at where atheists get their morals. That post argued that atheists are as ethical as theists and therefore Christianity’s claim to all things moral is unsubstantiated. That argument was brief, and could certainly be added to. This post will look at how evolution is said to have provided us with the morals that we value.
For atheists to justify themselves, it almost takes more than a “but it says so in the bible” style argument. Hence in blog debates, atheist comments tend to be longer and cite more sources, than their Christian counterparts. That is why I’m taking this rant to my blog, instead of posting it as a comment to a debate I’m currently engaged in. (more…)
Filed under: Journalism, Politics | Tags: Afghanistan, al Jazeera, al-Haramain, America, Anti-Americanism, Baghdad, Bosnia, Chechnya, Christianity, Cuba, democracy, Detention, Freedom, Geneva Conventions, George W Bush, Guantanamo Bay, Human Rights, Hunger Strike, Hypocrit, Injustice, International Law, Iraq, Islam, Journalism, Journalist, Justice, Khartoum, Liberty, Military, Osama bin Laden, Pakistan, Palestine Hotel, Qatar, Sami Al-hajj, September 11, Sudan, Superpower, Terrorism, Terrorist, United States, United States of America, US Constitution, War on Terror
Sami al-Hajj’s release from Guantanamo Bay throws the controversial detention centre back into the spotlight. Sami’s plight was common, but also exceptional. Here we have an al Jazeera cameraman in Afghanistan, working with a legitimate visa. Captured by Pakistani intelligence officers in December 2001, he has handed over to the US military in January 2002, and ship off to the notorious detention centre in southeast Cuba, where has remained until last Thursday. He went on hunger strike in January of last year in protest of his detention, and his health has suffered as a result. He is the only reporter to have been detained at Guantanamo. And now, he is free. (more…)
Filed under: Journalism, Politics | Tags: Brutality, Chester Burrows, Corrupt, Corruption, Dominion Post, Grand Theft Auto, Homophobia, Louise Nicholas, Luke Shadbolt, New Zealand, Obstruction, Police, Racism, Sexism
The Dom post reported in its weekend edition that an officer had been reprimanded for forwarding an offensive email. The email was a mock 1970’s children’s book that illustrated policemen as brutal, homophobic, sexist, racist and corrupt. The officer involved was stood down for two days and questioned about the email.
The mock book was hilarious, but was it offensive? The Dom post reported that Police Association spokesman Luke Shadbolt said the book was a spoof and he did not know what was objectionable about it. “Most policemen found it funny.” National MP Chester Borrows said it was ridiculous to stand the officer down when his services were needed. The stories angle appeared to show that the Post agreed that it was harmless fun.
But when considering the recent Louise Nicholas case, and various other examples of corruption and sickening behaviour in our nation’s Police force, should this type of material be considered offensive? If this email was to be condoned, does that not tell police officers that these attitudes are acceptable? (more…)
Filed under: Philosophy, Quotes | Tags: Abraham Lincoln, al Jazeera, Benjamin Franklin, Carl Shurz, Civil Rights, Edmund Burke, Epictitus, Freedom, Goethe, Guantanamo Bay, Liberties, Noam Chomsky, Philosophy, Quotes, Sami Al-hajj, War on Terror, William Faulkner
With the news that Al Jazeera cameraman, Sami Al-Hajj has finally been released without charge or trial from Guantanamo Bay, I think perhaps it is important to reflect on what freedom really means. The current political climate has led to curtailing of civil rights and liberties in many countries, at a time when politicians are claiming to be fighting for those same freedoms. Perhaps what has angered people most in the last few years, is the blatant lying and hypocrisy from many world leaders. I think some intelligent thinkers have posed on this same idea throughout history.
Abraham Lincoln:
“Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves” (more…)
