I See Red

The Counterfeiters

I went to The Counterfeiters last week with two friends.  It is well worth seeing.  It is a thought provoking movie about how different people respond (self preservation or the common good) to a life and death situation: in a Nazi concentration camp but with artistic talent that could help the Nazi war effort.  It won the Academy Award in 2007 for best foreign language film.

National Front seek to set up a "mini-state"

Former National Front member, Kyle Chapman, is seeking funding to set up a commune in North Canterbury for "like minded Europeans"

I believe that every person is born equal (regardless of where they are born, who their parents are, what nation or race they are born into, what gender, what sexuality). 

So, while I disagree fiercely with Kyle Chapman's racist views, in a democracy we must respect his right to say and do what he likes (within the law).  And I have a right to reject those views.

President Obama

A lot is resting on President Obama's shoulders.  The decisions of his administration will determine whether the world goes into a deep depression and whether we can respond in time to the great challenges of our time such as climate change. 

He has already done something few have managed to do in a very long time: engaged millions of Americans, young and old.  He has given them the power to change America.  He understands that great challenges require communities coming together united in a common purpose, not isolated individuals seeking only greed.

For the sake of us all, I hope that the Obama administration is able to re-new the social contract with America.  And where he leads on the economy and climate change, I hope the rest of the world will follow.

House Auction Illegal

The Department of Internal Affairs has rightly pointed out that the $100 house auction proposed by a couple in Christchurch is not an auction at all, but is in fact gambling.  What they are doing is illegal under the gambling act - it is an on-line form of gambling and it is for private and not a charitable purpose.  Anyone call sell their home on the trade-me auction site.  But an auction is where the highest bidder wins.  This "auction" will almost entirely come down to chance and is therefore closer to being a raffle or lottery than an auction.

Fiddling while rivers churn

More evidence has emerged of a City Council that has its priorities wrong.  While it bails out failed property developers, spends millions on a garden show, buskers festival, giant dome, messing with city mall, and an expensive new civic office, the basic needs of the city are not being met. 

The City Council now wants the freedom to pour raw sewage into the Avon and Heathcote rivers more often.  I'm not sure if my readers are familiar with Christchurch, but the Avon is the heart of our city - it literally runs through the heart of Christchurch.  It is polluted enough without having more sewage running through it.

I walk through the botanic gardens (along the Avon) to work each morning, and some days the stench is terrible.  We must clean up our act.  Yet the Council wants to go backwards.  Instead of imported garden shows and giant dome's, I'd take well functioning sewage systems and clean rivers any day.

High Court Rules against Christchurch City Council

Some time back I did several posts on the Christchurch City Council voting to increase Council Housing Rentals by 24%.  I was part of the Coalition for Fair Rents that was set up to oppose the move.  We failed, and the Council went ahead with the increase.  However, that wasn't the end of it.  I am on the Board of the Council of Social Services and we took the Christchurch City Council to the High Court.  We won.  The Council was forced to reverse its decision and pay over $1 million back to the tenants.

In a damning judgment, Justice Chisholm said that the Council's process was seriously flawed.  The judge said the council failed to properly assess the significance of the decision and failed to give proper consideration to the tenants' views.

Many of the tenants I have spoken to have been very moved by the fact that so many people stood up for them.  For many the decision meant more about the fact that the underdog can get justice through our justice system and that democracy can work for them. 

It is now likely the Council will try to increase rents again next year (the preferred option is 14%) and will get its processes right this time.  14% is still too much in my view before other options have explored.  But the campaign last year was a good reminder to people that people can fight injustice and win.

Time to get sensible on sentencing

Eventually (and hopefully sooner rather than later) it must dawn on people that being "tough" on crime doesn't lead to less crime or lower recidivism and it doesn't make us safer.  The question is, will it be the left or right who (as No Right Turn puts it, both engage in a law and order auction) finally take a stand.

No Right Turn has a very good post on a NSWs conservative who is taking a stand and trying to put an end to the auction and Kim Workman has spoken out about the need to be "smart" about crime, not "tough".

What we need in NZ is an evidence-based approach where we do what works, and not what makes us feel good.  That doesn't mean we don't lock murderers up for life, but for many offenders at the lower level of offending our punitive approach is not working.  Too often we use prison as an easy solution to what are difficult problems - particularly people with mental health issues.  And we don't use enough of restorative justice - forcing people to front up to what they did and the impact of what they've done on others lives.