Cyber bullying laws--think carefully before acitng.

Most of us would agree that cyber bullying (and all forms of bullying) can be pretty damaging and in the worst case scenario, life threatening. The Government is now saying g that they are seeking to pass legislation to deal to the perpetrators. I say---stop, and think of the ramifications.

The practical side of me would think of how and who is going to police this. If there is going to be some sort of special court then it is going to be an incredibly busy one and will soon be clogged up with cases and appeals. Would this Government even come close to financing such an endeavour?

The proposals don’t even include kids under 14 so what happens with them? We can be sure that many of this group are well versed in social media and would make up a large proportion of the bullying and the bullied.

The bullying debate is engendering a great deal of emotion and under these circumstances, I doubt that we are going to get ‘useable law,’ especially if it is hurried. There needs to be a huge mind-shift to allow for society to accept that bullying is ‘not on.’ There are many parents, teachers and institutions who still believe that kids should harden-up and be more resilient. Until society as a whole rejects all forms of bullying we are not going to see effective measures, simply by passing a law or two.

I am fully in support of school running anti-bullying programmes, but I doubt that the will is there on the part of the Government to resource such initiatives.

The advent of cell phones and other forums that act as ‘bullying platforms,’ is a huge issue. Texting and ‘Face booking’ are beyond the control of schools. Schools are merely the recipient of what society sends us to mould, teach and nurture. How are we to influence what comes through the gate? Is this not yet another example of ‘dump it on the schools to fix?’ We cannot, unless we are part of an overall movement to keep our kids safe.

Please make this debate one that includes the whole community and please--- take the time that it deserves. One thing we can be sure of is that social media will come up with other forms of technology that we can barely dream about at this stage. It is going to take ‘great minds’ and an incredibly huge leap of faith for society as a whole before we get to the real problem.   www.authoreilcoleman.com

Freedom of speech at risk in Russia and the West.

If you have read my blogs about Pussy Riot and the danger to free speech in Russia, I think it is only fair that I point out the obvious parallel in the West. Julian Assange is hiding out in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London and if he sets foot outside he will be arrested and extradited to Sweden to face charges. From there he will be extradited to the USA where he faces charges that carry the death sentence.

Julian has a lot of enemies in Government circles around the world, simply because he is a modern day ‘whistle blower.’ His organization is responsible for embarrassing many governments and that is the basis for the actions being taken against him.  He may be Australian but even his government is doing little to help him. It seems that they too have been on the end of his ‘press releases.’

Potentially Julian is facing far more dire consequences than Pussy Riot does in Russia. The USA has made noises about the Pussy Riot situation, but at the same time is extending its influence over the Assange dilemma. Perhaps the USA and the UK should look at themselves before they go off at the Russians.

The right of citizens to speak out against the perceived failings of their governments is at risk in many countries; ones that purport to being paragons of virtue when it comes to free speech. There is a need for them to examine their own positions before they strike out at other nations. The silence from our New Zealand Government is also deafening on this issue.

Hopefully the power of the masses will keep this important issue in the lime light.

Pussy Riot---the other side of the story.

I have recently blogged about the travesty of justice surrounding the Pussy Riot incident. My reasoning was that it is not only about Pussy Riot, but also the deeper issue of free speech within the Russian Federation and the Putinization that seems to be happening. The warning signs are all there about the resurgence of a State that puts little value on then right of its citizens to criticise their government.

There is another side to the Pussy Riot stunt in the church. This is not the first time this band has tried to hog the limelight and hence benefit from the publicity. They have been involved in group orgies at museums and trying to kiss policewomen on the underground railway, all in an attempt to garner a wider following.

Some commentators have said that once the two year prison sentence has been completed, no doubt Pussy Riot will go on a world tour and make millions. Maybe the two year sentence is but a small price to pay for the resulting wealth.

A cynical view perhaps and one that could focus us away from the greater debate about a Russia heading towards the past. I’m just trying to keep a balanced view. www.authorneilcoleman.com Go to RT for an ‘alternate view.

A unique way to balance the Governent books!

Fantastic! I’ve done it and I am so proud to be of help to the Government. Don’t say I always criticise the national Party. Here they are, delivering a policy that finally makes sense. It’s been staring us in the face for years and it took a brave John Key and his team to stumble across a ridiculously no fail scheme. The example of course is their privatising the prisons. Hey--- it’s a no brainer.

 Let SIRCO do all the work and then when they fail just fine the arse off them. So they the scheme has delivered $300,000 to Government coffers. If they do this to all the prisons, then maybe we the taxpayer won’t have to pay a penny to lock up our criminals and then also get paid as well.  By my calculations we could make about $10 million in fines, just from prisons.

Now, let’s take the idea further. Let water, health education and all government services be privatised with hefty fines for non-performance. Our tax bills will drop and after about four years when the coffers are over-flowing with ‘failure to preform fees,’ we can renationalize them with a final one-off payment of course and start again.

Fantastic or what! Cycles repeat and we keep reinventing the wheel, so we could repeat the exercise every ten years and it won’t cost us a penny? We will be the envy of the free world.  www.authorneilcoleman.com

National Party women cabinet ministers----mmmm-- what's next?

One wonders at what’s next on the agenda for some of the national Party women members. Are they saying what the other ministers want to say but are a little more careful about? We have had the Parata ‘espousitions’ (yeah I know---it’s not a word but it has an obvious meaning). Then we have Maggie Barry doing her thing. Maybe she thinks her high profile excuses her for dumping on fellow parliamentarians, so I guess she will learn the hard way.

Last but certainly not least is Paula Bennett’s propensity to upset the applecart. It seems that week after week she comes out with something new, but in a sense we have heard it all before. The latest announcement that child poverty changes from day to day is just one example of her ‘foot-in-mouth’ affliction. Once again, is she saying what Johnny and his mates want to say but leave it to her. Let’s face it she seems to connect with a section of National Party voters who are probably sending her messages of support. I shall give her one thing—she’s a gutsy lady, but she is also a hypocrite.

Paula benefited (do excuse the pun) from some of the policies she has had axed. That she has risen to great heights within the Government is due to her reaping the results of past welfare policies. Now that she has ‘made it,’ it is goodbye said policies.

I wonder what we shall hear around the corner from this delightful trio.

Maybe you don't care about Pussy Riot but---

Pussy Riot is not my cup of tea musically and I don’t necessarily support their actions in the church--- they should have done that elsewhere, but the result may well have been the same. The unholy alliance between Putin’s State and the Church is almost unbelievable, but it is representative about what is to come in Russia.

Russia is regressing to the Soviet and Tsarist times in its response to criticism. Almost any ‘dissent’ faces this new two year imprisonment if they dare to take on the Government.

Wake up Russians. I know you read my blog. Make some comments and defend the actions of Putin if you must---but talk, yell, and protest--- do something!

 I know that large numbers of people in Russia are unhappy with what is starting to emerge. It probably leaves many of you with a sinking feeling that history is repeating itself. The sound of jackboots in the middle of the night and your friends and neighbours disappearing in to the new gulags is more than a figment of my imagination.

What is it about Russia and its propensity to suffer tyrants? No wonder your art and music is so full of yearning and deep feelings depicting an ever suffering people. We in the rest of the world would love to see the happiness and hope return. Be strong my friends.  www.authorneilcoleman.com

Turn 'any' unused 'high value' State House into 2 or more!

If a ‘high value’ state house becomes vacant, for any reason, I believe we should sell it and use the proceeds to finance more state houses. I am not saying that we should move people out of existing homes, unless there is good reason; for example, tenants abusing, damaging or using the home for unlawful purposes (I leave you to decide that).

Oh yes, I can hear the cries of ‘no way!’ and I leave you to imagine other responses. The simple fact remains that if we have  homes owned by the State and they are over a certain value, then why not convert them into funds for building more homes so that that those in dire need of this most basic need are catered for.
I do not know how many homes would be in this category, but surely it is a no brainer--- just get on and do it, Minister of Housing,’ and the opposition from any party can pull their heads in. Unless you have seen the consequences of families living in unlined cold and damp garages, sending their kids to school (if they can) with poor health, then back off with your politically insensitive comments. We need more houses and all possibilities should be considered.

PS---‘High Value’ would depend on the city and area.

www.authorneilcoleman.com