Utopia, you are standing in it!

The arrest of the Premier of the British Virgin Islands in April and a Commission of Inquiry’s finding of ‘parlous failings in governance’ have raised questions about the British government’s relations with and stewardship of its Overseas Territories. These issues are raised in moments of crisis, following natural disasters, acute periods in the several sovereignty disputes linked to the Territories, or headline-grabbing scandals. George Fergusson argues that they merit more regular review.

The decision on 8 June of a British official to reject the principal and firm recommendation of a Commission of Inquiry by a former Court of Appeal judge has produced little political or media stir. This is largely explained by the decision being one concerning a British Overseas Territory, in this case, the British Virgin Islands (BVI).

The recommendation was that a period of…

Stardate: 3198.4 (2267)
Original Air Date: March 23, 1967
Writer: Gene L. Coon
Director: John Newland

“You don’t have to be sheep. You can be wolves!”

In this wonderful episode which first introduces the Klingons, the Enterprise arrives in a hot situation near the planet Organia (a Class-M planet). Negotiations between the Klingons and the Federation have recently deteriorated and Starfleet Command anticipates an imminent surprise attack. We learn that Organia is a non-aligned planet near the edge of the Klingon border and it is thus vulnerable to attack. The Enterprise heads to Organia to protect it from invasion, but a lone Klingon Bird of Prey attacks. The Enterprise easily destroys the Klingon ship via phaser fire but Starfleet quickly relays a “Code 1” alert –war has once again been declared on the Klingon Empire. The mood aboard the Enterprise is one of alarm.

When…

A recent decision of the NSW Supreme Court has applied a rarely used provision in legislation setting up Australian universities to provide a legal remedy for a student penalised for her comments on a controversial issue. In Thiab v Western Sydney University [2022] NSWSC 760 (10 June 2022) Parker J ruled that the actions of Western Sydney University (“WSU”) in penalising the student, Ms Thiab, for comments she had made expressing disagreement with the State’s compulsory vaccination requirements, were unlawful. The case is an interesting example of protection of a student’s freedom of speech through application of the legislation establishing the University, and would apply not only to “political” comments as in this case, but also to religious beliefs.

Shackleton: By Endurance We Conquer
by Michael Smith
443 pages
Oneworld Publications
Published: Oct 2014

Michael Smith’s biography of Ernest Shackleton was the first full biography of this legendary explorer in nearly three decades. Smith is a British author and journalist with a focus on polar exploration. Among his half-dozen other books are “An Unsung Hero – Tom Crean” and “Captain Francis Crozier – Last Man Standing?”

Ernest Shackleton (1874-1922) is best remembered for the dramatic heroics and tragic misfortunes associated with his Antarctic Expedition of 1914-1917 which resulted in the loss of three men. But this was just one of four such trips he would undertake before he died at the age of 47. During a less star-crossed expedition in 1907 he hoped to be the first person to reach the South Pole but, running critically low on supplies, had to turn back 100 miles…

Following the death of the philanderer, Pope John XII, a schism began to emerge between the military empire of Germany and Constantinople’s imperial whims on the Italian peninsula while the Rome remained at the center. Which side would the pontiffs choose –Germany or Byzantium? With John out of the way, German ruler Otto assumed Rome would simply re-appoint his own preferred pope, Leo VIII, however the bishops of Rome would have none of this bullying. They preferred a reformer who maintained a morally unimpeachable character and thus they elected Benedict V as the next pope. However, a furious Otto besieged Rome until Benedict was dethroned and exiled to Hamburg (where he died two years later). Benedict had only been pope for about a month. In his stead, Otto placed Leo back on the throne and when he also died two years later, Otto forced John XIII into the papacy, though…

To: The Finance and Expenditure Committee,
Parliament Buildings
Wellington

I oppose the Water Services Entities Bill and the Three Waters reforms and I am very concerned about the divisive racial track that this country is currently being taken down.

Three Waters seems to be an integral part of that racial division favouring one race over all others that make up this fine country. An unpalatable agenda and contrary in all aspects of the New Zealand I grew up in and have lived in for over 76 years.

I would like to make an oral submission to the Committee, ideally in person in my community. I am sure that I would not be the only person in Hastings wanting to do this and at my age I would very much prefer not to have to travel to Wellington to do so. But believe me I will do so if it means…

Boris Johnson yesterday fired the starting gun on a Conservative leadership race which should make the winner Prime Minister. Meg Russell, Alan Renwick and Robert Hazell pose five key questions which Conservative MPs and others are encouraged to ask the party leadership candidates, based on recent public, parliamentary and expert concerns.

Boris Johnson’s premiership has been marked by ever-growing concerns about the maintenance of various constitutional standards, which in recent days have reached fever pitch. These were echoed repeatedly in ministerial resignation statements and calls for him to go. Recent opinion polls meanwhile show strong public support for constitutional standards of integrity and accountability.

Conservative MPs now have an opportunity to choose among candidates to take Johnson’s place, which also creates an important constitutional responsibility. A high priority when picking the next Conservative leader should be to restore the standards essential to UK democracy, in order both to rebuild…

The Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee works to a “Remit” set down for them from time to time by the Minister of Finance (the current one is here). It is a different (and better) system than the previous approach of Policy Targets Agreements between the Governor and the Minister, and in particular makes it clear (as is appropriate in our system of government) that the (elected) Minister and government set the targets for monetary policy, while the MPC is the accountable (at least on paper) body responsible for setting monetary policy to deliver the government’s goal.

Under the Reserve Bank Act the law now reads

And several weeks ago the Bank kicked off the first stage in a consultative process designed to inform the advice they will eventually provide to the Minister of Finance. If you want to have a say, submissions close next Friday (15th).

Consultation with the…

German Autobahn Their Government has decided for them what cars they’re to be allowed to have, or not have. Climate obsession allows their leaders to do that apparently, by claiming their transport policies are ‘climate friendly’ or something. The motoring public find themselves backed into a corner.
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A majority of Germans oppose the EU’s planned 2035 ban of combustion engine cars, according to a survey by research institute forsa for UNITI, the German association of small and medium-sized mineral oil companies.

The survey found that 58 percent of respondents are against an outright ban, while 39 percent support it, says Clean Energy Wire.

Nearly two-thirds of respondents also reject a medium or long-term general ban on vehicles with diesel or petrol engines.

Back in May we reported on the suspension of Stuart Kirk, who dropped some truth bombs about climate finance at a Times newspaper conference. Stuart has now resigned his post, and issued this statement:

Today I wish to announce that I have resigned as global head of responsible investing at HSBC Asset Management.

Ironically given my job title, I have concluded that the bank’s behaviour towards me since my speech at a Financial Times conference in May has made my position, well, unsustainable.

Funny old world.

Over a 27-year unblemished record in finance, journalism and consulting I have only ever tried to do the best for my clients and readers, knowing that doing so helps my employer too.

Investing is hard. So is saving our planet. Opinions on both differ. But humanity’s best chance of success is open and honest debate. If companies believe in diversity and speaking up…