Here’s an ethical conundrum. An Iranian woman leaves her country and converts to Christianity. She moves to New Zealand and claims asylum. Should we give it to her?
The North Shore Times clearly thinks so. It has waged a campaign on behalf of Bahareh Moradi, dedicating several front pages to the 25 year old woman’s case. Commentators at Dhimmi watch have joined the chorus.
I guess the underlying assumption is that conversion from a male-dominated religion like Islam as a positive step, and we should protect a woman who does so.
But what if it seems that she converted purely to get asylum in New Zealand?
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As the New Zealand government’s Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) wanes in popularity, perhaps we should remember that New Zealanders will pay for the country’s greenhouse emissions one way or another.
We signed the Kyoto Protocol, along with other countries that give a toss about the greater good, pledging to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels. Part of the deal is that we will pay for anything we emit over this limit.
The idea behind the ETS is that those who are responsible for the pollution pay – and greener options look cheaper and more favourable in comparison.
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I don’t like war. But wars are political actions and, in New Zealand at least, we are responsible for electing the clowns who sign us up to fight.
When soldiers head overseas, they go on our behalf. Okay, also in the name of freedom, anti-terrorism, anti-communism – whatever happens to be the cause celebre of the day.
But the soldiers go because our government tells them to. The least we can do is give them some respect.
Over 3000 Kiwi soldiers fought in Vietnam. Not a particularly popular war. Not, in my opinion, a war New Zealand should have gotten involved in. But that doesn’t justify the treatment these guys got when they came home.
I wasn’t aware of the issue until I started researching this story.
It wasn’t until 2004 – 30 years after they came home – that the government acknowledged the soldiers had been exposed to Agent Orange while in Vietnam.
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Welcome to the new foreign-correspondence.com – same good content, new pretty face.

Have a browse. Enjoy Fernando’s photos of the ANZAC dawn service in Auckland, and keep an eye out for my upcoming piece about New Zealand’s Vietnam Veterans.

The site is expanding and looking for new contributors. So if you’ve got something to say about what’s going on in your neck of the woods, get in touch.

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ANZAC Day
Auckland Museum, 2008
ANZAC Day Photo Gallery: Follow the link below to see more photos This photo was taken at 6:30am, there were hundreds of people around me and it was very hard find a good position to take it. ANZAC day is a commemorative holiday where the Kiwis offer tribute to the soldiers who fought for New Zealand since the First World War

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How do you conduct a credible study? Well, if you’re looking into the effects of a company’s practices, it might look a little more kosher if that company doesn’t fund the research.

This story in today’s Herald reports on a Dow-funded study into the health effects of a Dow weed-killer factory in Taranaki.

The study concluded that “there is no evidence of increased cancer or disease” related to dioxin exposure at the factory.

But buried at the bottom of the story (page two on the web version), is the study leader’s acknowledgement that the research “incorrectly suggested that health effects had been studied”.

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When Winston Peters holds up his little “No” placard, it makes me want to say “yes”. It’s a knee-jerk reaction, but I can’t help it.

So I say that this free trade deal with China is not the end of the world as we know it.

I can’t help thinking that more than a few of those who give Chinese human rights abuses as a reason not to sign were just using a new wagon for an old band. By which I mean ardent protectionists – who simply don’t want to open the country to a trade liberalisation agreement with China – used the recent protests in Tibet as a vehicle to make their point.
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An eager student brought to school the textbook he uses in private classes to show me a section on New Zealand it contains. I was stoked to see some attention being given to our little country, but most of all, I was intrigued to learn about the Maori. The Maori used to hunt a huge, flightless bird called the Mao (which is now extinct), and it’s from this bird that they got their name. The things you learn, eh.
Hey, it would make perfect sense if the Moa was indeed called the Mao, but sadly I think the authors got a little carried away with the wrong end of the taiaha on this one.

Last Saturday there was the other demonstration against ETA and in favour of peace. This one was convened by the opposition party, and the front pages of all the Sunday papers featured a crowd swimming in red and yellow: everyone proudly waving Spanish flags or balloons in its colours. As a New Zealander, and in these globalising times, this ardent nationalism is a mentality I don’t quite understand. Demonstrators certainly don’t bring their Kiwi flags out in force in New Zealand. (Do they?)

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I was spewing, like angry and powerless teenager Kevin on Harry Enfield. “I hate you! You’re not my government!” I wanted to shout. Why am I so upset? Because Ahmed Zaoui’s family must remain in hiding, in an incredibly difficult situation. The government will not allow them to join Ahmed Zaoui in New Zealand until his case is resolved. Given that it is the government who continues to drag the chain on this case, it’s a poor showing.

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