It is interesting to understand a bit about Ukraine. So, I collected this during the week: Background data: How the nation of Ukraine ranks: 1st) in Europe in proven recoverable reserves of uranium ores;2nd) place in Europe and 10th place in the world in terms of titanium ore reserves;2nd) … [Read more...]
A sense of hope amidst chaos in Ukraine and Russia:
I just loved this Twitter cameo of a professional pianist playing her grand piano in her bombed out home in Kyiv. There’s something surreal about it. Jim Pickard on Twitter: "professional pianist Irina Maniukina playing Chopin (Aeolian Harp' Étude, Op. 25, # 1) before finally leaving her home south … [Read more...]
In Conclusion 22 March 2022
Vladimir Putin an evil world leader
I thought I would start a consideration of what Putin is doing to Ukraine with a quote by the late J P O’Rourke: Wherever there's injustice, oppression, and suffering, America will show up six months late and bomb the country next to where it's happening.' Peter Beck sent me this link which is … [Read more...]
The Irish never forget
Those of us of Irish ancestry grew up with our elders reminding us of how the Irish suffered so badly after the potato famine in the 19thCentury. At the time that 1 million people died of starvation the English were exporting food from Ireland. (Imagine of the current population of NZ 1 ½ million … [Read more...]
A brilliant letter from the heart by a daughter of Afghanistan
In an essay in the Washington Post Shabana Basij-Rasikh wrote about her father’s grief of leaving Afghanistan, the country he loved. She refused to see him as a refugee. She wrote: To all, I say: Please don’t see us as your burden. See us as what we are: Afghanistan’s great loss. … [Read more...]
More on Afghanistan
An open letter has been written by 60 civil society organisations and leading individuals calling with one voice for the government to increase its efforts when it comes to the crisis in Afghanistan. Here is the letter: Open letter to Nanaia Mahuta, minister of foreign affairs Tēnā koe … [Read more...]
Last Week Abbas Nazari
It was a delight to have Abbas Nazari speak to us last week, via zoom. Abbas gave us a potted history of Afghanistan over the last 100 years. He described the various tribes and the tension between them. We had Najib Hedayat, also from Afghanistan but from another tribe, also on the zoom and he … [Read more...]
The world anguishes over what will happen in Afghanistan
If you’re like me, you have been staring at the TV with your mouth open as the country of Afghanistan tears itself apart. I remember my father saying that when he fought in the Second World War with the Americans in the Pacific that they were hazardous allies. His observation was that they had … [Read more...]
Inflicting democracy on institutions
I loved this article in the Guardian this week. It was about a new green hedge fund which played a smart act and seated 2 new board members, and potentially a third, on the Exxon board by being smart. This article is an inspiration to those of us staring at those who control power. It is time to … [Read more...]
- 1
- 2
- 3
- …
- 6
- Next Page »