Listen to part 2 of Catherine's interview with wellbeing economist Paul Dalziel who explains that the RSB will make it more difficult to pass legislation that seeks a proportionate reduction of individual property rights for a major contribution to the public good, for example some climate change policies. Paul argues the bill will increase red tape, slow down law making and won't make New Zealand more prosperous. His view is that there is nothing in the bill that is visionary about raising the wellbeing of future generations. Paul's takeaway message is that we should look to the Welsh, "Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015" as an alternative way to design regulatory standards, "the way to frame it should be about the wellbeing of future generations based on widespread consultation and input from experts to...create consensus rather than adopting a narrow libertarian property rights framework that... will constrain the future path of Parliament twisted into a certain direction."
Despite first appearances this proposed legislation is anything but boring. If passed, it will become deeply important to how we "do" legislation in NZ. Economist and Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa researcher Paul Dalziel joins Catherine to delve into: What is regulation? What is the aim of this bill? Will it achieve it? And is there even a problem in the first place that justifies the estimated 20 million dollar price tag? Paul explains that the Bill is unnecessary, unfit for purpose and narrow. When setting standards there should be expert input, broad consensus and wide public consultation, none of which occurred satisfactorily in this case. Paul's opinion, shared by many other leading academics, is that this legislation will distort the parliamentary process towards an ACT party point of view due to its narrow focus on private property rights, which is not healthy for the general debate we want to have in parliament. He comments it is concerning that other important principles are not in the Bill, like the rights of future generations for example, and we talk about the glaring absence of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Essential listening for anyone wanting to learn more about this controversial Bill that experts like Sir Geoffrey Palmer has said, "is the strangest piece of NZ legislation he has ever seen." And listen out for part 2 of this interview in October's edition.
Listen to Lisa Woods, Amnesty's Movement building and Advocacy Director tell us that if the government is serious about addressing the real harms young people face online, banning under 16s is not the solution. Regulating tech companies is. Lisa tells us how the proposed ban misdirects attention from the systemic drivers of online harm and places the burden of online safety on young people and parents. Instead the burden needs to be firmly on the social media companies to ensure user safety, just like for other products we consume. As Parliament's inquiry into the online harm encountered by young New Zealanders is under way, now is the time to campaign for a digital environment that is safe, inclusive and empowering. The government needs to stop social media companies putting profit before the health and wellbeing of our young people. For Amnesty's research into Meta's algorithms and Myanmar military atrocities , go to: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2022/09/myanmar-facebooks-systems-promoted-violence-against-rohingya-meta-owes-reparations-new-report/ Also listen out for petitions to sign: https://www.change.org/p/please-tell-gao-zhisheng-s-family-if-he-s-still-alive-453-signatures-submitted-to-date?utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=custom_url&recruited_by_id=750cd900-981a-11eb-8f9f-172775255d73 https://amnesty.org.nz/make-community-sponsorship-of-refugees-programme-permanent/
Listen to part 2 of Catherine's interview with Professor Richard Jackson from Otago University (Part 1, 16 June) where he lays out the case for genocide and discusses how international institutions lack teeth, but explains that we, the people, are not helpess - there has never been a greater protest movement than right now, "we have a lot more power than we think... if we all diligently protest...and practice Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS), this can have an effect".
Listen to Dr Richard Jackson, Professor of Peace studies, explain how hundreds of members of Otago University have signed a declaration recognising that Israel is: committing a genocide against the Palestinian nation, operating a system of apartheid and committing scholasticide. Hear about academic boycotts against Israeli institutions and the devastating effects of scholasticide for future generations of Palestinians. "It doesn't matter if the institute you're a part of doesn't want to do something, you can do it yourself...we the people can make our own declaration, we can take our own stand and outline our own values and priorities." "Right at this moment (the situation in Palestine) is the big issue, it's the moral test of our time." And, later in the show, listen out for good news about pay equity - Former National MP Marilyn Waring is assembling a "people's select committee" to hear the evidence Parliament should have heard on recent pay equity changes.
This month Catherine speaks with Anna Cusack, Advocacy and Policy Manager at Amnesty International Aotearoa about fresh new research sharing stories of young people's experiences in the criminal justice system. Youth offending doesn’t occur in a vacuum. Many concerns as well as opportunities were raised; from poverty, hunger, homelessness, family-life hardship and disengagement from school to peers and the importance of relationships. The research was initiated after the last election campaign, where political rhetoric and media reports on ram raids often failed to include experiences and insights from the young people involved. Read a summary of the report here: https://amnesty.org.nz/rangatahi-justice-system-summary/ Read these amazing resources referred to by Anna: https://nwo.org.nz/resources/report-of-matike-mai-aotearoa-the-independent-working-group-on-constitutional-transformation/ https://www.inaiatonunei.nz/resource-documents Take action and sign this petition to halt the execution of Pakhshan Azizi: https://amnesty.org.nz/pakhshan-azizi/ Protest against the Government amending the Equity Pay Act under urgency: https://union.org.nz/pay-equity-events/
Catherine chats with Jacqui Dillon 8 weeks into her role as Kaiwhakahaere Matua. As the international winds of uncertainty blow over the world, Jacqui grounds us by speaking about ripples of change, cultural shifts, and people power. Jacqui shares her vision for humanity as part of Amnesty's 60th birthday celebrations (https://amnesty.org.nz/60th-bday/). And guess what? Jacqui is also a psychotherapist; hear how that work connects with human rights and global systems.
Our current system is a mismatch in schedules and a mismatch with what makes a healthy human. Let's change it together - because our wellbeing depends on it. Catherine celebrates International Women's Day by speaking with Dr Ellen Joan Ford, military veteran, esteemed academic, Kiwibank local hero of the year for 2023 and author of #WorkSchoolHours - a Revolution for Parents, Workplaces and the World. And no, this is definitely NOT about work less for a pay cut! Ellen advocates for a set of principles not dogmatic rules; outputs not hours, flexibility and autonomy, and above all - value people and what they care about outside of work so they can thrive. Ellen is terrifyingly ambitious about changing the working world for the better, starting with parents. Get a copy of the E-BOOK #WorkSchoolHours for FREE. Use code: ACTIVATE100 https://www.ellenjoanford.com/shop/p/workschoolhours-e-book Get 50% off the self-paced online courses. Use code: ACTIVATE50 Edition for parents / individuals https://www.ellenjoanford.com/course/workschoolhours-online-course-parents Edition for people leaders https://www.ellenjoanford.com/course/workschoolhours-online-course-people-leaders
This month Catherine speaks with Philippa Yasbek, co-founder of Gun Control NZ, about the Government's potential rewrite of the Arms Act. This rewrite threatens to unwind our existing safe firearms laws, which the majority of New Zealanders want. Gun Control NZ's key aims are to maintain the ban on semiautomatic weapons introduced post the mosque mass shooting, shorten the licence period to 5 years, implement the gun registry and record all ammunition sales (add your name to Gun Control NZ's submission - https://www.guncontrol.nz/submission) Submissions close on 28 February 2025. Act now.
In this month's show Kerry and Catherine share their good read, protest song and human rights stories from 2024.
How well is our government protecting our human rights? The UN tells the government where it's failing. Lisa Woods, Amnesty International's movement building and advocacy director, and Sally Carlton - presenter of Speak Up - Korerotia discuss how well is the NZ government protecting the human rights of its people?" We talk about the Universal Periodic Review - a system where every 4 years the Human Rights situation of all UN Member States is reviewed. It was New Zealand's turn this year - the government needs to do better!
How well is our government protecting our human rights? The UN tells the government where it's failing. In this month's show, listen to Lisa Woods, Amnesty International's movement building and advocacy director, and Sally Carlton - another Human Rights radioshow/podcaster with Speak Up - Korerotia and ask "How well is the NZ government protecting the human rights of its people?" We talk about the Universal Periodic Review; A system where every 4 years the Human Rights situation of all UN Member States is reviewed. It was New Zealand's turn this year. The government needs to do better. We cover, indigenous and refugee rights, disproportionate incarceration rates of Maori and the Immigration (Mass Arrivals) Amendment Act 2024.
Interview with Acting Director of ECPAT New Zealand, an organisation that acts to uphold the fundamental right for children to be free from all forms of commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking. ACTivate - ECPAT
Jessica Palairet, Executive Director of Lawyers for Climate Change Action - Can successful climate change litigation really help reduce carbon in our atmosphere?
In this month’s show, we interview Laura from Fired Up Stilettos, who petitioned Parliament earlier this year with regard to protecting adult entertainment workers’ labour rights (along with the rights of other independent contractors) in New Zealand. To find out more about their campaign, visit www.firedupstilettos.com, email firedupstilettos@gmail.com or follow to @19firedupstilettos on Instagram.
AI surveillance at the Olympics - should we be worried? French hijab ban excludes women from sport. Why is Saudi Arabia spending so much money on sport? Sportswashing or legitimate investment?
ACTivate is a monthly show brought to you by the Christchurch branch of Amnesty International Aotearoa/New Zealand, an organisation dedicated to campaigning for human rights.
ACTivate is a monthly show brought to you by the Christchurch branch of Amnesty International Aotearoa/New Zealand, an organisation dedicated to campaigning for human rights.
Did the Pacific Island Banaba have to die for New Zealand’s grazing agriculture to thrive? Listen to Katja Phutaraksa Neef as she explains one of the world’s largest environmental injustices.
African countries should not entertain taking forcibly displaced Palestinians" - Aimée-Noël Mbiyozo, International Affairs Expert. Take Action on Gaza Crisis