Wikipedia Edits

Watch WIKIPEDIA EDITS occurring around the world - I copied this link from another blog it's fascinating.

MEDIA ANALYSIS - CLYDESDALE REPORT

This might have been a good interview had there been a Pacific panel capable of deconstructing Clydesdale's report. Much as I admire Barbara Dreaver's journalistic professionalism and the witty and incisive Oscar Kightley, so much more might have been achieved had a panel of Pacific business experts or Pacific economists been invited to provide an informed analysis of Clydesdale's report. Simply dismissing the report as unacademic is foolish and naive.

MANUREWA - TERROR FIRMA - What's the Answer?

Regrettably I wanted to cringe when I heard the Pacific sounding names of those responsible for Mr Singh's unfortunate murder in Riverton Drive, Manurewa. I blogged about crime in Manurewa earlier in the year and never once thought that a similar incident would arise again in this diverse community of mine known as Manurewa. Is this the beginning of a deliberate move to oust the Indian community. I think not. Hooliganism gone mad on the end of alcohol and drugs (A&D). I am almost certain that an A&D cocktail mix was central to the minds of the offenders who brought about Mr Singh's death.

What led these young men to engage in a senseless act that now holds this community up as the 'terror firma' of the nation? Who was responsible for their nurturing? What led to each of them becoming destructive beings of 'the dark side' dedicated to ending the sacredness of Mr Singh's life? Is it the fault of their families? Perhaps their schooling years failed to instill the importance of compliance. Perhaps they were failed by their parents. So what went wrong? That story will no doubt unfold itself over the next few weeks in the media. Why is it that for many young Pacific offenders today, the cultural pressure to conform and honour one's family name is now of little relevance?

The notion of individualism and the exclusion of responsibility to others is common place now. I remember being taught to love my enemies in Sunday school and honouring my parents was part of the holy package. Since the 90s I have listened to so many young people talk about their rights as if it were one of life's givens that caregivers or parents could not remove. The right, at a state legitimated age of consent to have protected sex without informing parents. Such rights have gone further and allowed young people to abort a 'mistake' without parental or caregiver consent or notification. Somehow young people drinking alcohol are perceived as far worse than those buying condoms and instead store owners are prosecuted for selling cigarettes or alcohol to under age children. Selling condoms and contraception to young people is deemed normal. But - How on earth does the value of cigarettes and alcohol supercede the value of creating life? It seems so back to front.

Our first generation settlers were battlers, pioneers who recognised the importance of developing urban village connections through church, village, island, sporting and musical affiliation. We need to establish new social forums that are not driven solely by problem issues such as poor health or low educational achievements and so on. And that is not to say that such initiatives are unimportant but we need to divert more attention toward becoming innovators within the national economy. Manurewa Harvest church pastored by Chris and Seira Sola, operates a choir challenge each year that brings together thousands of young Pacific people to show case their talents. When such initiatives are driven by the community and not imposed as issues that church and other agencies should invest and participate within - change happens. Families attend, friendships are formed and communal networks are established to support interdependent webs that promote positive lifestyles to meet the new challenges of today. Setting up initiatives that mirror the host population will not work for Pacific peoples because only the educated and the middle class will survive. We must engage our young Pacific parents in initiatives that are technologically challenging, business environments that are driven from within our own communities and cultural and heritage activities that recognise the innovative expertise of our practitioners. We need to rethink the importance of our Pacific "ways of being" for the sake of the next generation of Pacific leaders and rely once again upon developing the ingenuity that our first generation settlers applied in navigating their own spatial location in Aotearoa New Zealand. We must become competitive, smart, entrepreneurial and develop a culture that values financial independence. Imagine banking within your own community. My Muslim friends never borrow from trading banks or borrow from loan sharks. Imagine the possibilities for Pacific people. If we don't change, we run the risk of losing of our children to urban gangsta family life dependent upon criminal activities to feed anti-social leisure habits.

BARACK OBAMA SAYS THANKYOU

Should he win the USA presidency - HOW WILL HE IMPACT THE PACIFIC?

In 2005 online forum friends persuaded me to listen to Obama's speech given at Knox College. He was impressive even then as an unknown. Often there were online forum debates over his suitability and possible likelihood of becoming the 1st black president. Since about mid 2006 he has become a global household name and I often wondered why Condolezza Rice never threw herself in at the forefront of the Republican race as the answer to the Obama-Clinton battle for first place as 1st black and 1st woman to gain the position as front runner and possibly presidency.
Certainly his background as an Hawaiian raised young person and the overwhelming support he received from Hawaii, American Samoa and Guam is indicative of the claim that Pacific peoples have made of him as their own. CHANGE that is positive in terms of uplifting the social health of Pacific peoples not only within America but in and around the Pacific may have a significant impact upon the loyalty that many Pacific island nations are now slowly directing toward Asia. The shift in global political power toward China and Europe may not necessarily be in the long term interests of the Pacific. While the USA may have directed too much attention toward the war in Iraq and that of anti-terrorism, it's political beliefs in fairness and democracy is what makes USA a nation that can be called to account for some of its wrong doings. I am not so sure when I deliberately avoid buying foodstuffs or cosmetics from China or other East European countries that the same standards would be open to examination. Barack Obama has won the first part of the political race. I wonder though if the rest of white America will allow the Republican's to lose and allow minority groups to gain the advantage of limelight and all other benefits and freedoms that might follow.

CLYDESDALE REPORT

Now the dust has settled somewhat and Dr Clydesdale has succeeded in gaining the attention he probably hoped his research might gain but without the media and political negativity it has received. Many of the comments from some the Pacific community and a few other non Pacific academics have labelled the research -lazy - out of date - racist - wanting - and not a true reflection of the achievements that have occurred within the Pacific immigrant population. But should the focus of all academic research be written in a style that is politically correct and in praise of the positive achievements of the population being researched or should it be concerned solely with passing the rigorous tests that are set by the academic discipline it resides within. Is there a duty on the part of the researcher to ensure it does not offend the community or even politicians who believe they have done much to bring about a balance for those less fortunate in our society. Was that Dr Clydesdale's responsibility?
Having read the report, it is easy to get bogged down with references about the emerging underclass of unskilled immigrants. The main thrust of the report points to immigration as a strategy that the nation can no longer depend upon to grow the economy. Clydesdale's research is economically driven and while it largely ignores many social aspects of the New Zealand immigrant community, the purpose of Clydesdale's report is to evaluate human immigration in monetary terms and therefore the reference to humans as human capital is consistent with that goal. I have read comments that identify Clydesdale's reference to 'human capital' as scholastically deplorable. I find the very reference to humans as resources often manipulated by massive HR departments as equally loathesome given humans in that context exist only to further the strategic goals of many large companies.

The findings of any academic research should always be open to scholarly and public scrutiny. Comments from the public and articles by Tapu Misa published in the New Zealand Herald contribute to a more informed debate around the shortcomings or indeed the insightfulness of such research. I do however have concerns when the governing political machinery believe that it is within their ambit of influence to manoeuver it's resources in such way to counter academic research that does not promote the political agenda of the day. Paul Hansen and Paul Callister both state that their responses were politically driven to counter the bad press caused by Clydesdale's report. While I accept that Clydesdale's report is wanting in many respects, and it is certainly not a reflection of Massey University itself as Tuitahi pointed out through the media, his research nonetheless deserves to be responded to in a manner that allows for scholarly due process to take it's course unhindered by political interference. And that it didn't, bothers me.
If anything Clydesdale's research only serves to reinforce the importance of Pacific initiatives so as to reduce the huge economic disadvantages that many Pacific people will continue to experience as the global food shortage rises alongside oil/petrol costs, increasing unemployment and greater stress on Pacific families to cope with incomes that will not match rising costs. And that for me moves into the realm of very real concern.

GET WELL SOON MAYOR LEN BROWN

All the best to Mayor Len Brown - I too am praying for his speedy recovery.