by Vinepa Aiono
All in the space of a fortnight, Michael Jackson died and his memorial service is held at the Staples Centre in LA, watched by millions around the world. In the same stretch 3 New Zealanders died of the swine flu, an out of control man is held by the Police for some hours while a Taser is flown in from another part of the country - crazy. The place had gone mad, meanwhile Prime Minister John Key headed off on a trade mission to the South Pacific and announced increased aid to the Pacific over the next few years, he vowed to assist with Tamiflu supplies and when asked which kava or ava he preferred (from Fiji or Samoa) - he found it hard to make a decision and referred to both Pacific nations as 'children'. Such fence sitting is unbecoming let alone 'weak'. Couldn't he just say when in Samoa (or Rome) it tastes the best, when in Fiji likewise ...., no points for wit there.
In between all of this - North Korea was busy silently testing seven of their missiles over the weekend. We all slept quite soundly though in our winter beds.
But the response from Premier Talagi in Niue certainly sums up the new found courage of Pacific leaders toward the west. Premier Talagi left nothing to the democratic imagination when he made it clear that any promised but slow to surface financial assistance would be met with a move on Niue's part to start knocking on China's door. And "ay there's the rub." As an observant relative of mine has informed me, "many building contracts in Samoa do not involve the hiring of local workers, nearly all workers are from China."
The Pacific must beware of seeking aid from the East. What are the real benefits and what might we lose in the longterm. There are vast ideological and cultural differences between the Pacific and China that still make me nervous. I need only remind myself of the contaminated baby milk powder that our giant Fonterra became enmeshed within 2008.
I hope Obama has a better plan for restoring the USA and western world economy because right now job losses are continuing to roll all the way downunder.
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Showing posts with label President Barack Obama. Show all posts
Showing posts with label President Barack Obama. Show all posts
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Saturday, January 24, 2009
NEW ERA IN WORLD POLITICS - 2009
President Obama has been sworn in, Prime Minister John Key walked into the Ratana day celebrations with the Maori Party and the Gaza strip has been torn apart by Israeli military forces. The global recession has not ended and the impact of globalisation will no longer be restricted solely to the west. Asia has also weathered the recessionary winds. Coupled with bad weather patterns, it would appear that globalisation is being battered by elements beyond human control. What are the lessons for us dependent upon foreign trade, the ever changing exchange rate or indeed the dictatorial fashion trends set by the Euro-western catwalks. Is the answer - a focus upon Internalisation and independence. Looking internally for home grown talent is perhaps the appropriate pathway. Our homing instincts set in when we encounter difficulties, likewise Obama has called all Americans to refocus, regroup, rekindle and respond with what is truly the American "way" given the pressure that America is now experiencing on all its economic, political and social borders.
So far, Prime Minister John Key has made few major changes since coming to power. What we have instead is a new focus and more of a cautionary approach to change. I found it partly amusing but also praiseworthy that the Honourable Paula Bennett,
got herself into the middle of a teenage street brawl last week and became the street saviour of west Auckland. Some of the young people interviewed for comment made special mention of Hon Bennett's specific concern for the pale complexion brawlers rather than the darker toned participants. Nonetheless, that was political intervention at its finest. Any MP that can step into a brawling event on the street with the intention of maintaining peace and order - deserves 'national' respect. How appropriate that she is the Minister of Social Development!!!
So far, Prime Minister John Key has made few major changes since coming to power. What we have instead is a new focus and more of a cautionary approach to change. I found it partly amusing but also praiseworthy that the Honourable Paula Bennett,
got herself into the middle of a teenage street brawl last week and became the street saviour of west Auckland. Some of the young people interviewed for comment made special mention of Hon Bennett's specific concern for the pale complexion brawlers rather than the darker toned participants. Nonetheless, that was political intervention at its finest. Any MP that can step into a brawling event on the street with the intention of maintaining peace and order - deserves 'national' respect. How appropriate that she is the Minister of Social Development!!!
Thursday, November 6, 2008
PRESIDENT OBAMA - AMERICA HAS SPOKEN
I have waited for this victory speech for almost five years. What else is there to say about President Obama other than that he is 'the man' for such a time as this. I love the closing remarks of his victory speech " May God bless you, May God bless America."
This Saturday New Zealand will also vote in a new Prime Minister and I have no doubt that it will be John Key. The polls indicate that New Zealand is also searching for political and spiritual change. No one is really interested in placing faith in trusted historical leadership - the public are searching for new ideas, new personalities and in short something different. I predict that New Zealand will awake on Sunday morning with John Key on the front page of every newspaper as the new Prime Minister of Aotearoa New Zealand. And in that respect I hope that like President Barack Obama - John Key will look to God to bless this nation as well.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
OBAMA TO DANCE HIS WAY INTO THE WHITE HOUSE
by Vinepa Aiono
Obama's dance moves on the Ellen Degeneres TV 'talk back' show, has him perfectly poised to waltz into the White House this week. What an exciting year 2008 has been not only for USA but also the rest of the world. While it is true that I am writing as if Obama has already won the USA Presidential race, to deny that he won't is to ignore many of the political polls that place Obama in front of McCain.
If the BBC Doha debates (1 November 2008) are anything to go by, 87% rejected the motion that the Middle East would be better off with McCain at the presidential helm. Obama is perceived as one who will attempt to engage in multi-lateral discussions to sustain peaceful relationships. Whether he has the ability to do so is unknown but there is a general sense that Obama has the ability to rise to any difficult situation. Perhaps it is his sharp intellect, his likeable personality, his exceptional oratory and the fact that he is of a mixed ethnic origin that engenders us to trust him. Obama is different in every respect and the American public have had sufficient time now to absorb a new level of political consciousness that accepts a "black" president as a natural evolving process of the American politics. In that sense - Obama's slogan for "CHANGE" was not simply an attempt to gain victory over the Republican's but a slow and carefully calculated process to change the minds, values and attitudes of the American nation that a Black man could enter the White House.
The negative global economic climate, difficult international relations, the nuclear arms race in Northern Korea and Tehran's Nuclear programme contribute to a general global perception that Obama is a man for this time, where "CHANGE" is essential in the rules around international relations. This week will in Obama's words - "be the defining moment" for America when he becomes the 1st Black President of USA, President Barack Obama sounds normal to me.
Obama's dance moves on the Ellen Degeneres TV 'talk back' show, has him perfectly poised to waltz into the White House this week. What an exciting year 2008 has been not only for USA but also the rest of the world. While it is true that I am writing as if Obama has already won the USA Presidential race, to deny that he won't is to ignore many of the political polls that place Obama in front of McCain.
If the BBC Doha debates (1 November 2008) are anything to go by, 87% rejected the motion that the Middle East would be better off with McCain at the presidential helm. Obama is perceived as one who will attempt to engage in multi-lateral discussions to sustain peaceful relationships. Whether he has the ability to do so is unknown but there is a general sense that Obama has the ability to rise to any difficult situation. Perhaps it is his sharp intellect, his likeable personality, his exceptional oratory and the fact that he is of a mixed ethnic origin that engenders us to trust him. Obama is different in every respect and the American public have had sufficient time now to absorb a new level of political consciousness that accepts a "black" president as a natural evolving process of the American politics. In that sense - Obama's slogan for "CHANGE" was not simply an attempt to gain victory over the Republican's but a slow and carefully calculated process to change the minds, values and attitudes of the American nation that a Black man could enter the White House.
The negative global economic climate, difficult international relations, the nuclear arms race in Northern Korea and Tehran's Nuclear programme contribute to a general global perception that Obama is a man for this time, where "CHANGE" is essential in the rules around international relations. This week will in Obama's words - "be the defining moment" for America when he becomes the 1st Black President of USA, President Barack Obama sounds normal to me.
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