text:
You can volunteer to take life seriously but it is gonna get you, they are going to win over you, it is harsh, but you can either break down and complain about how miserable your life is or have a go at it and survive. I think that is the basis of it all. – Billy Connolly
Working for Families is a policy that satisfies few on the Left or the Right. Compromises rarely do. They are imperfect by their nature. They are necessary, however, because people are imperfect and always will be. If things were otherwise, we wouldn't need government at all. – Liam Hehir
The greatest threats to our native wildlife – and our rural economy – may yet be science denial and conspiracy belief. – Dave Hansford
Those elected to positions of authority need to understand that the human condition rarely engages in deceit and halftruths as much as when rehearsing or inventing the science behind their personal environmental concerns. – Gerrard Eckhoff
When our total emissions account for 0.17 per cent of total global emissions, leadership isn't being first, fast and famous. Leadership is taking what we already do well, food production, and doing it even better over time by investing in innovation and technology. Todd Muller
People have a choice with how they respond to adversity in their life. Creating a positive attitude gives you more control over your circumstances. By staying positive, it means you can make the most out of your life no matter what gets thrown in your direction. – Emma Barker
Being part of a baying mob, for that is what much of our modern commentary has been reduced to, isn't brave and nor is it radical.
Standing up to them is. – Damien Grant
It is stupid and dangerous. But, we are on private property and we're just having a bit of fun.
No-one has got too hurt yet … we are not stupid about it. – Patrick Ens
The first challenge is that urban New Zealand does not understand the extent to which our national wealth depends on the two pillars of dairy and tourism. Yes, there are other important industries such as kiwifruit and wine, and yes, forestry, lamb and beef are also very important. But rightly or wrongly, our population has been growing rapidly, and the export economy also has to keep growing. There is a need for some big pillars.
Somehow, we have to create the exports to pay for all of the machinery, the computers, the electronics, the planes, the cars, the fuel and the pharmaceuticals on which we all depend. . . Keith Woodford
Believe passionately enough in something and you'll be shouting at the younger generation well into your eighties. – AnnaJones
We realise that Pharmac has a budget, but there seems to be a never ending open budget for welfare. New Zealand surely isn't so broke that we have to pick and choose who we let live and who we let die. But that is currently where we find ourselves.Allyson Lock
The problem with numbers is that they don't fudge.They're definite. Exact. Numbers don't lie. But people lie.People fudge. People lie about numbers. People fudge numbers. But numbers are the truth. . .
I think there's a political lesson here for this government. Watch the numbers or your number's up. – Andrew Dickens
My take away from all this is that referendums do have a place, even binding ones. But it is best to call on these when the issues are clear and easily understood by everyone in the community. Brexit or not might have seemed clear at the time, driven as it was mainly by fears of uncontrollable immigration across the Channel. But it was not of this genre. As Oscar Wilde remarks: 'The truth is rarely pure and never simple'. In such cases, perhaps best leave it to parliaments. That way we'll know who to blame it if all goes wrong. – Professor Roger Bowden
All kinds of wild ideas that are untested and are demonstrably bad for them and demonstrably wrong – these ideas can spread like wildfire so long as they are emotionally appealing. Social media and other innovations have cut the lines that previously would have tethered the balloon to Earth, and the balloon has taken off. – Jonathon Haidt
Pettiness is on the increase, too, in the constant calling-out of sometimes-casual language that was never intended to offend or harass, and even may have been written or uttered with well-meaning intent. – Joanne Black
Why then did I leave Greenpeace after 15 years in the leadership? When Greenpeace began we had a strong humanitarian orientation, to save civilization from destruction by all-out nuclear war. Over the years the "peace" in Greenpeace was gradually lost and my organization, along with much of the environmental movement, drifted into a belief that humans are the enemies of the earth. I believe in a humanitarian environmentalism because we are part of nature, not separate from it. The first principle of ecology is that we are all part of the same ecosystem, as Barbara Ward put it, "One human family on spaceship Earth", and to preach otherwise teaches that the world would be better off without us. Patrick Moore
There were rituals, prayer every night, communal eating, some adults staying at home looking after children while others went to work.
Looking back, it was one of the sweetest memories for me. It was a very secure, loving home with lots of uncles and aunts, and no shortage of cousins to play with. There wasn't a lot of money, but an abundance of aspiration. – Agnes Loheni
We need to be 90 per cent women. Not 46 per cent women. – Jill Emberson (speaking on the inequity of funding research for ovarian cancer)
These messages of envy and hopelessness—messages that lead to an insidious victim mentality and that are perpetuated by those who say they care more and are genuinely concerned for the communities I grew up in—lead to an outcome that is infinitely worse than any hard bigot or racist could ever hope to achieve. To take hopes and dreams away from a child through good intentions conflicts with the messages of aspiration, resilience, and compassion that I and my Pasefika community were exposed to as we grew up. That soft bigotry of low expectation is the road to hell laid brick by brick with good intentions.
Hope, resilience, compassion—these are the only messages that have any chance of succeeding and changing our course toward a better New Zealand. These values are not exclusive to my migrant parents; they are New Zealand's values. They fit hand-in-glove with our Kiwi belief in hard work, enterprise, and personal responsibility. Agnes Loheni
Politics is an odd kind of game that sometimes requires a ruthless self-interest and at others altruistic self-sacrifice. It's a patchwork of ideals and deals, virtue and vice, gamble and calculation. – Tim Watkin
Small business would pay the costs, large business would spend thousands avoiding the costs and tax advisors and valuers would have a field day. – AndrewHoggard
There are limits, even to the immodesty of the self-proclaimed First Citizen of the Provinces, the wandering bard with the bag of pūtea, bestowing largesse on the forgotten hamlets of Aotearoa. – Guyon Espiner
Once we recover from our grief, do we slide back into being passively a "good" country? To simply "not be racist" when what is required of us is to be outspoken "anti-racists"? I don't want thoughts and prayers. What I want to see is bold leadership, standing up and uniting in this message: that hate will not be allowed to take root and triumph here. And to then act on that message. I need us all to be courageous and really look inwards at the fears, judgment and complacence we may have allowed into our hearts, and look outward to demand a change in the conversation. And to be that change. Saziah Bashir
Words matter because when we isolate groups of people who don't make up the majority of those we see, we turn them into "others". And when we turn them into others we dehumanise them and make it easier to commit harm against them. – David Cormack
Being right wing to me means believing in free market ideals, open immigration where skills are needed, free trade and access to international markets, as little government intervention as possible and having the best people in your country to help your country become better. It means more opportunity for hard working immigrants. Quite often we ARE those bloody immigrants!
It's not about closed borders. It's not about denying people opportunity to build their businesses if they're hard working and wish to contribute to a country. It's not about wounding and killing people in places of prayer or on the streets. – Cactus Kate
New Zealand can never succeed, on any measure, by cowering behind a wall. Not just our economic destiny but our national identity depends on us maintaining the sense of adventure that brought us all here and extending manaakitanga to those who want to join us, visit us, do business with us, or take a holiday or study here.
Those of us who believe in these things should no longer reject the term neo-liberal, so often used as abuse, but reclaim it. What is the alternative: to be old conservatives? The political right needs to get back on track. – Matthew Hooton
We are broken-hearted, but we are not broken. We are alive, we are together, we are determined to not let anyone divide us.
To the families of the victims your loved ones did not die in vain, their blood has watered the seeds of hope. – Gamal Fouda
We like to tell our food story and we have terms like market research and consumer behaviour that help us as we pick what to produce and how. Put simply, what we're really doing is asking what does that person want and how can we make them happy? We're seeking understanding. We're listening to people we don't know as much about. We could use more of that in our everyday lives right now. – Bryan Gibson
Wise politicians pick no unnecessary fights that focus people on differences instead of on values they share. – StephenFranks
The way I've looked at married life is this – You make your bed, you lay in it.
"You get married and you think everything is a long tar-sealed road that is beautiful.
"And after a few years, you get a few potholes. And if you don't fix the potholes, they get bigger.
"You have to keep fixing them. – Jack van Zanten
NZ First feels like the stumbling, drunk boyfriend that the cool girl brought to the party. She's too good for him, and everyone can suddenly see it. – Heather du Plessis-Allan:
It was never clear to me whether anyone was doing anything useful or just pretending to do stuff to feel better about ourselves. How do you actually make the world a better place? – Danyl Mclauchlan
Social media and the changed nature of other media have obscured the capacity and need for real conversation. Ideas are not contested civilly, rather people are attacked, falsehoods multiply. Our evolution as social animals required mechanisms for group consensus and group rules. Democracy is a manifestation of that social dynamic and works best when publics are informed not manipulated,and can have a civil contest of worldviews, values and ideas informed by robust evidence. – Sir Peter Gluckman
I worry there is a drive to sanitise life. When the end gets difficult, we are saying, right, that's enough, let's cut it short. There are alternatives. There are other choices to ameliorate suffering of all types. Assisted death is not necessary.
How we die says a lot about our society. Having held a few hands of the dying, I know that those moments are sacred. I didn't swear the oath of first doing no harm, to then participate in an activity with multiple harmful effects to both the living and the dying. – Hinemoa Elder
Reasoned communication is the way across the divide of difference. It requires leaving the past and its animosities behind. But this is very difficult. The past gives us a sense of security and belonging. The institutions of modern society which unite us don't have the same pulling power as the rallying cries of the isms. No wonder ethnic nationalisms, nativisms, and populisms with their 'us not you' and 'our culture not yours' are winning out. Unexamined belief is more satisfying than reason – and its easier. – Elizabeth Rata
People's wellbeing, even their lives, are at risk while well-meaning people make statements based on inappropriate and flawed research. – Jacqueline Rowarth
Only around 20 per cent of the population lives in the countryside, and decisions are being made about them and for them by predominantly urban people, many of whom have little understanding or empathy for their rural neighbours. – Dr Margaret Brown
Such is the far left's belief in their own moral superiority that, while they point the finger of blame at others with alacrity, they appear to lack the self-awareness and self-reflection that would lead them to at least wonder whether they themselves are complicit in contributing to a divisive and hateful society. – Juliet Moses
I want to turn to our Māori people, because I believe it is time to switch your political allegiance back to yourself, to your own tino rakatirataka. The political tribalism of saying we only vote for the party is not doing us any favours. You must demand on every politician that walks across your marae ātea that they show you the proof of their commitment to working hard for you before you give them your vote, because talk is cheap, whānau. Actions, ringa raupā—the callused hands—those are what spoke loudly to our conservative tīpuna, and it is time to demand politicians show you their calloused hands, their ringa raupā, as evidence of what they have achieved for you. – Nuk Korako
However, the real danger to meddling in our sound and proven speech laws is that institutions, agencies and interest groups with their own social and political agendas will likely have a disproportionate influence that is not in the national interest. There will be some whose sole intent is to undermine the free speech we already enjoy. – Joss Miller
It's easy to take it for granted that we are mostly led by politicians who are motivated to do their best by us; one look around the world today shows us how easily it could be different.
Politics in New Zealand has undoubtedly become more tribal since I started but beneath the rhetoric the differences are really not so great.
I leave here firmly believing there are no good guys or bad guys; the various parties may have different solutions to the same problems but fundamentally there is the same will to solve the problems. – Tracy Watkins
I realised two things that day. I would never, ever, let anyone I cared for enter a life of politics – and that politicians bleed, just like the rest of us. In the years since, I've tried to remember the power of words to hurt. – Tracy Watkins
My clear thrust in politics has been around … actually what we've just seen in Australia, what ScoMo called the 'quiet Australians', they're here in New Zealand too. All they really want from a government is a strong economy, good public services and for us to get out of the way, and let them get on with their families, and that's what drives me – Simon Bridges
I don't think we do anyone any favours by pretending it's easy, because it isn't. I don't think you can have everything all at once. – Linda Clark
"It is the private sector that will do the heavy lifting. Nothing will happen unless and until the owners of companies take the decision to invest more, hire more people, and take a risk on economic opportunity. Steven Joyce
The more you pay people, the fewer people you can afford to pay. Unless of course you sell more, and you only sell more if people feel good about buying. – Mike Hosking
I am living the way my forefathers lived, who left the footprint for me. It was good enough for my people, for my parents, my grandparents, who bought the house in 1887 – it is a tribute to them. – Margaret Gallagher
If I won the lottery, I would still live here. I am a rural rooted spinster. – Margaret Gallagher
Preachers of tolerance and inclusion must no longer seek to silence and condemn those with opinions that make them uncomfortable but are nevertheless opinions based on another person's own beliefs and values systems. While we need to stay vigilant and investigate people who post offensive material online, we need to be equally concerned about any move in this House to restrict freedom of speech, a move which has all too often been used by those in power to silence those with differing opinions or ideas. This doctrine, peddled by those who pretend to be progressive, asserts that the mere expression of ideas itself is a limitation on the rights of others. This is preposterous. We must always run the risk of being offended in the effort to afford each citizen their freedom of expression, their freedom to be wrong, and, yes, unfortunately, even nasty. We must let the punishment of those with hateful messages be their own undoing. Paulo Garcia
It's a blunt instrument that doesn't always work, but parents love and understand their children. They are uniquely placed to make them see sense and not rush off with some jezebel or fall pregnant to some ageing lothario.
Welfare is a merino-covered sledge hammer that smashes these traditional bonds. Teenagers are freed from the financial constraints of their family and can turn to a new parent, the state, who will not judge, lecture, or express disappointment in their life decisions. . .
When you design a system that disenfranchises parents and undermines families you are rewarded with a cohort of lost children and will, in a few short years, find yourself taking babies off teenagers who are unfit to be parents. – Damien Grant
Pasture-based New Zealand dairy production is the most carbon efficient dairy farming system in the world. In fact, you can ship a glass of New Zealand milk to the next most efficient country (Ireland) and drink it there and it still has a lower carbon footprint than an equivalent Irish glass of milk. – Nathan Penny
Kids are kids. PARENTING has changed. SOCIETY has changed. The kids are just the innocent victims of that. Parents are working crazy hours, consumed by their devices, leaving kids in unstable parenting/co-parenting situations, terrible media influences … and we are going to give the excuse that the KIDS have changed? What did we expect them to do? Kids behave in undesirable ways in the environment they feel safest.
They test the water in the environment that they know their mistakes and behaviours will be treated with kindness and compassion. For those "well-behaved" kids – they're throwing normal kid tantrums at home because it's safe. The kids flipping tables at school? They don't have a safe place at home. Our classrooms are the first place they've ever heard 'no', been given boundaries, shown love through respect. – Jessica Gentry
In a nation like ours, immigration is a kind of oxygen, each fresh wave reenergizing the body as a whole. As a society, when we offer immigrants the gift of opportunity, we receive in return vital fuel for our shared future. – L. Rafael Reif
We should be very wary of underplaying the progress and successes we've already made as food producers and custodians of the land. If we pay too much attention to the critics, it saps motivation and puts more stress on the shoulders of farmers and their families. – Katie Milne
The opportunities in the agri-food sector are endless, even if you live in the city. You just have to be passionate – James Robertson
The choice really is clear. Do we want to be remembered in the future for being the generation that overreacted and spent a fortune feeling good about ourselves but doing very little, subsidising inefficient solar panels and promising slight carbon cuts — or do we want to be remembered for fundamentally helping to fix both climate and all the other challenges facing the world? – Bjorn Lomborg
My starting point for this with public health is very simple, I do not plan to be the moral police, and will not tell people how to live their lives, but I intend to help people get information that forms the basis for making choices. – Sylvi Listhaug
Pastoral agriculture is a pretty simple and slick system. We turn a natural resource that we can't eat (grass) into something we can eat (meat and milk) with grazing animals. The land we (the world) use to do this is, by and large, not suitable for the production of sugar or the other 40 ingredients needed for cultured meat. Or, for the ingredients required in the less-terrifying, but no-less-processed plant-based "meats".
Some people can't stand the thought of an animal being killed for their food. So be it. Let them eat cake… or felafel. But, when it comes to meat, there is no substitute for the simplicity and safety of the real deal. – Nicola Dennis
But at times like this the public more than ever look to the media for impartial coverage. Is it too much to expect that journalists set aside their personal views and concentrate instead on giving people the information they need to properly weigh the conflicting arguments and form their own conclusions? –Karl du Fresne
Governments who are put in place by voters to help those that have been missing out enact policies that ensure those people keep missing out.
And those same Governments store up economic imbalances that bring real risks for our collective future security. All for the sake of short-term policies that appear popular in the here and now. – Steven Joyce
The whole idea of tearing the heart out of a nation's economy to reduce methane emissions from livestock is an unbelievable display of scientific, technological and economic ignorance. It goes far beyond simply not knowing or being mistaken. It is profound ignorance compounded by understanding so little it is not even possible to recognise one's own ignorance which is then made malignant by thinking it must be imposed on everyone else for their own good. – Walter Starck
Everyone that's being fired and publicly embarrassed about a misdemeanor and being called a Nazi — there are real Nazis who are getting away with it. This must be amazing for real racists to be out there, and going, "It's all right, everyone's a racist now, this is a great smokescreen, we've got people out there calling people who aren't Nazis, Nazis. . . . They don't know the real Nazis from people who said the wrong thing once!" . . . It plays into the hands of the genuinely bad people. – Ricky Gervais
I get the equality movement – it's valid and important. But I also know the dangers, firsthand, that mindset can play if we encourage everyone to see themselves as the same, instead of embrace the differences God intentionally created us with.
I have been more successful as a professional, a wife and a friend once I learned to embrace myself as different, not equal. – Kate Lambert
The creation of wealth should not be confused with the creation of money and the amount of money in circulation at any given point. – Henry Armstrong
For me, it was South Island farmer Sean Portegys who articulated best what so many farmers are feeling – he told me that in a drought, you don't despair because it's always going to rain. In a snowstorm, the sun will come out eventually. When prices are bad, and he said they'd just gone through a rough patch a few years ago, it's always going to come right eventually. The problem is now, he said, the situation that farmers are facing is a lack of hope. He says he just doesn't see a future in what he's doing. And if farmers don't see a future, then the future of New Zealand Inc looks bleak. – Kerre McIvor
The problem is, if you propose a set of rules that are unachievable you don't get community buy-in and if you don't get community buy-in, you don't actually make any progress,- David Clark
There are no perfect human societies or human systems or human beings. But that shouldn't stop us celebrating our past, our heritage, our culture – the things that, by opening to the world, made this country, for all its faults and failings and relative economic decline in recent decades, one of the more prosperous and safe countries on earth. – Michael Reddell
The productivity commission says – in a much nicer way than this – that most councillors are a bunch of useless numpties with no understanding of governance of finance, and so really aren't capable of handling the big stuff. – Tina Nixon
If you cannot even state an opponent's position in order to illustrate the benefit of arguing with that opponent, then free speech is over. Because no dialogue then is possible. Professor Jim Flynn
Freedom of speech is important because it is a contest of ideas.
When you forbid certain ideas, the only way you can be effective is by being more powerful. So it becomes a contest of strength. If you shut 'em up, not only does that make it a matter of `might makes right', you haven't proved that your views are more defensible, you've just proved that you are stronger. Further, that must be the worst formula for finding truth that's ever been invented. It's either a contest of ideas or a contest of strength. Professor Jim Flynn
A free society cannot allow social media giants to silence the voices of the people. And a free people must never, ever be enlisted in the cause of silencing, coercing, cancelling or blacklisting their own neighbours. Professor Jim Flynn
People have to grow up. Being educated is getting used to hearing ideas that upset you. – Professor Jim Flynn
I see precautionary investment against climate change as equivalent in political decision-making, to expenditure on defence. Both require spending for highly uncertain benefit. No one can know whether we genuinely have an enemy who will attack. No one can know if our precautions will be effective. Hopefully the investment will be untested. We can't know until afterwards whether it is wasted. Yet it is rational to try, because the catastrophe could be so overwhelming if the risk matures without resilience or mitigation precautions.
But such investment remains foolish if it is unlikely reduce CO2 levels materially, or to improve New Zealand's ability to cope if change happens nevertheless. Given NZ's inability to affect the first, an insurance investment should focus primarily on resilience. The Zero Carbon Bill does neither. So my government is wasting the elite political consensus that 'something must be done". Instead they're conspicuously trumpeting their "belief" in climate change, and their intentions to act. If the law is enforced it will likely increase emissions overseas, and not influence foreign governments to mitigate the risk, who can affect the outcome. – Stephen Franks
The brute facts of New Zealand history suggest that if it's blame Maori and Pakeha are looking for, then there's plenty to go around. Rather than apportion guilt, would it not be wiser to accept that the Pakeha of 2019 are not – and never will be – "Europeans"? Just as contemporary Maori are not – and can never be again – the Maori who inhabited these islands before Cook's arrival. Would it not, therefore, be wiser to accept, finally, that both peoples are victims of historical forces too vast for blame, too permanent for guilt?– Chris Trotter
As I have gone through my horrible journey, I have realised why ovarian cancer support doesn't gain the kind of traction that breast cancer does. It is because we are small in number, and we die really quickly, so we don't have the capacity to build up an army of advocates. With breast cancer, there is a lot more women who get it, therefore they can build and build their army of advocates and they are able to raise more money, get more research, and get better outcomes, so they live longer. We need the support of breast cancer survivors. We need them to link arms with us to grow our army for ovarian cancer, which will then help us get more funding fairness. Funding leads to research, and research leads to longer lives. – Jill Emberson
This idea of purity and you're never compromised and you're politically woke, and all that stuff — you should get over that quickly. The world is messy. There are ambiguities. People who do really good stuff have flaws. People who you are fighting with may love their kids and share certain things with you. – Barack Obama
I can't make people not afraid of black people. But maybe if I show up every day as a human, a good human, maybe that work will pick away at the scabs of your discrimination. –Michelle Obama
In South Africa, pressure is not having a job or if one of your close relatives is murdered. In South Africa there are a lot of problems, which is pressure. – Rassie Erasmus
We shouldn't subsidise the smelter. Rather we should stop forcing Southlanders to subsidise Aucklanders. We should also revert to a more gradual water plan that gives farmers time to adapt, and we should let Southland retain control of SIT. Then we should get out of the way and let the sensible practical Southlanders get on with making a success of their province. – Steven Joyce
All of us face trials and tribulations. No-one always wins, in the end we all lose. We lose friends, marriages, money, get anxious, our bodies break down, our minds go, and then we die. Isn't life great?
But actually, isn't living also a lot of highs? Births, marriages, beaches, trips abroad, friends, sporting victories, pets, pay increases, leaves sprouting in spring, fish and chips on a sunny day. – Kevin Norquay
You've got to come up with some kind of middle ground where you do reasonable things to mitigate the risk and try at the same time to lift people out of poverty and make them more resilient. We shouldn't be forced to choose between lifting people out of poverty and doing something for the climate. – Kerry Emanuel
Knowledge in long-term memory is not a nice-to-have. Rather, it is an integral part of mental processing without which our working memories (which can hold only about four items at a time) become quickly overloaded. – Briar Lipson
None of it convinces me from my position that there is no "I" in meat but if you look closely you will find the words me and eat. That should be good enough to convince tree huggers and hippies that they should be switching back to natural. – Cactus Kate
It [managerialism] undermines the ability of state services to help citizens, but empowers it to infantilise us.
We're discouraged from acting on our own, and forced to bow to experts. Yet systems and fancy talk prevent experts taking substantive action for fear of career, safety, or arbitrary consequences for taking the "wrong" action. In these environments, there are no career prospects for heroes. Mark Blackham
It used to be that people joined the Labour Party to make their lives better off. Now they join to make someone else's life better off. – Josie Pagani
If all the new Tory voters wanted was more from the state and more lecturing on how to live their lives, they would have voted for Labour. These voters want a hand up, not a handout. If you give people things and make them reliant upon the state then next time they will vote for those who will give them more things. – Matthew Lesh
. . .It matters because the still-cherished principles of secular humanism, which continue to inspire the multitude of moral arbiters who police social media, come with provenance papers tracing them all the way back to a peculiar collection of Jews and Gentiles living and writing in the Roman Empire of 2,000 years ago. Ordinary human-beings who gathered to hear and repeat the words of a carpenter's son: the Galilean rabbi, Yeshua Ben-Joseph. Words that still constitute the core of the what remains the world's largest religious faith – Christianity.
It matters, also, because, to paraphrase Robert Harris, writing in his latest, terrifying, novel The Second Sleep: when morality loses its power, power loses its morality. Chris Trotter
Whatever the reasons, it saddens me that the spiritual dimension of Christmas has withered as it has. Because the nativity story literally marks the beginning of a faith which, whatever the woke folk may say, is a core piece of our heritage and the foundation of our morals, manners and laws. For that reason alone, it has a place on Christmas Day. Jim Hopkins
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A tale of two caucuses
National leader Simon Bridges announced a minor reshuffle of portfolios yesterday:
"Paul Goldsmith will become the spokesperson for Finance and Infrastructure following today's announcement from Amy Adams that she will leave at the next election.
"Paul is the natural choice for the Finance role. He has done an outstanding job holding the Government to account in the Economic and Regional Development portfolio.
Shane Jones will be very happy with this change, though he shouldn't relax, the two taking over Paul's portfolios will be just as effective at holding the Minister to account.
"Regional and Economic Development will now be split across two spokespeople. Todd McClay will look after Economic Development, while Chris Bishop will take over the Regional Development and Transport portfolios.
"Chris has done a brilliant job as spokesperson for Police and deserves to take on more responsibility.
"Jo Hayes has been appointed the spokesperson for Māori Development and Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations following the departure of Nuk Korako. Jo is a passionate advocate for Māori.
"Gerry Brownlee will pick up the Foreign Affairs portfolio, Brett Hudson will take on the Police portfolio and Tim Macindoe will become the Shadow Attorney-General.
"Other changes include Michael Woodhouse as the Associate Finance spokesperson, Maggie Barry taking over the Disability Issues portfolio, Stuart Smith will be the spokesperson for Immigration, Todd Muller will be the spokesperson for Forestry, Nicola Willis will take on the Youth portfolio and our newest MP Paulo Garcia will become the Associate Foreign Affairs spokesperson.
"I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank both Amy Adams and Alastair Scott for their valuable contributions to the National Party and Parliament. Amy was a brilliant Minister across a range of portfolios. The changes she made to domestic violence laws as Justice Minister have made families in New Zealand safer. Amy has excelled as our Finance spokesperson and has been an outstanding member for Selwyn.
"Alastair should be proud of the work he has done to prevent drug driving, and for the way he has represented and advocated for the people of Wairarapa. I'm pleased they will be here for the rest of the term to help us form policies for the 2020 election.
"National is the largest and most effective Opposition this country has ever seen. I'm proud to lead such a talented and hardworking team."
This afternoon @simonjbridges announced a reshuffle of the National team, including @PaulGoldsmithMP as our new Finance Spokesperson. Here's a look at the changes! pic.twitter.com/yQqcSMIKNu
— NZ National Party (@NZNationalParty) June 25, 2019
There are no surprises there and there will probably be none in tomorrow's reshuffle of Cabinet but there is a major difference between the two caucuses – there's plenty of talent in National's with many MPs capable of becoming Ministers.
By contrast Labour's is a shallow pool and, as Barry Soper noted:
. . .The reshuffle will be minor because most of those who should be in Cabinet are already there. And the amount of time Ardern's taken getting around to shuffling the chairs just goes to show how hard leadership is for a person who clearly finds it hard to be hard. . .
Ardern doesn't have much to choose from and, if past form is a guide, will be reluctant to demote the poorest performers.
1 Comment	| politics	| Tagged: Alastair Scott, Amy Scott, Barry Soper, Brett Hudson, Chris Bishop, Gerry Brownlee, Jacinda Ardern, Jo Hayes, Maggie Barry, Michael Woodhouse, Nicola Willis, Nuk Korako, Paul Goldsmith, Paulo Garcia, Shane Jones, Simon Bridges, Stuart Smith, Tim Macindoe, Todd McLay, Todd Muller	| Permalink
Paulo Garcia's maiden speech
National MP Paulo Garcia delivered his maiden speech yesterday:
PAULO GARCIA (National): Thank you, Mr Speaker.
[Authorised Te Reo text to be inserted by the Hansard Office.]
[Authorised translation to be inserted by the Hansard Office.]
[Filipino text to be inserted by the Hansard Office.]
We thank our loving God, that he has given his children the opportunity to serve New Zealand not just in nursing homes and hospitals, in dairy farms and construction sites, in IT and engineering and hospitality but also now in the New Zealand Parliament. Grant us a steady heart, mind, and body that we may help bring your will for us in New Zealand to fruition, because this is what this country of New Zealand has done for me and the migrant community from the Philippines that I am a part of. This country has welcomed us into corners of this society that our Asian community is not normally associated with—dairy farms, the mainstay of rural New Zealand life that so much of our country's myths and legends stem from, and, yes, I refer to the Colin Meads and other farming legends of our national All Blacks team. That farming Filipinos will uphold the tradition of farmers supplying rugby players to the All Blacks is an aspiration I have not entirely given up on!
I am Paulo Garcia, I am Catholic, I am a Filipino, and a New Zealander, and I am happy, excited, and blessed to be standing here before you. It is a privilege and an honour to work with all of you, and it is a testament to this great nation that migrants can become New Zealanders and represent this nation in our House of Parliament—a greatness that was sorely tested earlier this year when a man determined to drive division and intolerance into our midst entered two mosques and killed 51 people, 51 people who had chosen to make this great nation of ours home, 51 people of faith, of Islam, who were expressing the convictions of their beliefs. The evil man who aimed to drive religious intolerance into our midst must not be allowed to succeed. Equally, those who aimed to do the same in Sri Lanka when they attacked and killed hundreds of Catholic worshipers sought too to drive religious intolerance. Equally, they must not be allowed to succeed.
They will not succeed, because this nation allows migrants of all faiths and ethnic backgrounds to succeed and to be represented within this hallowed Chamber. That I am here tonight as the first member of the New Zealand Parliament of Filipino descent is a tribute to the National Party's recognition of strength in diversity and the value that ethnic communities bring to New Zealand—a New Zealand that holds itself out as open to all, where people from the world over are able to live without fear in the practice of their faith and values, and in observance of their cultural norms. This makes for a multicultural and ethnically diverse New Zealand. There is not a day that I wake up without giving thanks for being in New Zealand. To be sure, not everything has been simple and rose coloured. I have also experienced hatred. I have been slandered and have been ostracised. Yet, I do not have a monopoly on this experience. In reality, many of us do experience this as well in various forms on a daily basis, not just migrants but many of our displaced youth, who seek connection from gangs; emotionally isolated people who seek refuge in drugs, alcohol, and gambling; the old who live alone and die without seeing their family and friends and who may soon be encouraged to die without seeing family and friends.
Even though we have evolved to be just and compassionate, we also have the evolved capacity for greed, anger, and hatred. All of us have the seeds of prejudice within us, but it is a question of which seeds we water and grow. There have been people who say my views are intolerant. Why? Because I am pro-life? Because I believe in the sanctity of life? Because I take the great Māori proverb literally and to its logical conclusion? He aha te mea nui o te ao? What is the most important thing in the world? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata—it is the people, it is the people, it is the people. Just as Māori have such a beautiful saying, so too do I stand on the words of Mahatma Gandhi when he said that the true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members. When it comes to human beings, we cannot pick and choose which ones are protected and which ones are not, and we cannot say some vulnerable lives must be protected but others not.
I am thankful for and proud of the wonderful response to the Christchurch attacks that were made by many in politics and the media, who were open and understanding to the Muslim community in New Zealand, my fellow travellers in faith, and just as we should be aware of the underbelly of ethnic intolerance in this country, we need to be equally aware of the prejudice of religious intolerance often used as a handy tool in debates. It is insulting for some in this Chamber to suggest that the sole motive to retrograde policies such as euthanasia are religious ones, which is akin to saying that people of faith do not have intellect and shouldn't also take their place here and contribute to society. We live in a day when we have put our own interests ahead of our children, and this modern society will continue to do so to its own detriment.
Men are particularly to blame. Women are often left abandoned, uncertain, and pressured to get rid of unexpected children or to raise them on their own. I salute in absolute praise all single mothers. I can honestly say that if either my wife or I had had to raise our daughters alone, we would have struggled severely as well. Despite the due importance we all attach to this task in our hands—that of governing this country—parenting is the most important job we really have. As mothers and fathers and, collectively, as a Parliament and as a nation, we need to support our parents, we need to support our families, and we need to support our children, but I highlight that the men of this country need to do more. We as men need to stand strong in our relationships. We must be reliable providers and protectors. We must show tamariki the way to respect and honour women.
Whatever laws we might pass in this Chamber, the pro-life voice must no longer be despised and discounted as offensive. Preachers of tolerance and inclusion must no longer seek to silence and condemn those with opinions that make them uncomfortable but are nevertheless opinions based on another person's own beliefs and values systems. While we need to stay vigilant and investigate people who post offensive material online, we need to be equally concerned about any move in this House to restrict freedom of speech, a move which has all too often been used by those in power to silence those with differing opinions or ideas. This doctrine, peddled by those who pretend to be progressive, asserts that the mere expression of ideas itself is a limitation on the rights of others. This is preposterous. We must always run the risk of being offended in the effort to afford each citizen their freedom of expression, their freedom to be wrong, and, yes, unfortunately, even nasty. We must let the punishment of those with hateful messages be their own undoing.
As representatives of our people, it is important to be able to faithfully fulfil at each moment the duties of love and justice we owe to all of New Zealand despite the difficulty of applying such principles to this contingent world. Keeping this sense of loyalty constantly active is the best defence against an ageing of the spirit, a hardening of the heart, and a stiffening of the mind that threatens us all. We need to be truly aware of our real motivation as to why we are here. Are we here just to promote self and self-interest, or are our actions ultimately driven by what will benefit our in group only? Our answers may reveal that we may then not truly be representative of all people in New Zealand, and we must and may rectify our intentions.
I would not be here without the help of amazing examples of fortitude and courage. My mother, Anna, as she personally took loving care of my father over the 10 years he suffered dementia until his death. My father-in-law, Rene, who personally took loving care of my mother-in-law as she was struck by ALS until her passing. Lawyer Lilia B. de Lima in the Philippines for fearless integrity in doing what is right. Ambassador Virginia Benavidez for her selfless dedication to the service of others. Jesus Domingo, our ambassador now, for his friendship. Lawyer Richard McLeod and Corban Revell Lawyers, National Party president Peter Goodfellow, MP Melissa Lee, and Roger Bridge, who all took a chance on this lawyer from the Philippines. My deepest gratitude and prayers go to MP Nuk Korako, for him and his family to go well, for his retirement allows me to stand here before you tonight.
Finally, I thank every single person who helped in the 2017 campaign—too many to name, many here tonight—who helped without measure day and night, in rain and cold, despite busy schedules and family commitments, moving concertedly towards an intangible goal, doing tasks that none of us have ever done before. The love of my life, Malu, and my beloved daughters
, who inspire me to give myself to others more and more every day, leaving nothing for myself. Fourteen years ago, I was a struggling student at the University of Auckland law, taking papers and the bar exam. Those were tough times. We were a single income household of six, but now here I stand as a Member of Parliament of this great nation.
Many will say that I am living a dream. I disagree. This is not a dream; this is a Kiwi reality.
May I end with the words of inspiration that drive me and give me hope for all New Zealand lives, words written by my daughter Mariana in her poem entitled "Identity".
A migrant house is built tall on foundations filled with sky, stacked with the hopes of generations into storeyed bastions that testify to us.
We were made to hold together.
I stand proud in the shade of a roof made for me to raise high by proclaiming I have a Spanish name, an American accent, and an Asian face.
And I have been welcomed in Aotearoa.
Thank you, Mr Speaker. Mabuhay.
Leave a Comment »	| politics	| Tagged: NZ National Party, Paulo Garcia	| Permalink
Nuk Korako resigns
National MP Nuk Korako has announced his resignation .
"It's been a privilege and a pleasure to work for our Port Hills community. We have shared some trying times together. The earthquakes, the Port Hills fires and the recent terror attack. I leave knowing our community has grown together and become stronger.
"Over the past five years I have been privileged to be the Chair of the National Party Māori Caucus, a member of the Māori Affairs, and Local Government and Environment Select Committees. Since 2017 it has also been a privilege to be the Party's Spokesperson for Māori Development and Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations.
"I'm especially proud to have chaired the Māori Affairs Select Committee – shepherding 16 Treaty Settlements to a conclusion. The Parihaka settlement is a particularly poignant one for me. Te Whiti and the Taranaki men that were wrongfully imprisoned were looked after by my Rāpaki hapū and so our ties run deep.
Korako ran against long-time Labour MP Ruth Dyson for the Port Hills electorate in 2014 and 2017 with the National's Party vote rising considerably. He has also been a vital member of National's Māori caucus, providing leadership and guidance to the wider Kahurangi National group which he set up with a new regional structure.
"I wanted to retire now so a new National Party candidate could be selected and have time to get to know the issues and people of Port Hills well ahead of the election. I expect National to do well in the 2020 race for Port Hills and I will be there to support the new candidate when they are selected," Korako says. . . "
I enjoyed Nuk's contribution when I was National's Southern regional chair.
He is a list MP which means his resignation won't trigger a by-election.
The next person on National's list is Paulo Garcia.
1 Comment	| politics	| Tagged: Nuk Korako, Paulo Garcia	| Permalink


PezCycling News - What's Cool In Road Cycling : Col de la Madone – A Côte d'Azur Classic!
Col de la Madone – A Côte d'Azur Classic!
Perched high above the glistening coastline of the Côte d'Azur in southeast France, the Col de la Madone may have never featured in the Tour de France but that hasn't stopped it becoming an international icon made famous by the many pros that would regularly frequent its slopes to test their form against the clock.
Starting from Menton, the final village on the French Riviera before crossing into Italy, the climb is 14.5 kilometres in length with an average gradient of 6.7%. Topping out at 927 metres above sea level it's a solid half hour time-trial if you're in world class shape and, along with the likes of Rocacorba and Sa Calobra, it's one of the most famous "pro" climbs on the planet.
Although there are a few different ways to take on the early part of the climb, the most obvious is to head for the D22 towards Sainte-Agnès. If you're chasing Strava then you can start your watch from the coast, alternatively a popular segment for the pros starts at the Intermarché as you pass through the tiny village of Les Castagnins.....however, legend has it that a certain Mr Armstrong, the man that ultimately made the Madone as famous as it is today, would start his stopwatch as he crossed the bridge after Les Castagnins. Landmarks and virtual start lines aside, what's the Madone like to actually ride?
Well, the first thing that's likely to hit you, aside from the early 7-9% gradient, is the huge viaduct that you traverse as vehicles rumble past way above. It's certainly not going to win any beauty contests but there's no denying that it's a serious feat of road engineering and, once past, you really start to feel like you're onto the climb proper, quickly gaining elevation as you head towards Sainte-Agnès.
The real charm of the climb comes in the final 5 kilometres as the road narrows to barely more than a single lane and you're gifted with view upon view of the Mediterranean coastline. A couple of tunnels, and slight easing in the gradient, adds to its character and allows you a moment to catch your breath before your final push towards the top.
At the summit a monument made out of old artillery shells and shrapnel with the words '"Combat de l'homme, éclats d'obus, désormais ne soyez plus que Madone de la paix" - "Battles of men, shards of shells, from now on you are no more than a Madonna of peace" offers a moment of contemplation before you start your descent. Take care, from both sides the road is narrow and unforgiving on the way back down.
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Stay well, ride safe and thank you for watching.


Unfulfilled expectancies examines the house and family members features, university educating practices, and family-school relationships that have an effect on the literacy improvement of low-income kids. Eschewing comparisons throughout social classification, the authors concentration solely on an ethnically assorted staff of low-income childrens in grades , 4, and 6, the thirty-two topics of a thorough two-year learn and a follow-up examine 5 years later. The authors pinpoint the various domestic elements which may clarify differential success by way of childrens from an analogous socioeconomic history. those contain the familys personal makes use of of literacy, their attitudes towards and verbal exchange with the colleges, their social networks, their principles and schedules, and their susceptibility to fiscal and mental tension. The publication demanding situations assumptions approximately low-income households dedication to and curiosity of their young children education and provides important concepts for fogeys, lecturers, and directors to make sure that low-income young children satisfy their early promise.
The Mysterious Island tells the interesting tale of 5 americans stranded on an uncharted island within the South Pacific. in the course of the American Civil battle, Richmond, Virginia used to be the capital of the accomplice States of the United States. 5 northern prisoners of warfare choose to get away Richmond in a slightly strange manner - through hijacking a balloon.
OK, page 186. " H e waited while the students slowly flipped through their readers, looking for the page he'd cited. Valerie and Kerry were still out of their seats. " Valerie had sat down now but hadn't opened her book. " Mr. Barasch said, "Right, so they're not just drawings, they're about something factual. Before we read today, I want you to copy each of the new words f r o m the story. " H e moved to the board and began writing f r o m a list of words: static, editorial, prophetic, ignite, analogy, horizontally.
Some, however, were more skilled at classroom management than Mr. Barasch. We walked into Mr. Barasch's room on a sunny April day. The teacher, a dark-haired man in his early fifties, was distributing yellow paper to a class of sixteen students. Children's desks were arranged in a large U-shape, facing the front blackboard and the teacher's desk. S. map attached to a front bulletin board and a commercial poster of the Grand Canyon between the rear windows. S. flag and a printed set of fire drill instructions flanked the blackboard; homework assignments from the previous day were chalked in at one corner.
H e waited while the students slowly flipped through their readers, looking for the page he'd cited. Valerie and Kerry were still out of their seats. " Valerie had sat down now but hadn't opened her book. " Mr. Barasch said, "Right, so they're not just drawings, they're about something factual. Before we read today, I want you to copy each of the new words f r o m the story. " H e moved to the board and began writing f r o m a list of words: static, editorial, prophetic, ignite, analogy, horizontally.


He didn't show up for my last appointment and no one answers the phone at his office. I saw him for over a decade and he is now gone, not even giving me a referall.
I have been patiend of Dr Rosansky for 4 years now and couldn't have found a better doctor. He specializes in addiction treatment, and does quite well with duel diagnosis patients. I have had my struggles with addiction and he has worked well with me. When I Wasnt doing so well he could tell if I wasn't being totally honest with him and would prescribe according to my current condition at the time, not to overprecrbibe, but give me whats necessary to manage my symtoms.
Dr. Rosanski is a remarkable Doctor who takes the time to really listen and properly diagnose his patients before prescribing medication. He is kind and compassionate as well extraordinarily intelligent.
Dr Rosansky was my grandmother's psychiatrist in Gloucester mass in the 1970's. He is now my psychiatrist and addictions Dr and I can be honest no matter what and I get the right help. It is not just up to a Dr to keep you well. He prescribed the medicine and you need to do the rest. Geta therapist, check out NA mtgs, they are not for everyone, unless you don't want to hear the truth and keep wanting to repeat the same mistakes expecting different resuls. I have been with him for almost 7 years.


Wealth Astro-Numerologist and psychic Tania Gabrielle introduced the merging of two ancient divination arts -- Astrology and Numerology -- to the Western world.
Renowned as a gifted channel, Tania unlocks the codes in the stars, names, and numbers to facilitate wealth and well-being. By decoding any person or entity's birth promise and forecast map, Tania guides her clients to claim their true destiny and divine mission. Her primary focus is on teaching spiritual principles that manifest practical, real-life results.
As the founder and creator of Numerology Academy™ -- the first online certification course integrating Astrology and Numerology --Tania has taught and certified hundreds of students in 37 countries.
Tania was featured and quoted in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, ESPN Magazine, Essence Magazine, ESPN.com, Yahoo.com, and US Magazine and interviewed for two documentaries: Quantum Communication and The Voice.
Also a gifted composer of classical music, Tania has had her music performed worldwide in the most prestigious concert halls by Grammy Award-winning artists.
In 2018 Tania launched her book, Ultimate Guide to Numerology: Use the Power of Numbers and Your Birthday Code to Manifest Money, Magic, and Miracles.


The Alliance Française de Buffalo is a cultural organization that encourages and furthers the knowledge of French speaking cultures and language in Western New York. We offer French conversational classes for adults, social gatherings, and cultural events both in English and in French. We operate as a non-profit, non-political, non-discriminatory organization. Become a member by using this Membership Application, or by following the link below.
Join the French-speaking community in the heart of Buffalo! We invite you to become a member of Buffalo's vibrant French-speaking community. Founded in 1903, the Alliance Française de Buffalo is among the city's first and most active centers for language training and cultural events. Whether you wish to improve your language skills, follow workshops in cooking and wine tasting, watch award-winning films or browse our library - it's all available to you.
By becoming a member of the Alliance Française de Buffalo, you join a group of people who enjoy speaking French, learning French, or discovering French culture.
Receive the monthly digital newsletter bulletin that keeps you up to date on the upcoming Alliance Française activities, as well as French related activities in the region.
The personal satisfaction of knowing that you are supporting an organization that has been promoting cultural exchange in Buffalo for nearly 115 years.
Free participation in all discussion cafes including cafe litterature (cercle de lecture).
Unlimited access to Culturetheque, an online treasure trove of french language gems: award winning literature, music, documentaries, crime novels - even the major newspapers and magazines! 24/7 from the comfort of your home.
AFB Members receive Discounts with Partner Businesses. Special promo codes can be obtained by calling us at 716.688.4171.
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Full-time student membership for students currently enrolled in a high school or college/university program with 12 or more hours.
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We recognize our supporting members in our quarterly newsletter and our annual meeting.
Please carry your membership card in order to benefit from special member offers.
The Alliance Française de Buffalo offers a rich Cultural Program and regular Social Activities, supports the learning of French in WNY to local schools, and offering French Language Classes.
The educational and cultural mission of the organization could not be reached without the commitment of volunteers, fundraising programs and financial support. Volunteers, members of the Board of Directors, offer their time and talents to bring many programs to success.
But the donations in kind and the financial support of corporations, organizations and individuals allow the Alliance Française de Buffalo to sustain a wide variety of programs in French to Western New York.
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Considering Langevin DVC, but maybe too little gain for me?
Guitar seems to have tuned itself?
Help! Can you remove this hum?!
Comfortable headphones to sleep in?
would you consider bass trapping the "wall"?
Two Different mics for drum overhead?
Peakmeter: How to hook up?
IS Kurzweil Rumour better then plugins?
412 or 212 guitar cabinet? Room acoustics? Glasswool?
anybody know what model these Tannoys are?
Pro sounding reverb or how you treat reverb?
Studio for drums in NYC?
Art pro VLA II and pro MPA II with MESA tubes?
Where are all the bands going on the web?
Good TRANSPARENT mic preamp or good wireless?
I was out for my normal morning workout walk on the hill and just couldn't resist snapping a photo.
Grace Design m101 or Blue Robbie?
Thoughts on thes vocal and bass rider plugs?
A good mixbuss comp for electronic music.


text:
Home » Partnerships » Partnerships for Success » Guam Prevention Pillars for Success
THE LATTE FOUNDATION FOR SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY PREVENTION EFFORTS
The new look of Guam's Logic Model for PEACE reflects the Latte Stone, a symbol of the indigenous Chamorro culture that reflects a rich cultural heritage in the Pacific whose strength and pride centers on the foundation of accepted responsibility for taking caring of one another. The Chamorro culture, like most other Pacific Island cultures builds upon the concept of "we-esteem" and not "self-esteem", whereby individuals, families and the broader community works and lives interdependently and not independently. All belong to this One Nation of Pacific peoples who give generously in support of one another as part of daily living and by providing resources and help especially during times of need and crisis.
PILLARS FOR PEACE PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
During Guam's August 2013 Gathering of Pacific Islanders for PEACE, two hundred youth and adults actively participated in facilitated discussions about what the meaning of PEACE (Prevention Education and Community Empowerment) is to them, what their vision for Guam in 2018 was, and what they felt were important and necessary strategies and actions that must be included in Guam's 5-Year Comprehensive PEACE Plan in order to achieve their shared Vision for Guam in 2018. Key planning areas upon which GOPEACE stakeholders focused on for enhancing Guam's prevention and early intervention services include attention to: Culture, Safety, Health, Infrastructure, Education and the Environment. The majority felt strongly that PEACE efforts needed to help build a foundation of awareness and acceptance of the diverse groups of Pacific Islanders who live among the indigenous Chamorro people of Guam. Their common principles and cultural values of respect and spirituality as peoples of the Pacific are the strengths upon which important relationships and partnerships will be built for PEACE. GOPEACE participants also felt strongly that a safer, clean and healthier ecosystem was critical to fostering and sustaining positive behavioral health among the people of Guam. A holistic approach for improving Guam's infrastructure, human services system and public safety is needed and thereby requires true collaboration and active participation from spiritual and cultural leaders, elected government officials, primary and behavioral health care providers, agriculture and aquaculture resources, educational institutions, law enforcement, private businesses, youth, parents and families. Specific 5-Year PEACE Plan strategies and action steps were proposed as follows:
1. Empowered Youth: Engage and empower our youth - providing a safe and healthy future for our youth.
The youth identified education excellence as a foundation step towards success in their lives. With formal education, opportunities would be more realistically available to help them achieve personal, family and community goals; to be part of the change that includes perpetuating the cultural values, beliefs, strengths and practices among the Pacific Island cultures.
Projected Timelines
Strengthen and enforce local policies regarding official youth representation on official Government of Guam Boards, Councils and Committees, as well as government-funded organizations that serve youths' interests.
Research existing local policies and youth representation.
Promote inclusion of youth and diversity in their representation from ethnic groups, military, and LGBT; including the promotion of active participation of youth from high risk backgrounds, those that have been involved in the Juvenile Justice System and youth in recovery.
Generate recommendations and nominations of individuals for official submission.
Year One – 1st and 2nd Quarters
Increase number of youth on Guam certified as trainers in behavioral health-related prevention trainings.
Identify youth who meet the age criteria to become certified trainers in prevention courses such as Substance Abuse
Prevention Skills Training (SAPST), Applied Suicide Intervention Skills
Training (ASIST), safeTALK (Tell, Ask, Listen, Know), Gathering of Native
Americans (GONA), Connect – Suicide Post-Vention Training, Mental Health First Aid (MHFA).
Develop formal Agreements between GBHWC and youth or youth organization indicating commitment to receive training certification and to conduct training for their peers as needed.
Year One – 3rd and 4th Quarters
Develop prevention media campaign materials (print and electronic) with youth, for youth.
Identify youth mentors and role models in prevention who are potentially influential with their peers and who represent cultural and ethnic diversity.
Conduct focus groups and other activities involving youth who will help develop media concepts, designs, product development and distribution plan.
Year One - 3rd and 4th Quarters
Increase diversity of youth representation and participation in youth leadership programs and events.
Develop and strengthen partnerships by including organizations who serve youth such as Youth for Youth Live Guam, Just Say No Dance Crew, Sanctuary, Inc., Guam Alternative Lifestyle Association (GALA), public and private schools, faith- based organizations.
Recruit youth who are underserved and who may be at greater risk for self-harm and substance use/abuse (including youth in recovery and those involved in the Juvenile Justice System) to participate in island wide prevention programs and services that offer knowledge, training, resources and support.
Year One –2nd Quarter and ongoing
Increase opportunities for student internships in prevention programs as well as pre-employment education and training in the behavioral health field and other career fields of interest.
Promote "stay-in-school" messages to encourage students to complete high school graduation requirements.
Encourage applicants for Prevention Fellowship Programs such as what is offered by SAMHSA/CSAP.
Promote student registration for established behavioral health courses at the Guam Community College.
2. Effective Communication: Implement a social media and communications plan that is inclusive and culturally responsive.
Community stakeholders find media campaign messages more relatable and effective when a personal story is told and by a person who is familiar and respected from their community, and in their primary language and form of communication.
Establish a working group for media campaign plan development with 12-15 individuals who represent youth and adults from various cultural backgrounds and professions.
Invite members from known cultural groups and organizations to include GOPEACE participants.
Orient group members to PEACE work and resources that have been developed such as the Epidemiological Profiles on Substance Abuse and Suicide and Info graphics.
Develop framework and prevention focus for media campaign theme, audio and visual products, targeted populations and communities and dissemination.
Develop a process for soliciting and receiving community feedback.
Year One- 1st and 2nd Quarters
Maintain and enhance social media and marketing resources for PEACE.
Assess current utilization rates of www.peaceguam.org website.
Increase the number of informative website links to other community resources such as the NCD consortium and committees that promote overall health and wellness.
Year One- 2nd Quarter and ongoing
Adhere to CLAS (cultural and linguistically appropriate services) standards in all media campaign materials development.
Assess special needs of individuals who may be involved in PEACE events who are visually, hearing or physically impaired and require special accommodations or training resources (such as ASIST workbooks in Braille). Obtain needed resources and technical support for the conduct of trainings and/or the effective delivery of prevention services.
Develop an annual master calendar for training and other prevention-related events for improved coordination of T/TA services and advanced participant planning.
Solicit information from public and private organizations on planned trainings that may be of interest to PEACE.
Include relevant trainings on a PEACE Master Training Calendar and make available on www.peaceguam.org or distribute via e-mail and post hardcopies in key community spots.
Year One - 1st and 2nd Quarters
3. Strong Leadership: Demonstrating strong leadership through integrity, transparency, and follow-through.
The 2013 GOPEACE was attended by a significant number of natural born leaders who represent people from their ethnic and cultural groups, civic/social and faith-based organizations, school and village communities, youth and parent organizations, and persons in recovery who now mentor and inspire others. Leaders among Pacific Islander groups are respected, trusted and counted on to voice concerns of those who may be underserved, underrepresented and/or misrepresented.
Provide opportunities for trainings in effective leadership and mentoring in behavioral health.
Identify and recruit natural leaders from within the Chamorro, Chuukese, Filipino, and other Pacific Islander and Asian communities, and consumers in recovery and/or being served by established health and human services such as GBHWC, DISID and Guam Legal Services.
Identify and conduct evidenced-based leadership training programs that is culturally based and that will enhance CLAS adherence and competence.
Facilitate village-based Gathering of Pacific Islanders events utilizing the GONA curriculum.
Year One - 2nd and 3rd Quarters
Strengthen and/or establish policies and programs that acknowledge, support and utilize traditional and grassroots leaders in community development initiatives that address social issues.
Identify community leaders and champions who can be prepared to lead in community-driven initiatives.
Review identified community needs, challenges and obstacles that have been raised during 2013 GOPEACE event. Prioritize community needs and align with existing resources.
Assess public policies and programs that exist for the purpose of meeting a specific community need.
Develop specific strategies that address identified challenges and obstacles and list recommendations for improving services
(i.e. public transportation and access to services).
Provide advocacy trainings for raising awareness about social issues and effectively educating policy makers from the grassroots' perspective and experience.
Include in government Boards, Councils and Commissions official stakeholder representation from ethnic groups.
Year Two - 1st and 2nd Quarters
Develop confidence and competence among leaders in each village on the use of Guam's data to inform and educate people in the grassroots community.
Identify key village representatives who are interested in learning about Guam's Epidemiological Profiles and the use of substance use and suicide data to inform and guide in decision-making processes.
Conduct semi-annual meetings with village representatives to discuss data- driven, community-driven strategies for prevention and early intervention.
Develop strategies for distributing PEACE Info graphics to keep the general public aware of local data and the current state of affairs.
Include in annual Gathering of Pacific Islanders for PEACE conferences sessions on Guam's Epidemiological Profile Updates
Year One – 4th Quarter and Year Two – 1st Quarter
Provide opportunities to network and learn from and access local, regional and national organizations and leaders in community development.
Establish and maintain CADCA (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America) Membership and attendance in annual conferences.
Establish and maintain APPEAL (Asian Pacific Partnerships for Empowerment, Advocacy and Leadership).
Solicit membership support and scholarships for leadership training and technical assistance.
Maintain working relationship with the Native Aspirations Project for the continued use of the GONA Curriculum and for further training and technical assistance as needed.
Attend national conferences and meetings, and participate in relevant webinars.
Conduct Annual Gathering of Pacific Islanders (GOPI).
Year One - 2nd Quarter and ongoing
Establish public policy that supports and appropriates funding for the implementation of evidenced-based prevention and early intervention programs for substance abuse and suicide (e.g. GONA, ASIST, safeTALK, Connect, Suicide Prevention Toolkit, Responsible Beverage Servers Training).
Identify laws that direct funding and resources to support prevention
Expand and strengthen Guam policies that sustain leveraging of resources and integration of prevention efforts across agencies.
Draft proposed policies that direct prevention funding to organizations who are oriented to the SPF 5-step process.
Year One – 4th Quarter and ongoing
Evaluate and change public policies to strengthen support of Guam's best practices and evidence-based strategies for prevention and early intervention programs and services for substance abuse and suicide.
Identify laws that that support evidence- based strategies for prevention and early intervention programs, policies and practices.
Expand and strengthen laws that sustain positive outcomes as it relates to local research and funding.
Establish public and organizational policies that support on-going training and technical assistance among behavioral health, prevention and primary care professionals, para- professionals, program mentors and coaches.
Assess and utilize local expertise in behavioral health and primary care practices on Guam.
Identify and prioritize inter-disciplinary and multi-sectoral trainings and opportunities for peer mentoring.
Establish training programs for certification of prevention specialists and Employee Assistance Program managers in an identified evidence-based workplace program that will be institutionalized.
Establish written formal agreements between the Government of Guam and entities trained as trainers to conduct and provide T/TA
4. Grassroots Engagement: Foster community involvement through meaningful outreach, inclusion and engagement with all communities.
There has been significant presence and publicity of PEACE information and resources distributed in the media. GOPEACE community members stand ready to assist with the dissemination of media campaign products, program notices and educational materials to ensure that members of their cultural group, village community and diverse networks are informed. A more strategic and direct approach will be taken to effectively deliver these resources into the hands of the grassroots community leaders and members and to increase attendance at PEACE events.
Produce and disseminate electronic and print resources to key grassroots community members and leaders.
Recruit key GOPEACE participants to serve as points of contact to receive and distribute PEACE resources in their villages and cultural networks.
Year One - 1st and 2nd Quarters Ongoing
Increase representation and diversity of ethnic, civic and cultural groups in PEACE trainings and meetings.
Provide incentives and meaningful educational rewards for community members' attendance.
Develop training materials and evaluation processes that would enhance participation, skills development and sustained partnerships.
Increase access to public transportation.
Strengthen formal partnerships and written Agreements throughout the PEACE network to collaborate, implement and sustain prevention programs, policies and practices that are true protective factors among Pacific Island cultural values and strengths used in prevention.
Explore partnerships with agencies, organizations and network that share PEACE's vision and are capable of engaging Chamorro and other Micronesian youth and young adults, LGBTQ and the military.
Establish written Agreements or membership with identified community- based groups and organizations, public and private agencies
Execute written agreements for joint projects and activities.
5. A Safe and Healthy Environment: Securing a sustainable, healthy environment for Guam
GOPEACE participants feel strongly that in order to have good mental, physical and spiritual health, the island ecosystem (land, water, air) in which the people of Guam live and must thrive on, must be healthy as well. There is a direct relationship between the environment and an individual's and community's health. The island's natural resources must be protected and safe and to accomplish this, each resident must accept individual responsibility and stewardship for maintaining and sustaining positive environmental actions that impact on behavioral health.
Research and establish PEACE partnerships with public and private entities charged with environmental issues (e.g. Guam Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Agriculture, University of Guam, the Department of Public Health and Social Services, Department of Parks & Recreation, Department of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife, and others).
Identify common strategies for promoting environmentally conscious campaign messages that raise awareness for personal, environmental and behavioral health.
Provide training opportunities for PEACE constituent learning about environmental strategies that can be incorporated into procurement of environment friendly PEACE program resources (i.e. reducing, reusing and recycling waste).
Develop joint media campaign strategies and products that influence community stewardship for a healthier island community and promotes environmental stewardship that encourages individuals to think more critically of how our behaviors are affecting our environment.
Year One - 4th Quarter and ongoing

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl