So what exactly is racism?

And more to the point, how does it happen, is it appropriate, is it worse in New Zealand or the UK; and possibly why even bother to try to start to explain

* I am explaining as it gets it off my chest - me, today!!

According to the dictionary definition racism is

• the prejudice that members of one race are intrinsically superior to members of other races
• discriminatory or abusive behavior towards members of another race

The UN doesn't actually define racism, but instead

• the term "racial discrimination" shall mean any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field of public life. 

So, let's consider some recent media stories, both here in New Zealand and from the UK. In the UK there has been some interesting research on the make up of the prison population - in the 10 years from 1998 to 2008 (when the UK has been under a Labour government) the number of black inmates has doubled. There are now seven times the number of Afro-Caribbean prisoners than the percentage of similar people in the mainstream population; Muslims make up a stonking 12% of the prison population (despite being less than 3% of the general population. So, why is this? Are all black and Muslim people criminals, or, are they more likely to be singled out for custodial sentences - this would certainly link to the second definition. Similarly in New Zealand it is well recognised that Maori and Pacific Islanders are over represented in custodial statistics. Maybe there is some truth to the over representation by virtue of committing more crime - if you are in a situation that is perceived by you as hopeless, where your peers are in gangs, where the education, welfare and health systems have failed you, you are more likely to go off the rails - and of course minorities are over represented in these groups.

Meanwhile in the media in New Zealand we have witnessed not one, but two media 'personalities' engage in real 'racist' activity. The first is the Paul Henry case - he's gone, which is good news. The second is the Michael Laws case; he is another outspoken individual, another who has set race relations back many years. In both these cases the perpetrators were offensive to specific ethnic groups and both asserted that they were somehow superior - racism as per definition one. Hiding behind an excuse of 'but it's funny!' is weak - it may be a chuckle, but not when you are the population that is affected, offended or disadvantaged through no fault of your own.

Why has this whole debacle upset me so much? Well simply because I believe that left unchecked inequalities are harmful. I am extremely worried with the road New Zealand is going down, it is not healthy. Labeling individuals in the manner these public figures have done is not productive, it undermines any attempt to have a fairer society, arguably something the current government have failed to nurture. What is reassuring is that you can actually find some real empirical evidence of measures that do work, that help communities to have stronger, more egalitarian societies and in doing so rid populations of the scourge of racism.

The real face of evil......

Sorry to disappoint anyone tuning in who was expecting Wayne Rooney, the Curtis/Kuka family, the Yorkshire Ripper, Charles Manson or even Freddy Kruger. It goes without saying that the most evil, uncaring, nasty monster ever has to be that dragon Margaret Thatcher. For those of you who do not know the story, here goes.

A monster for sure!!

She was only a grocers daughter, but she ended up as Britain's first female Prime Minister - very conservative, very right wing, she wore the trousers and her ministers sat at her feet. She singled handedly destroyed British industry - first it was the coal mines, taking on the might of the National Union of Mineworkers, effectively using the Police as her army (there is an episode of the series 'Our Friends in the North' which deals with this in a truly accurate manner), following this the steel industry was killed off, and with it much of the UK's heavy industry - leaving lots and lots of people unemployed - 3 million + in fact. As my late Grandad said

She did more damage than Germany did during World War two

Then we had the Falklands Conflict, conveniently timed to allow a sense of Nationalism to occur, which allowed her another term in office. There were many scandals; who can forget her weedy husband Denis managing to get arms contracts from the Saudi's. And then there was her son mark, got lost during the Paris Dakar rally. A few years later he was arrested for trying to arrange a military coup in Africa - mummy must have been so proud.

I came across the picture while looking through some newspaper websites and I could not resist getting a dig in! The sooner she rots the better.

Memories

I have just been to our bedroom, which overlooks our neighbours section.Out there are the neighbours two children and one of their friends. They are currently digging a cave into the side of the hill, using the excavated materials to form an outside wall. The whole process is methodical and engineered, albeit in a kids manner.

Probably about 40 years ago I moved house, to a new council estate in Blantyre. The council kindly built a few play resources nearby, a couple of climbing frames, one like a witches hat, one like an igloo, one we called a rainbow (it was an arch), the last we called the spider, even though it wasn't.. At the far side of this playground was a grass embankment and at the top the cemetery wall. We dug our own little den like the neighbours kids; it was out football stand, it got so deep we could stand up in it. We kept digging, until eventually we hit that cemetery wall - rather than go through it underground we started digging through at ground level, until we had a hole in that wall; that hole got bigger and became a new entry gate - all  structurally unsound. Eventually the council spotted our work and blocked the hole and filled in our den. The last time I was there you could see the different mortar on the wall and an uneven patch on the grass where our excavations took place, reminders of our engineering.

It is pleasing to note kids will be kids, that a shovel or a spade can be great toys and that adventure and imagination still exists in children!

Pub Charities, and in particular one based in Hamilton

Some of you may know that I take my kids sport pretty seriously, I could never be described as a shrinking violet, I am that screaming abusive parent on the side lines - sorry, that's just me!! Some of you also know I take it to the next level, getting involved in the organisation of these, often being the poor bugger left to do the applications for funding.
For anyone outside of New Zealand let me explain what exactly Pub Charities are; these are 'trusts' that are organised to manage the 'Poker Machines' - the casino type machines where you pop in your silver in the hope of getting three kings and a payout. Unfortunately, whilst these are seen as a legitimate 'leisure' activity, in really they target the lower end of society and New Zealand has a real problem gambling issue. The Pub Charity trusts, of which there are many, take the net proceeds and divvy these up to charitable and philanthropic groups so they can fund certain projects. Very noble, real latter day Robin Hood's, taking from the poor and giving to many others - at least the profit doesn't end up where it shouldn't - or does it? Well let's consider the group below

The Grassroots Trust, by all accounts is one of these fair and transparent organisations. Now, all the 'trusts' are supposed to give back to their local communities. Well the Grassroots Trust was established by the Waikato RFU, and guess what, they get a nice $250K per month. That's right people a cool $3 million per year goes straight to the group that controls rugby in the Waikato (not Rotorua where we have a few of their venues); of course the process of giving grants must be transparent - not if each member idenitifies and affiliation with the major recipients - I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine!
In the second three months of this year their 'donations were as follows

BOPRFU		Waikato RFU				Other Rugby
22724		210000			Hamilton Marist	112022
40000		150000			Te Rapa	25000
		250000			Hamilton OB	30000
					Waitete	5000
					Tauranga Sports	6103.39
					Te Awamutu	47245
					Hautapu	91021
					Leamington	20000
					EBOP	2000
					Marist St. Michaels	1894
					Morrinsville	15000
					Raglan	10000
					Thames	2000
62724		610000				367285.4

So over a million dollars to two rugby bodies plus nearly $400K to clubs, the majority of which are in, yes that's right, Waikato. (and about $300K went to Waikato basketball and Northern Districts cricket, leaving $200K for everyone else)

Now, their charter says they help amateur sport - the Waikato provincial team is professional (as the the BOP), so are Northern Districts cricket AND the Waikato Pistons basketball franchise - none of which draw sell out crowds. Now I could guess and suggest that the $3 million that wings its way to Waikato RFU pays the wages of this lot because technically they govern and support amateur sport (as well as having a professional team) - 24 staff!! Compare that to Waibop football who have more players, cover a larger geographical area and have about eight staff!!

A quick call to internal affairs - yes they know the trust, yes they know the situation, no they are powerless to do anything - why? Because the RFU themselves set the trust to fund THEMSELVES - that's right people, they place gambling machines in my community to fund their enterprises - grossly unfair. Other trusts it has to be said are much fairer (step forward the likes of the Lion Foundation, Southern Trust and Pelorus Trust, all of whom make sure the communities get back what they put in)

So next time you place a buck in a pokie machine, ask yourself, who is going to benefit?

Immigration, Nationalism, TV Journalists and Facebook

I had a very interesting conversation with a work colleague today, a Californian lady who is also a Facebook friend. She had read my status on October 1st, which went a bit like this

Ian would like to thank the New Zealand government for increasing GST to 15% and adding 7c per litre to petrol. You folks know how to get people to leave New Zealand

Now I thought this was pretty self-explanatory, so much so that a couple of people clicked the 'like' button. But oh no, some people found this offensive and came out with lines such as

if all you can do is bag nz ian, why not just faaark off home!?!?!?!?!????

OK  I thought, better revisit that post and see what I said that was derogatory about New Zealand. I was derogatory about the current government, which I have been openly critical of. The fact of the matter is people are leaving New Zealand in record numbers, something John Key promised to stop - FAIL!

My Californian colleague was actually quite surprised by the vitriol that such a comment could create. This brings me to the next thing - as immigrants does that remove our right to offer critical comment on anything Kiwi? Cue the idiotic Paul Henry, who whilst interview his 'best mate', John Key' proceeded to offer racist views regarding the governor general of New Zealand with his

Can the next governor general actually look like a kiwi?

A real Kiwi?

So what does a 'kiwi' look like? Being born, raised, educated and holding down senior position in New Zealand,  learning Te Reo Maori and being a good citizen (gaining a knighthood in the process) clearly doesn't make Sir Anand Satyanand a 'kiwi'. 


I love where I live, I love my lifestyle, I love the majority of the population of this country, but there is an incredible need for certain things to be sorted. The levels of racism are, in my opinion, as bad as racism in Europe. Often this is directly from people who are themselves immigrants. The sooner that 'Kiwi's' stop referring to everyone from South East Asia (be that Korea, China, Japan, etc) as 'Asian', the better. The sooner they recognise that Maori contribute to NZ in a positive way, the better - and lastly, the sooner racist clowns like Paul Henry are removed from prime time TV the better!!

It's a funny old game

Football, or in particular the Premier League. Once upon a time it was viewed as a four horse race between Manchester United (Scum), Arsenal, Chelski and Liverpool. Oh how the mighty have fallen.

I got up this morning and watch the Liverpool -v- Blackpool game. In any normal season this would be a banked for the reds, especially playing at home in front of the Kop. Against all odds it was Blackpool who looked the better team, more composed on the ball, more up for the game. Once upon a time Liverpool were invincible, but that was long before the Gillette and Hicks ownership debacle. A more or less home grown team, the only foreigners being Craig Johnson, Jan Molby (with the dodgiest Scouse accent ever) and Bruce 'Jelly legs' Grobelaar. The likes of Souness, Dalglish, Hansen, Toshack, Rush, even Sammy Lee! They were a team that were total football, all in a British style. Against Blackpool the standout for me was Charlie Adam, a bit of a journeyman at an early age. Bought for just half a million quid (that would get you one of the Chelsea first teams shin), he personifies the British game, uncompromising but with pace and skill and a desire to win.

So who is to blame for Liverpool's demise (and that of their neighbour Everton); well in Liverpools case the answer is complex. I personally don't think Roy Hodgson can be blamed; he's done well with Fulham, but he inherited a right pigs ear of a squad from Rafa Benitez. Is it Gillette and Hicks, who the fans believe are the problem? Well they have been tight fisted with transfer funds and undoubtedly know bugger all about proper football (and like the Glaser's at Scumchester), instead trying to make a fast buck. For me the blame lies with the players - the Liverpool players were a disgrace; lethargic, disinterested, weak. Previous Liverpool teams would have died for Shankley, Paisley, Fagan - the only thing these lot would fight for would be bigger bonuses.

So what about their nemesis at the other end of the East Lancs Road? They too have Yankee owners that appear to be destroying the club. Maybe it is simply that the likes of Sunderland know how to take a game to them, are not afraid to give it a go - and frankly they deserved to win at the Stadium of Light.

And Chelski - well they make it a one horse race, give them the title now; they have shown they are the team to beat, they have the depth of talent and still retain a desire to win. My prediction is that money talks and City will end up as runners up this year and may go one better next year.

Blackpool, I hope they stay up, they deserve too for the tenacity of their players and the tactical nouse of their manager, Ian Holloway

Today's the day....

That the jolly old National Government did their big economic recovery thing, increasing GST (that's Goods and Services Tax) to 15% and simultaneously added 7c per litre to fuel. Of course they claim that we will all be better off because of tax cuts - but will we?

Well, not in my household. The alleged tax savings have already been eaten up by

• increased power bills since they came into power
• increased rates since they came into power
• increased car registration
• increased ACC contributions
• reduced funding of schools means they are asking for more and more

So who exactly will be out of pocket? Well businesses aren't happy - the cost of changing prices runs into millions and the equation used to calculate returns is far more complicated. Consumers won't be either, everything is going up, which means the so called tax benefits will go to shrewd retailers.

But of course the government is fixing everything else - like murdering the health sector. When will New Zealand wake up from hibernation and realise they have elected a bunch of fraudsters to govern?