dominion post
New Zealand's ACTA negotiations in Mexico
Submitted by Shiny on Tue, 09/02/2010 - 13:42New Zealand's Ministry of Economic Development have released from documents on the ongoing ACTA negotations.
http://news.business.govt.nz/news/strategic/article/9761
Smarter people than me have read these, and found nothing new revealed.
The last round of negotiations was in Mexico - the next round of talks is right here in New Zealand.
quick recap:
ACTA (anti counterfeiting trade agreement) is a treaty currently being negotiated by the world's weathiest countries, including New Zealand. It is officially about things like stopping the fake prada handbags trade - but there's also been leaked documents showing that big media have been asked for their wishlist such as 3 strikes internet disconnection that we protested so loudly against in NZ's s92a of the Copyright act.
It would be disastrous to have stopped such New Zealand laws that give out punishment (internet termination) without trial or appeal, like the s92a did, only to have it implemented anyway via a treaty that our parliament ratifies. Now is the time to make noise.
This need to stop fake prada is so important, it's been classed as "National Security", so none of us lowly citizens are allowed to know what's actually being negotiated. This also is not standard practice for treaty negotiations to be secret.
All Official information act requests, in several countries, have been unsuccessful in finding out what they're putting into this treaty - cos, you know, national security.
The next talks are in Wellington in April - standby for more info later on citizen action.
Education funding cuts has huge impact on Sign Lanuage
Submitted by Shiny on Wed, 01/07/2009 - 21:28The slashing of Adult and Community Education (ACE) funding will have a devastating impact on the ability of people to learn Sign Language in community classes, says Lynne Pillay Labour Spokesperson for Disability Issues.
“The majority of New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) classes are delivered through community education and are used by parents and families of deaf children, teachers, nurses, police, and workmates. They are taught by trained NZSL tutors based on a curriculum especially developed for community classes.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/stories/2009/06/26/1245b6a21a74
http://www.guide2.co.nz/politics/news/sign-language-classes-not-affected...
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QOA/b/9/a/49HansQ_20090625_00...
Other info on this issue:
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0906/S00353.htm
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/features/2544933/Dark-times-lo...
etc... just google.
The Government announced in the 2009 Budget that ALL funding for adult education in schools (“evening classes” or “night school”) will end in December 2009. The Government regards the programmes that schools offer as mere “hobby” classes and if schools want to continue, all courses they offer will have to be “self-funded” - this will mean that the fees will increase by 50% or more at some schools and 200% or more at others, if schools decide to continue which is unlikely.
Have you seen Craig Osborne Wallace? Missing since March 1
Submitted by Shiny on Mon, 09/03/2009 - 15:21UPDATE Craig Wallace found
Have you seen this man?

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/wellington/2172182/Mans-disappearan...
He's an IT consultant from Wellington, very likeable chap. I worked with Craig many years ago. (not a relative)
He was last seen at Chaffer's Marina area on Sunday 1 March, dressed in a red jacket and blue and green horizontally striped polo shirt.
Anyone with any information should contact Wellington Police CIB on 0800 TIPOFF (0800 847 633) or the Wellington Central Police Station on 04 381 2000.




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