The blogosphere is a great way to learn.
Two blogs that i would like to mention are:
http://bottlebroke.blogspot.com and http://maorilifestyles.blogspot.com/
Both of these blogs are worth checking out. It is just so great to see quality sites that put up interesting posts on wide ranging subjects. Especially subjects as satisfying as art and lifestyle.
Visit these blogs and add your comments, i am sure both Feddabonn and Adrienne will make you welcome.
Showing posts with label opportunities. Show all posts
Showing posts with label opportunities. Show all posts
Friday, July 17, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Iwi banks? How about an Iwi country!
This great idea about developing maori or iwi banks was discussed by a Guestposter a month ago on mars2earth here. Worth a bit more consideration in my view. Especially when we have these statements about the obscene profits that banks are still making, from the multi party finance and expenditure select committee:
“Despite the severe recession, banking profits were almost unchanged – that does not appear to reflect a fair burden of adjustment,” David Cunliffe said
We have also discussed this on mars2earth here.
Ahhhh the internet so quick, and good to see we are leading the curve.
“Despite the severe recession, banking profits were almost unchanged – that does not appear to reflect a fair burden of adjustment,” David Cunliffe said
We have also discussed this on mars2earth here.
Ahhhh the internet so quick, and good to see we are leading the curve.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
enstein and maori
I'm reading a great book at the moment: Einstein – His life and universe by Walter Isaacson.
I am filled with awe when I think about Einstein. He created a paradigm shift in the way we think about the universe, and he did it through 'thought experiments'. Thought experiments allow the experimenter to create realms that are impossible, so that they can consider the companents of that realm, to learn fundamental truths which help them understand the world. In Enstein's case his first thought experiment was to imagine an observer moving beside a beam of light, at the same speed as the light. What would they observe?
We conduct mini thought experiements every day as we daydream, and contemplate, and imagine the future. They are a worthwhile activity and they help us create the world we want to live in.
For maori it is even more worthwhile – it brings hope. Many of my day dreams are around imagining this country with maori receiving their rightful mana and status and governing for the benefit of all. Working with the greens to create a land where kaitiakitanga is foremost.
In the book about Enstein, Banesh Hoffman says about Enstein that, “His early suspicion of authority, which never left him, was to prove of decisive importance. Without it he would not have been able to develop the powerful independence of mind that gave him the courage to challenge established scientific beliefs and thereby revolutionize physics.”
We also need a powerful independence of mind and courage to challenge the established disrespect given to role of maori and thereby revolutionize this country. Some people are frightened by this but it is inclusive not exclusive. By righting the wrong of colonisation and giving maori their country back will create an actual country that we can be proud of. Filled with all peoples. Build on the right principles with a foundation that goes back forever.
And I too, have a suspicion of authority. I don't like to be told what to do or think. I resist that. When people try to get me to think a certain way, I always wonder why they are trying to get me to think that way. This attribute is especially active while reading the newspaper and surfing the net.
I'm only about 100 pages in to the Enstein book but I am really enjoying it. My final thought is another quote from Enstein, “It is a glorious feeling to discover the unity of a set of phenomena that seem at first to be completely separate.”
A lot of our minds work like that. For me this blog is an expression of that concept. All of the posts are interconnected, as are we all, but we are also, all seperate. I try to find connection between apparent seperate phenomena and unify them.
Underneath it all, that connection is there.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Lefty likes righty
It's fair to say that if I needed a label, it would lean to the left.
But I can find gold anywhere and everywhere and that is why I am really pleased to encourage people to read Tau Henare's blog. It covers a lot of the same ground that i like to talk and post about - and if we are entering the big one in terms of depressions then the opportunities to revitalise the culture have also expanded.
I won't repeat the whole blog but I will offer some highlights.
"With all the talk of recession and how to get out of it, I remember only too well the last one. The 80s downturn for us in Otara was like a bold-faced gate crasher who arrived early, wrecked the place and wouldn't leave.
Sixth form certificate wasn't enough to get me a job. Thirty years of service on the railways wasn't enough to protect my father from redundancy.Yet as bad as things may have appeared to others, it was still one of the most upbeat times of my youth. I owe this to the rise of Maori culture. A culture largely forgotten by many of my father's generation as they settled into the gentle pace of urban life."
"The role of culture comes into its own during hard times. Essentially, it's because it distracts us from the hopelessness of our situation while compelling us to become more creative, inventive and imaginative. Together with visionary leadership, we have the very fundamental to freeing ourselves from recession.The combination of visionary leadership and culture can be seen in an earlier era. During the Great Depression, Sir Apirana Ngata understood that this was central to Maori economic recovery. He believed communities had to become self-reliant, socially cohesive and bound together by a peaceful culture with arts at its axis. Consequently, the renaissance was born resulting in a resurgence of marae building, carving, weaving, kapahaka and everything else in between."
"Maori faced similar problems in the 80s. And through the chaos of urbanisation, a 23 per cent unemployment rate and a youthful population, two guardians of an earlier era Sir James Henare and John Rangihau, emerged with a new twist to the old remedy.The revitalisation of Maori language was their focus forged from the old education system and remodelled to create a new philosophy, for out of early childhood centres, te kohanga reo was formed; out of schools, te kura kaupapa; out of universities, wananga; and from there came a record number of Maori tertiary graduates."
"To build on that requires world views to merge. For instance in relation to recent policy statements, where some see just a cycleway, I see an opportunity for cash poor, land rich Maori communities to enter the tourism industry by unlocking some of the most scenic and historically fascinating geography in the country.Where some see an army boot camp, I see shades of the old Maori Battalion whose noble mantra of service and sacrifice for one's country should be an inspiration to a troubled generation. Where some see the nine-day working fortnight as a day off, I see an opportunity for workers to learn Maori."
This is good stuff. I hope Ngai Tahu has the visionary leadership to take the lemons from this economic downturn and give us a recipe, a bowl and a bit of sugar so that we can make enough lemonade satisfy our people.
But I can find gold anywhere and everywhere and that is why I am really pleased to encourage people to read Tau Henare's blog. It covers a lot of the same ground that i like to talk and post about - and if we are entering the big one in terms of depressions then the opportunities to revitalise the culture have also expanded.
I won't repeat the whole blog but I will offer some highlights.
"With all the talk of recession and how to get out of it, I remember only too well the last one. The 80s downturn for us in Otara was like a bold-faced gate crasher who arrived early, wrecked the place and wouldn't leave.
Sixth form certificate wasn't enough to get me a job. Thirty years of service on the railways wasn't enough to protect my father from redundancy.Yet as bad as things may have appeared to others, it was still one of the most upbeat times of my youth. I owe this to the rise of Maori culture. A culture largely forgotten by many of my father's generation as they settled into the gentle pace of urban life."
"The role of culture comes into its own during hard times. Essentially, it's because it distracts us from the hopelessness of our situation while compelling us to become more creative, inventive and imaginative. Together with visionary leadership, we have the very fundamental to freeing ourselves from recession.The combination of visionary leadership and culture can be seen in an earlier era. During the Great Depression, Sir Apirana Ngata understood that this was central to Maori economic recovery. He believed communities had to become self-reliant, socially cohesive and bound together by a peaceful culture with arts at its axis. Consequently, the renaissance was born resulting in a resurgence of marae building, carving, weaving, kapahaka and everything else in between."
"Maori faced similar problems in the 80s. And through the chaos of urbanisation, a 23 per cent unemployment rate and a youthful population, two guardians of an earlier era Sir James Henare and John Rangihau, emerged with a new twist to the old remedy.The revitalisation of Maori language was their focus forged from the old education system and remodelled to create a new philosophy, for out of early childhood centres, te kohanga reo was formed; out of schools, te kura kaupapa; out of universities, wananga; and from there came a record number of Maori tertiary graduates."
"To build on that requires world views to merge. For instance in relation to recent policy statements, where some see just a cycleway, I see an opportunity for cash poor, land rich Maori communities to enter the tourism industry by unlocking some of the most scenic and historically fascinating geography in the country.Where some see an army boot camp, I see shades of the old Maori Battalion whose noble mantra of service and sacrifice for one's country should be an inspiration to a troubled generation. Where some see the nine-day working fortnight as a day off, I see an opportunity for workers to learn Maori."
This is good stuff. I hope Ngai Tahu has the visionary leadership to take the lemons from this economic downturn and give us a recipe, a bowl and a bit of sugar so that we can make enough lemonade satisfy our people.
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