New Zealand is about to ban shark fin fishing---about time!

I have always been sickened by the total selfishness and absolute waste, not to mention the cruelty of shark fin fishing. How can anyone justify the practice whereby, the 'fisherman' takes a live shark, cuts off the fins and then throws the shark back into the sea, to die a horrible death and threaten the very existence of this creature that has a purpose in the bigger picture. All this in the name of some spurious cultural belief that those eating the product will receive some health benefit. Those countries who receive the fins are environmental terrorists and I defy any of them to justify this archaic and unnecessary practice. Well done NZ, Government and don't be bullied by that huge nation, read China, who has refused to sign into the ban that many countries will impose. Shame on you!
www.authorneilcoleman.com

New Zealand police in a difficult positon over the Roast Busters case.

There is a widely held view in New Zealand that the police have not done enough to follow through on the Roast Busters affair. It needs to be said that the police reflect society as a whole. They do not exist in a vacuum. They represent mainstream New Zealand society  in general? Why have we got to this point whereby a group of young men feel that they can entice young girls into a position where they are severely compromised and become victims of some damned nasty actions. These young men do not exist as an example of something unusual. The actions they are alleged to have taken are not a stand alone example. Unfortunately this behaviour has been acted out on a daily basis in any New Zealand town or city. What is different is that we hear about it on a vast scale as the social media formats take us to places we have never been before. What is even more obvious is that this damages the picture of how we want to be portrayed as a nation. 'Middle Earth' takes on a new meaning; one that we could well do without.
We must be careful that we do not 'turn on ourselves.' We do not need vigilante actions and create yet more victims as enraged parents take it upon themselves to 'punish' these young men. They must face the forces of the law and enter programmes that change their behaviours. This is not a time for kneejerk reactions. What would that achieve, other than soothing the anger of those either directly affected or those who take umbrage at the inactions of our police? Now is the time for considered action; action that helps to change the way we act towards one another, indiscriminate of age or sex. If we limit our responses to simply 'getting back' at these young men, then we are blinding ourselves to what is happening in society in general. Lets take a stance that leads towards correcting what is wrong about how we bring up our young people. Let's take the time to engage with our young people and give them what they need most from us---time and love; love that knows what they are doing at anyone time and that creates boundaries within which 'good behaviour' is more likely to flourish. That will most definitely mean looking at our own role modelling.
www.authorneilcoleman.com

Bugger!----I watched the Shopping Channel---I should not have.

Actually, there are three shopping channels available now and I rarely watch them, but somehow tonight, I was bored and I hooked on to The Shopping Channel.co.nz. I don't know why I sat there, mindlessly watching and slowly getting sucked in. Before I knew it I had purchased a 'miracle whiz' (get one free---hope Janice isn't reading this, cause guess what is going in her Xmas Stocking). I was most impressed by the different uses and despite all the warnings I have heard and my convenient forgetfulness re past experiences of 'As Seen On TV ' appliances that inevitably end up in the shed to be later sold for next to nothing on Trade Me, I went ahead. The fact that I admit to this terrible failing says heaps eh. I suppose I have reached a time where being embarrassed is not something that guides my decision making processes. Oh what the hell, I shall probably forget that I have ordered the 'gift' and when it arrives I shall just pretend that someone nice has sent me an early Xmas surprise!
www.authorneilcoleman.com