Kia Ora,
Haven't been blogging because blogs were getting blocked & this post the text was removed whilst in draft. Having just reread it I note there are some subtle changes to what I wrote but essentially the story is the same. One sentence in particular is missing.
News item in last few days has been about the possibilty of Israeli Mossad agents been in Christchurch, New Zealand at the time of the February 22nd earthquake. One report also says there was an Israeli Search & Rescue team in the city at the time.
Now how would a Search & Rescue team be there in advance of a disaster unless the claims of the alleged HAARP weapon to cause natural disasters were correct?
As I wrote of my experience of the day that along with an Israeli woman we went into the Christchurch Cathedral & we got people moving out. Footage then surfaced of a Japanese tourist filming in the doorway as the Earthquake hit with the camera later on the ground showing shoes running past. I remember him receiving first aid treatment from a member of the public as we went in the door.
Behind us on reflection was another person whom I believe was the Israeli paramedic. He later went to help, along with myself & others, the police get a woman down from one of the windows in the Cathedral. We were not required & on later TV footage I noticed a police officer escorting him away. Which seemed strange considering he had the expeirence/training & just appeared to be trying to help.
Did I think that they were a search & rescue team? Or Mossad?
No. What I did think was that whilst the majority of New Zealanders were loosing their heads around us, those of us who have been in similar situations (me army training & security work in Iraq, them just living in Israel) we were reacting to help as best we could.
That they might of had the skills of a search & rescue team(I know the young woman was very frustrated with the poor NZ response & stormed off, got a hard hat & re-entered the Cathedral to check if people were still there as she thought-I know the film footage on the internet showed no one under the roof area as it collapsed) but then you would expect that of someone having lived in Israel.
In fact we saw the same at times in Iraq where the Iraqi people just got in & helped, not worry about what certificate you had. They like many in the Middle East were just used to these situations. New Zealanders aren't.
But it does explain the stories on the TV news didn't add up to what we witnessed. Like foccussing on the person who claimed the doors jammed shut behind them as they run out of the Cathedral. I remember talking to that person after the doors had been locked/shut after a staff member swept through to ensure no one was left inside probably 10 minutes after the initial shock whilst we were trying to keep people back from the Cathedral. This person was trying to find out what was going on.
TVNZ kept running that story even though they were rung twice to inform them it was incorrect. Now they trot out the failed so called expert to waffle about what they see is behind the situation.
It might also explain why the interview we did with the 'Press' whilst keeping people back never seen the light of day. I thought it was because there were obviously much more dramatic stories though some they printed were no different from ours.
Obviously what has come out would suggest anything involving the Israelis was been withheld as the SIS & Police were conducting investigations.
The other security side of this is the claims that the NZ police computer was safe & our security systems are safe.
Funny that. We have the potential to be but the big claim to fame, the catching of the French agents(or two of them) responsible for the act of terrorism in Auckland Harbour was more as a result of the proactive actions of a forestry worker than good security.
It also flies in the face that when Sir Robert Muldoon was kicking out Soviet spies it was because it was known New Zealand security is so slack that the KGB used NZ as a training ground. No reason Mossad might not do the same because despite some improvements the move away from proactive security & policing means if anything it is now easier to penetrate NZ national security.
New Zealand government departments tend to be 10 years behind in the IT region. They must be, even I seem to know more than them in that field & that is a worry.
So did we have a conspiracy on the 22nd February or is it a media beat up? I go for media beat up.
Is our security up to a standard required to stop international agents? No. We just change things to give the impression of improvement as the Romans found 2000 years ago.
www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Showing posts with label Iraq. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Iraq. Show all posts
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Friday, July 15, 2011
CBD Business owner lacks Security Knowledge!
Kia Ora,
Well I have received a very upset un named reply to my last post so it will not be published since they know they are wrong by not publishing their name.
But I will quickly refute their false accusations.
First they claim that the fence was only ever there for a controlled worksite not for security. Totally incorrect. Fence was erected to aid security. By having a fence up it allows individuals to be arrested immediately as they are in a fenced/enclosed area.
Not only that the CERA webstie tells you how secure the CBD is in particular due to the fences & other aids. In fact the answer by authorities to information we supplied about breaches(from sub contract work in the CBD Red Zone) was to erect more fences but that doesn't work by itself. It is obvious the CBD business owner hasn't looked if they have been inside the cordon as too where fences were erected. If they had, they would of asked why? They certainly aren't there for a controlled worksite.
Criticizes the company as not been good enough. Fact: The reason I first got my individual licence then formed two companies as was informed that was my best option since my standards were too high for security in New Zealand. Just because they are used to extremely low standards is not my fault.
They claim it would need actual security expertise to make the place secure.
Funny have that expertise from been in the military(highest level of security-used to give lessons on this form of security) & PSD in Iraq (second highest level of security). Not my fault NZ doesn't practice good security & doesn't like good security yet.
As many of those I have worked with in the military & Iraq have said to me. Look NZ is just not ready for real security yet. Keep it humming along & when it happens they will not have a clue what to do so you & others will be in a position to step up.
It is not just me either someone with a lot more international experience in high levels of security including as a consultant in dangerous areas, yet when back here for a break his experience is ignored & gets offered work as a guard only.
CBD business owner shows their lack of knowledge of real security where the likes of myself practice it. Many even more highly skilled security operators than myself have returned to NZ to again head offshore because of the lack of recognition of real security experience & knowledge.
I had warned that NZ was not ready for a terrorist attack(still isn't it needs to start practising proactive security again to counter terrorist attacks) or in that matter as has shown a large natural disaster. We practice procedures that are just not relevant in a real large emergency situation but can't get out of that mindset.
CBD business owner claims I miss the point. It is definitely the other way around. Effective security could be provided & not at the cost they are looking at. Yes it would cost but it is right now. Having been part of the military involved in emergencies, I know that any use of the military has to be paid for. Yes someone is billed for the military providing manpower(surprised me too when I first learned of it during an emergency).
Private security would cost less in the long run. That is why PSD's are used so much in Iraq & Afghanistan. Why the UN is considering using PSD's for intervention. As they free the military up from some tasks & though well paid actually cost less than having a standing army. It is what NZ will have to look at with recent military cutbacks.
It is quite evident from their rant that the only big mouth with a small mind(their words) is this CBD business owner. The cordon is not a controlled worksite but a security cordon. Typical New Zealand small minded thinking here. I know they will be under stress having a business there but they need to deal with the facts not the myth put out there.
Just because they have never been exposed to real security is no reason to try to shoot the messenger.
As stated & again they miss the point, my last post did not show any weaknesses in the system not already known. In fact it was breached again today but the person was not removed or seen by the volunteers or police but by a worker in the Red Zone. Before they comment they need to learn to read.
The point is their business like everyone elses is not secure. Despite the assurances given they are.
If you are not prepared to put your name to a comment it will not be published especially if a rant based on myth not facts.
www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Well I have received a very upset un named reply to my last post so it will not be published since they know they are wrong by not publishing their name.
But I will quickly refute their false accusations.
First they claim that the fence was only ever there for a controlled worksite not for security. Totally incorrect. Fence was erected to aid security. By having a fence up it allows individuals to be arrested immediately as they are in a fenced/enclosed area.
Not only that the CERA webstie tells you how secure the CBD is in particular due to the fences & other aids. In fact the answer by authorities to information we supplied about breaches(from sub contract work in the CBD Red Zone) was to erect more fences but that doesn't work by itself. It is obvious the CBD business owner hasn't looked if they have been inside the cordon as too where fences were erected. If they had, they would of asked why? They certainly aren't there for a controlled worksite.
Criticizes the company as not been good enough. Fact: The reason I first got my individual licence then formed two companies as was informed that was my best option since my standards were too high for security in New Zealand. Just because they are used to extremely low standards is not my fault.
They claim it would need actual security expertise to make the place secure.
Funny have that expertise from been in the military(highest level of security-used to give lessons on this form of security) & PSD in Iraq (second highest level of security). Not my fault NZ doesn't practice good security & doesn't like good security yet.
As many of those I have worked with in the military & Iraq have said to me. Look NZ is just not ready for real security yet. Keep it humming along & when it happens they will not have a clue what to do so you & others will be in a position to step up.
It is not just me either someone with a lot more international experience in high levels of security including as a consultant in dangerous areas, yet when back here for a break his experience is ignored & gets offered work as a guard only.
CBD business owner shows their lack of knowledge of real security where the likes of myself practice it. Many even more highly skilled security operators than myself have returned to NZ to again head offshore because of the lack of recognition of real security experience & knowledge.
I had warned that NZ was not ready for a terrorist attack(still isn't it needs to start practising proactive security again to counter terrorist attacks) or in that matter as has shown a large natural disaster. We practice procedures that are just not relevant in a real large emergency situation but can't get out of that mindset.
CBD business owner claims I miss the point. It is definitely the other way around. Effective security could be provided & not at the cost they are looking at. Yes it would cost but it is right now. Having been part of the military involved in emergencies, I know that any use of the military has to be paid for. Yes someone is billed for the military providing manpower(surprised me too when I first learned of it during an emergency).
Private security would cost less in the long run. That is why PSD's are used so much in Iraq & Afghanistan. Why the UN is considering using PSD's for intervention. As they free the military up from some tasks & though well paid actually cost less than having a standing army. It is what NZ will have to look at with recent military cutbacks.
It is quite evident from their rant that the only big mouth with a small mind(their words) is this CBD business owner. The cordon is not a controlled worksite but a security cordon. Typical New Zealand small minded thinking here. I know they will be under stress having a business there but they need to deal with the facts not the myth put out there.
Just because they have never been exposed to real security is no reason to try to shoot the messenger.
As stated & again they miss the point, my last post did not show any weaknesses in the system not already known. In fact it was breached again today but the person was not removed or seen by the volunteers or police but by a worker in the Red Zone. Before they comment they need to learn to read.
The point is their business like everyone elses is not secure. Despite the assurances given they are.
If you are not prepared to put your name to a comment it will not be published especially if a rant based on myth not facts.
www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Ban the Burqa?
Kia Ora,
Extremely busy at present but aim to have regular posts again.
One issue that has come up in the last week is that of the wearing of a Burqa or at least face veils by Muslim women in New Zealand.
Some points raised have been farcical.
It transpires that two bus drivers in Auckland refused to allow Burqa wearing women onto their buses.
In my opinion the bus company involved has been so Politically Correct they have issued the drivers a written warning which isn't really warranted.
At the same time though they have taken the unions suggestion & are going to introduce a security module to driver training prior to the Rugby World Cup.
Really it shows out of touch New Zealand is with the wider world. But some security person here will offer a module. First part of any security module should be drivers being allowed to refuse people getting on a bus where they don't feel safe.
As a secular country & in the interests of security like everyone else who covers their face, those with face veils should have to remove them on boarding a bus, catching a Taxi, entering any commercial premises or dealing with anyone in authority such as police or even security.
That just fits with been in New Zealand.
Whilst in say Kuwait the use of a Burqa is common place & if visiting we must accept it as part of life.
In fact whilst in Kuwait awaiting a flight out one woman in a Burqa made a very deliberate flirting gesture which you couldn't do in normal western dress. So it is not always so bad. Just had to do a quick look for the cameras as being the foreigner in the equation I would of been arrested since it wouldn't of happened if I had not been there or so the reasoning goes.
This security module for bus drivers though is what concerns me. Apart from the points above what are they going to teach?
Just seeing a face doesn't stop them being a suicide bomber. I believe I have mentioned it before in these posts that whilst working in Iraq we were made aware of a website set up for applications to be a suicide bomber over half the applicants were young boys & women.
The only security solution for a suicide bomber is a bullet between the eyes.
In the US city of Newwark, New Jersey they have ordered an armed security guard to be at all restaurants after a drive by shooting. In New Zealand we would organize a group hug.
For real security for the Rugby World Cup, New Zealand needs to come into the real world.
www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Extremely busy at present but aim to have regular posts again.
One issue that has come up in the last week is that of the wearing of a Burqa or at least face veils by Muslim women in New Zealand.
Some points raised have been farcical.
It transpires that two bus drivers in Auckland refused to allow Burqa wearing women onto their buses.
In my opinion the bus company involved has been so Politically Correct they have issued the drivers a written warning which isn't really warranted.
At the same time though they have taken the unions suggestion & are going to introduce a security module to driver training prior to the Rugby World Cup.
Really it shows out of touch New Zealand is with the wider world. But some security person here will offer a module. First part of any security module should be drivers being allowed to refuse people getting on a bus where they don't feel safe.
As a secular country & in the interests of security like everyone else who covers their face, those with face veils should have to remove them on boarding a bus, catching a Taxi, entering any commercial premises or dealing with anyone in authority such as police or even security.
That just fits with been in New Zealand.
Whilst in say Kuwait the use of a Burqa is common place & if visiting we must accept it as part of life.
In fact whilst in Kuwait awaiting a flight out one woman in a Burqa made a very deliberate flirting gesture which you couldn't do in normal western dress. So it is not always so bad. Just had to do a quick look for the cameras as being the foreigner in the equation I would of been arrested since it wouldn't of happened if I had not been there or so the reasoning goes.
This security module for bus drivers though is what concerns me. Apart from the points above what are they going to teach?
Just seeing a face doesn't stop them being a suicide bomber. I believe I have mentioned it before in these posts that whilst working in Iraq we were made aware of a website set up for applications to be a suicide bomber over half the applicants were young boys & women.
The only security solution for a suicide bomber is a bullet between the eyes.
In the US city of Newwark, New Jersey they have ordered an armed security guard to be at all restaurants after a drive by shooting. In New Zealand we would organize a group hug.
For real security for the Rugby World Cup, New Zealand needs to come into the real world.
www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Thursday, March 17, 2011
True Heroes!
Kia Ora,
As a series of disasters sweep around the world, the word hero is getting heard a lot. But who is a hero?
Before I deal with that though one issue that has been on going raised its head in the Letters to the 'Editor' of the 'Press'. A resident in the Red Zone of the Christchurch CBD was complaining about the ever changing regulations & stopping of them doing 'normal things'.
It is an issue I encountered first as a young New Zealand soldier during the 1984 Invercargill floods. Again it is a Civil Defence issue where after putting a cordon in place they allow residents to re occupy within that cordon.
It should never happen! There should be the possibility of escort to retrieve property & animals, but no one should be allowed to live inside a cordon. End of Story.
The reason they can not do 'normal' things is it is too dangerous & changing by the minute. The issue of different instructions is also due to that I menitioned in a previous post due to the poor communication coming from Civil Defence & each grouping getting a different brief.
But on to the Heroes.
When I first talked about how an Israeli woman & I went into the Christchurch Cathedral & got people out, some said we were heroes. Think not. We just did what many did in the situation that had to be done & much less than many. Yes there was some danger, but there was in Iraq too & is every day in security, policing or any of the services.
Like soldiers braving bullets I am sure the USAR(Urban Search & Rescue) don't regard themselves as heroes. Just doing what they train to do & happy just for some thanks. You know the risks, mitigate them & carry on.
Then I saw some true heroes in Japan. Facing something they can not see.
First there are the workers at the Japanese reactor who have continued to battle to get the reactors under control. They are aware of the dangers as they work with it but go back in to try to save their wider community.
But the real heroes to me were the Japanese military helicopter pilots flying in to drop water in an attempt to cool the reactors with what would be virtually little protection. Knowing that though they can not see it they are almost certainly getting more radiation exposure than any person should by their proximity to the reactor in carrying out their task.
Yet knowing military, police, fire & the likes of USAR there would of been more volunteers than positions to fill those pilots seats.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
As a series of disasters sweep around the world, the word hero is getting heard a lot. But who is a hero?
Before I deal with that though one issue that has been on going raised its head in the Letters to the 'Editor' of the 'Press'. A resident in the Red Zone of the Christchurch CBD was complaining about the ever changing regulations & stopping of them doing 'normal things'.
It is an issue I encountered first as a young New Zealand soldier during the 1984 Invercargill floods. Again it is a Civil Defence issue where after putting a cordon in place they allow residents to re occupy within that cordon.
It should never happen! There should be the possibility of escort to retrieve property & animals, but no one should be allowed to live inside a cordon. End of Story.
The reason they can not do 'normal' things is it is too dangerous & changing by the minute. The issue of different instructions is also due to that I menitioned in a previous post due to the poor communication coming from Civil Defence & each grouping getting a different brief.
But on to the Heroes.
When I first talked about how an Israeli woman & I went into the Christchurch Cathedral & got people out, some said we were heroes. Think not. We just did what many did in the situation that had to be done & much less than many. Yes there was some danger, but there was in Iraq too & is every day in security, policing or any of the services.
Like soldiers braving bullets I am sure the USAR(Urban Search & Rescue) don't regard themselves as heroes. Just doing what they train to do & happy just for some thanks. You know the risks, mitigate them & carry on.
Then I saw some true heroes in Japan. Facing something they can not see.
First there are the workers at the Japanese reactor who have continued to battle to get the reactors under control. They are aware of the dangers as they work with it but go back in to try to save their wider community.
But the real heroes to me were the Japanese military helicopter pilots flying in to drop water in an attempt to cool the reactors with what would be virtually little protection. Knowing that though they can not see it they are almost certainly getting more radiation exposure than any person should by their proximity to the reactor in carrying out their task.
Yet knowing military, police, fire & the likes of USAR there would of been more volunteers than positions to fill those pilots seats.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Myth or Truth!
Kia Ora,
Been a few days as having been involved in a few debates on Facebook & jumped a ride back out to help Bernie in his realiable jeep.
The debates have essentially been around what is a persons truth & what should be said at this time.
The first has been a debate over Ken Ring & his predictions of possible earthquakes based mainly on astrology. Having read quite a bit of his information & watched the pattern of shakes since there is definitely something in it. As he says himself it is not precise & if geologists would combine their knowledge of pressure build up with that astrologers it would help towards an accurate method of prediction.
But each to their own, just for me it feels right as based on thousands of years of observations therefore despite claims to the contrary the method is scientific because at its base level science is all about observations.
Then there has been TVNZ & their lack of real investigation before putting items on TV News.
First there was the person who claimed to have run out of the Christchurch Cathedral & the doors jamming behind them. He could of run out but there is evidence that the doors were never jammed.
When I posted what we got up to the day of the earthquake Neil Smith posted a comment with a link. I had trouble with the link & initially all I got was the filming in the open door of the Cathedral as the quake struck. It ended with the camera on the ground & dust everywhere. Having gone back to try to watch it in full for me anyway it now starts at the camera on the ground showing feet going past so that must of been people getting out.
But the extended footage at different times(its not continious) shows the door of the Cathedral remains open right until the police were telling people to move to Hagley park. In fact the first time I saw the doors shut was when I got home after helping the police on the cordon & turned on the TV.
So that casts questions over his account.
But then next night after ringing them to question his statement TVNZ have basically called me a liar by saying security cameras saw no one in the Cathedral. The cameras would of seen nothing as the dust was so thick inside & out that when we first went in stopped at the door as I said in original post & yelled for people to come to me as couldn't see in apart from hole in roof.
Other parts I didn't put in original post was I know for sure the Israeli woman came in with me & we got about ten people moving out. I was aware of a third person coming in a bit with us & now think that was the Israeli male who was a paramedic.
When the Cathedral staff member had re entered as the people we got moving left the Israeli woman said she thought there were people under some rubble by the tower as she could hear someone. Initially tried to pass the information at the police Kiosk then a quick look at injured(all had head injuries) seeing no police went to where I could see a jacket. Bumped into St John making way in & directed them to casualities(even then there were so many people just standing around in a daze & they were having to push through).
Found a police officer by the banks unfortunately with no radio as had been on another task. When we headed back found a police officer from Kiosk trying to help get woman down from window.
Myself & the Israeli paramedic tried to help with the woman stuck upstairs but the police didn't want help It was then I went looking for something else to do & noticed people posing by damaged parts of Cathedral for photos.
This all happened very quickly.
It was whilst posting myself near the entrance to keep people away that I saw the Israeli woman re enter the Cathedral several times including once with hard hat on & very angry. At the time we thought the cries she could hear were those of the the woman in upper window. The insurance person who came with ladder to rescue the woman in window later stepped into the open door of the Cathedral twice but maintained he could not hear anyone.
During that time keeping people away spoke to two staff members from the Cathedral. The one who has come in as we were clearing people out & another younger male who came out through doors later. It was him that pointed out that not only did people need to be kept away from Cathedral entrance but side was on a lean as well. More people posing for photos.
As you can see the initial post was long enough without adding in all those bits. Those that know me will tell you one of my traits is I don't lie but are brutually honest often to my own detriment so I don't take kindly to TVNZ basically calling me a liar as it did happen the way I describe.
Where we heros?
I don't think so just did what so many people did that day & had to do whilst so many others froze or went into denial.
The Israelis with what they have experienced in their country(same would be said of many including Palestinians) like myself with military training & time spent in Iraq just were able to mentally handle it better than most New Zealanders & react.
The other thing I noticed on finally returning home was footage of what appeared to be the Israeli paramedic been led away by police. With the Israeli background they just wanted to get in & help which saves lives. A war zone can be like an earthquake zone as you don't know when the next one is coming just like the big one that has just hit as I type. It was a very good wee shake. One of only three to knock things over in my place.
Another issue where the myth is seperated from the truth is the issue of portaloos here in Christchurch. Going out again with the intrepid Bernie we were joined by a friend of his with cameras. Alex was not happy with the response overall just like many haven't been & made the point that his area had had water back on within 12 hours but has a lot of portaloos in the area which really they don't need.
Having said this, when going to get some needed supplies we noticed a lot of portaloos in an area including businesses where water was known to be back on & flushing of toilets were allowed in a limited manner. The only people near one portaloo where those in a cemetry. We also noticed in parts that Portaloos were often on the sides of what apppeared to be empty business sections whilst the other side of the road with all the residential properties had nothing for Kilometres.
Where in the areas that due to their location you know are going to be without for months they were only just starting to get one or two dotted about. This is the sort of knowledge that should be allowing the city to cope better by re allocating resources as needed.
Chemical toilets are been handed out. I have one for security tasks & have had it about two years. But straight away people have noticed the ones coming in only have a small hole & any movements have to be poked down with a stick.
Then there is the Myth the Prime Minister is promoting. Can't see him staying too long in badly hit areas as when someone pointed out it was probably his Iroquois flying slowly overhead some made motions of shooting it down they were so upset with the poor response.
People don't think I should be hitting these areas that are not working on here but it is a way to get the frustration out. It is either that or get angry like many others are.
Whilst those that appear to be in charge are telling themselves myths, the truth is things are not as good as they are saying.
It doesn't help when the Minister in charge & the Mayor are contradicitng each other over the demolition of Historic buildings. Personally I think many of them should of been dozed after the first big shake but as the mayor found once the emergency regulations are removed there is a lot of feeling in retaining the old buildings.
One has been demolished, with comments from the Mayor it was illegal demolition. A relation trying to make their way home on the 22nd February said was leaning & a police officer was trying to keep people from going in the left turning lane as it looked like the building was going to collapse. I see the demolition company says it was told to do it by the council. So the left hand does not Knowing what the right hand is doing.
Then it is announced that there will be a plan to get people into their businesses or cars, first in 48 hours then in 24 hours & when nothing is forthcoming the site with information crahses from people trying to find out. When they announce that plan it is totally contradictory to that originally announced with green & red zones where you still can't get in whilst you know other businesses are getting their vehicles out of the same building.
People can say we need to look forward or things are not happening the way I & others are seeing it. With more quite good shakes like the one about 20 minutes ago we need to get our responses in order. We need to have this overall picture better sorted. Many of those trying to do a good job are not gaining the local information of where best to deploy the resources which is causing some who have come to help just going home.
I know on several occassions when Bernie has supplied some local information we have gained it has been a surprise. Others are just collecting goods donated but not getting out & finding out what is needed in their own community. Instead expecting people to come to them when they have no idea they have these resources.
Many times people are doing well but they are only seeing what is in front of them or not seeing the bigger picture.
Today is an example. It was mentioned on TV about a week ago that the river needed to be looked at. As of yesterday the lower Avon was still full of liquifaction & right now it is pissing down with rain(which probably caused the slipping of plates causing the most recent shocks) so with water still on roads in lower areas this rain & partially blocked rivers there is likely to be flooding to add to the worries. Most of the water we came across in the lower areas contained sewerage so potentially more health issues.
We are still doing things in the same narrow minded slow response developed by bureaucrats. For those of us who worked in Iraq in 2004-2006 you saw the US military working in this fashion in response to suicide bombers to start with & by the time I left their response had speed up so to keep things moving. Instead of lock down for sometimes days(the Iraqis noticed it too & remarked on it compared to the British reaction) it changed to secure that section & cleared within hours.
As I often say we are a fourth world country. Third world trying to pretend we are first world. The response to this is like a third world country at the decision making end.
A lot of the good work going on is been provided by individuals & businesses at no charge(not to mention the emergency services, military & rescue teams) but there are some sitting back to profit from it. All the good work though is not been complimented by good leadership despite what we see on TV. It was a complaint Alex made that nothing seems to get done until it is set up for soundbites.
To top it off some international media are reporting as an aside that the IMF(International Monetary Fund) is due in New Zealand next week to downgrade New Zealands Credit rating. If that happens any currency borrowed to fund the rebuild will be more expensive therefore it will flow onto those at the bottom in particular.
Actions & decisions have to be made quicker. That is the reality not the myth others are living with. Information needs to be gained at a local level not because it ticks some box.
The Christchurch 'Press' are now reporting the same reactions I have on this blog. It is all about getting to know the community.
It needs to be better or people are going to die from disease. Others from lessons we don't seem to be learning.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Been a few days as having been involved in a few debates on Facebook & jumped a ride back out to help Bernie in his realiable jeep.
The debates have essentially been around what is a persons truth & what should be said at this time.
The first has been a debate over Ken Ring & his predictions of possible earthquakes based mainly on astrology. Having read quite a bit of his information & watched the pattern of shakes since there is definitely something in it. As he says himself it is not precise & if geologists would combine their knowledge of pressure build up with that astrologers it would help towards an accurate method of prediction.
But each to their own, just for me it feels right as based on thousands of years of observations therefore despite claims to the contrary the method is scientific because at its base level science is all about observations.
Then there has been TVNZ & their lack of real investigation before putting items on TV News.
First there was the person who claimed to have run out of the Christchurch Cathedral & the doors jamming behind them. He could of run out but there is evidence that the doors were never jammed.
When I posted what we got up to the day of the earthquake Neil Smith posted a comment with a link. I had trouble with the link & initially all I got was the filming in the open door of the Cathedral as the quake struck. It ended with the camera on the ground & dust everywhere. Having gone back to try to watch it in full for me anyway it now starts at the camera on the ground showing feet going past so that must of been people getting out.
But the extended footage at different times(its not continious) shows the door of the Cathedral remains open right until the police were telling people to move to Hagley park. In fact the first time I saw the doors shut was when I got home after helping the police on the cordon & turned on the TV.
So that casts questions over his account.
But then next night after ringing them to question his statement TVNZ have basically called me a liar by saying security cameras saw no one in the Cathedral. The cameras would of seen nothing as the dust was so thick inside & out that when we first went in stopped at the door as I said in original post & yelled for people to come to me as couldn't see in apart from hole in roof.
Other parts I didn't put in original post was I know for sure the Israeli woman came in with me & we got about ten people moving out. I was aware of a third person coming in a bit with us & now think that was the Israeli male who was a paramedic.
When the Cathedral staff member had re entered as the people we got moving left the Israeli woman said she thought there were people under some rubble by the tower as she could hear someone. Initially tried to pass the information at the police Kiosk then a quick look at injured(all had head injuries) seeing no police went to where I could see a jacket. Bumped into St John making way in & directed them to casualities(even then there were so many people just standing around in a daze & they were having to push through).
Found a police officer by the banks unfortunately with no radio as had been on another task. When we headed back found a police officer from Kiosk trying to help get woman down from window.
Myself & the Israeli paramedic tried to help with the woman stuck upstairs but the police didn't want help It was then I went looking for something else to do & noticed people posing by damaged parts of Cathedral for photos.
This all happened very quickly.
It was whilst posting myself near the entrance to keep people away that I saw the Israeli woman re enter the Cathedral several times including once with hard hat on & very angry. At the time we thought the cries she could hear were those of the the woman in upper window. The insurance person who came with ladder to rescue the woman in window later stepped into the open door of the Cathedral twice but maintained he could not hear anyone.
During that time keeping people away spoke to two staff members from the Cathedral. The one who has come in as we were clearing people out & another younger male who came out through doors later. It was him that pointed out that not only did people need to be kept away from Cathedral entrance but side was on a lean as well. More people posing for photos.
As you can see the initial post was long enough without adding in all those bits. Those that know me will tell you one of my traits is I don't lie but are brutually honest often to my own detriment so I don't take kindly to TVNZ basically calling me a liar as it did happen the way I describe.
Where we heros?
I don't think so just did what so many people did that day & had to do whilst so many others froze or went into denial.
The Israelis with what they have experienced in their country(same would be said of many including Palestinians) like myself with military training & time spent in Iraq just were able to mentally handle it better than most New Zealanders & react.
The other thing I noticed on finally returning home was footage of what appeared to be the Israeli paramedic been led away by police. With the Israeli background they just wanted to get in & help which saves lives. A war zone can be like an earthquake zone as you don't know when the next one is coming just like the big one that has just hit as I type. It was a very good wee shake. One of only three to knock things over in my place.
Another issue where the myth is seperated from the truth is the issue of portaloos here in Christchurch. Going out again with the intrepid Bernie we were joined by a friend of his with cameras. Alex was not happy with the response overall just like many haven't been & made the point that his area had had water back on within 12 hours but has a lot of portaloos in the area which really they don't need.
Having said this, when going to get some needed supplies we noticed a lot of portaloos in an area including businesses where water was known to be back on & flushing of toilets were allowed in a limited manner. The only people near one portaloo where those in a cemetry. We also noticed in parts that Portaloos were often on the sides of what apppeared to be empty business sections whilst the other side of the road with all the residential properties had nothing for Kilometres.
Where in the areas that due to their location you know are going to be without for months they were only just starting to get one or two dotted about. This is the sort of knowledge that should be allowing the city to cope better by re allocating resources as needed.
Chemical toilets are been handed out. I have one for security tasks & have had it about two years. But straight away people have noticed the ones coming in only have a small hole & any movements have to be poked down with a stick.
Then there is the Myth the Prime Minister is promoting. Can't see him staying too long in badly hit areas as when someone pointed out it was probably his Iroquois flying slowly overhead some made motions of shooting it down they were so upset with the poor response.
People don't think I should be hitting these areas that are not working on here but it is a way to get the frustration out. It is either that or get angry like many others are.
Whilst those that appear to be in charge are telling themselves myths, the truth is things are not as good as they are saying.
It doesn't help when the Minister in charge & the Mayor are contradicitng each other over the demolition of Historic buildings. Personally I think many of them should of been dozed after the first big shake but as the mayor found once the emergency regulations are removed there is a lot of feeling in retaining the old buildings.
One has been demolished, with comments from the Mayor it was illegal demolition. A relation trying to make their way home on the 22nd February said was leaning & a police officer was trying to keep people from going in the left turning lane as it looked like the building was going to collapse. I see the demolition company says it was told to do it by the council. So the left hand does not Knowing what the right hand is doing.
Then it is announced that there will be a plan to get people into their businesses or cars, first in 48 hours then in 24 hours & when nothing is forthcoming the site with information crahses from people trying to find out. When they announce that plan it is totally contradictory to that originally announced with green & red zones where you still can't get in whilst you know other businesses are getting their vehicles out of the same building.
People can say we need to look forward or things are not happening the way I & others are seeing it. With more quite good shakes like the one about 20 minutes ago we need to get our responses in order. We need to have this overall picture better sorted. Many of those trying to do a good job are not gaining the local information of where best to deploy the resources which is causing some who have come to help just going home.
I know on several occassions when Bernie has supplied some local information we have gained it has been a surprise. Others are just collecting goods donated but not getting out & finding out what is needed in their own community. Instead expecting people to come to them when they have no idea they have these resources.
Many times people are doing well but they are only seeing what is in front of them or not seeing the bigger picture.
Today is an example. It was mentioned on TV about a week ago that the river needed to be looked at. As of yesterday the lower Avon was still full of liquifaction & right now it is pissing down with rain(which probably caused the slipping of plates causing the most recent shocks) so with water still on roads in lower areas this rain & partially blocked rivers there is likely to be flooding to add to the worries. Most of the water we came across in the lower areas contained sewerage so potentially more health issues.
We are still doing things in the same narrow minded slow response developed by bureaucrats. For those of us who worked in Iraq in 2004-2006 you saw the US military working in this fashion in response to suicide bombers to start with & by the time I left their response had speed up so to keep things moving. Instead of lock down for sometimes days(the Iraqis noticed it too & remarked on it compared to the British reaction) it changed to secure that section & cleared within hours.
As I often say we are a fourth world country. Third world trying to pretend we are first world. The response to this is like a third world country at the decision making end.
A lot of the good work going on is been provided by individuals & businesses at no charge(not to mention the emergency services, military & rescue teams) but there are some sitting back to profit from it. All the good work though is not been complimented by good leadership despite what we see on TV. It was a complaint Alex made that nothing seems to get done until it is set up for soundbites.
To top it off some international media are reporting as an aside that the IMF(International Monetary Fund) is due in New Zealand next week to downgrade New Zealands Credit rating. If that happens any currency borrowed to fund the rebuild will be more expensive therefore it will flow onto those at the bottom in particular.
Actions & decisions have to be made quicker. That is the reality not the myth others are living with. Information needs to be gained at a local level not because it ticks some box.
The Christchurch 'Press' are now reporting the same reactions I have on this blog. It is all about getting to know the community.
It needs to be better or people are going to die from disease. Others from lessons we don't seem to be learning.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Friday, February 25, 2011
What it is like living in the Quake zone!
Kia Ora,
First thanks to Neil Smith for his link to a tourists video of the quake hitting. Unfortunately with our internet haven't been able to view it all. The part I did see at start it appears the camera person is standing in the entrance into the Cathedral when it hit. Its the view we had virtually once we got the people out & dust had settled some. It then appears they may of been struck by masonary, many were & before we started keeping people away from the Cathedral had a quick look at the injuries lined up by police Kiosk. Everyone had a head injury including a baby. A St Johns team were soon on the scene.
After an ex army mate wound me up(yeah you got me but I will get you back) about doing anti looting patrols was not really helping I thought I would give a more detailed account of what it is like actually living here.
To do that I need to go back to September the 4th 2010.
First it is the immense sense of power when the big one hits. Like many New Zealanders(except ironically many in Christchurch) I have had to live with earthquakes for at least part of my life. But nothing like the power in the destructive ones. Quakes that would of had me heading for a safe place in the past you now just look, listen & nah its a tiddler. But you know when it is powerful now. Might be unfit & bit overweight these days but boy I can still run fast when the mood takes me. Boy did it take me on Tuesday.
But there were a few problems which I have alluded to in previous posts. Structural engineers were letting it be known privately that the whole truth was not been told & to ensure as best you can to get all properties checked thoroughly. Two & the Mayor were even in the "Press" saying the building code is only there to save lives. Which to me means everything must be either replaced(as I type this they are saying at least a third of the CBD must be demolished) or an extremely good check take place as now they have had their one big quake there is no guarantee they will survive another of similar or greater power.
So it has proved.
Then there has been Ken Rings quite accurate predictions of possibility of shakes on or around certain dates & the upcoming possible large one on or around the 20th March 2011. The experts keep contradicting themselves & each other, so lends him much more creditability even though he says it is not a precise process.
So a lot of people were & are edgy but now it has changed.
Unless you have experienced the power of these earthquakes it is hard to describe. Unlike other types of disasters(apart from suicide bombers) they just keep coming making everything associated with it more dangerous & for many nerve racking.
Last nights anti looting patrol was probably a good example of what we are looking at.
Quite a lot of what appear to be groups of teens still roaming or on pushbikes without lights up & down streets. Quite a few vehicles acting suspiciously. We saw two persons come out of house that is badly damaged who took a keen interest in what we were doing. So we stopped to offer them water & rice(given to us by Hornby Takeaways to hand out in the damaged areas) to find our driver knew one of them.
Their story is becoming the norm. A lot of suspicious people hanging around, looting taking place right in front of people. The person Bernie knew it was his house they came out off. The three neighbouring houses the people had left town. Person with him was his brother in law who lived about 7 houses down the road so they were doing their own little anti looting patrols in the street.
Then we moved on. In areas where there was power you noticed how many at 8.30-9.00pm were without lights & how empty & quiet it was. Where there was no power you noticed those with their own generators or candles. It is so noticeable as to what properties where empty.
At one part we helped a home owner get a house bus into his drive. House was munted but he was worried about looters & there appeared to be no neighbours in the street.
Now police have said they will swamp badly hit areas & we know they are trying but it took us ages to actually see a police patrol. When we did they were so appreciative of what we were doing with more eyes & ears on the ground. We asked what a certain area was like. Their response "mate been trying to get there all night but everytime we start to head that way we get called away".
We were starting to find more areas closed off & more cordons up with New Zealand & Australian Police combined with New Zealand & Singaporean soldiers on a cordon.
But still it is hard for the police to be everywhere & they don't have enough 4WD's to get into some areas. It is entirely possible that martial law could be imposed if people keep leaving to effect control over the city. Even in the not so badly hit areas like where I live people are just up & leaving. In just the last few days school roles outside Christchurch are jumping due to people just moving to be with relations or to their holiday home, bach or crib to live. Return time to be confirmed.
For many probably never.
I know many will not go back into multi story buildings because of the failure of the like of emergency exit stairs & been stuck up there for up to five hours awaiting rescue.
It is very quiet today & as the Mayor just said "its a weekend but its not" until he said that I didn't even realize it was Saturday. Days mean nothing right now.
It is the way some people are leaving though that show that many are in panic or terror as shocks continue. Just walking down the road when a vehicle obviously packed to leave town went down the road overtook a truck dangerously continued on the wrong side of the road & round a blind corner. Have seen that so many times of late where people are in such a hurry to get out that they are taking extreme risks on the road not thinking that they might kill themselves in the rush. The on going shocks are just spooking people so much. Soon it will be only those who are working trying to help or the Scum left at this rate.
Walking back see what is obviously someones business trailer just packed with all their worldly possessions heading south. Another common sight.
One good thing about it all is the people trying to help in which ever way they can. We stopped to talk to a check point on a cordon. In about five minutes they had four vehicles stop to offer them food or drinks, then a local group walked up with soup. Police officer said "going to get fat at this rate".
But with so many on edge it will only take another good shake to clear many more from the city. As someone said the media are underplaying it. Well they are not but it is really hard to convey not just the damage but the feeling of nerves waiting for the next 'big' shake. The only place I have ever been that has had a feeling like it is Baghdad & I think that is heightened by the fact New Zealanders were just not prepared for something like this.
One neighbour said they were about to leave here when it hit & said to the other neighbour "that was a good shake" then went off to work. It was near her work she said it was her 9/11 moment with 12 vehicles on the road but hundreds of peole walking. The other neighbour said "yeah real good shake but thought nothing of it went off to work to find the whole road grid locked. Thought what is going on here?"
So even within the city itself because of how the power was channelled not everyone was aware of how bad it was.
But as a police officer said last night it is probably the demise of the Cathedral that has hit hardest. As I said on the cordon on the day it hit a guy came up & when he saw it just burst into tears & couldn't stop. The heart of the city has gone.
I did find last night my vehicle is probably alright as that building appears to be undamaged. But the cordon is going to be in place for months it would appear & so now having to look at other options.
Now some of my mates have not liked my postings in the past regard to been able to increase my cash flow, business & generally have cash on hand to get things done.
Right now I think proves my point. Yes lives are important but that is actually why I have looked at what I have done for business. Both my security concept & sustainable communities designed with the effects of a large earthquake &/or a Tsaunami in mind to also provide redundant systems so that no part is ever completely shut down. Also to provide jobs therefore cash flow to allow people to feed their families which with an estimated 40,000 in the CBD alone with no work is going to be a priority.
Been out & about you feel you are contributing, but with one vehicle you can only do so much. It is really frustrating that had you been able to get things going as you wanted it would right now be making a real difference to peoples lives.
Money, as people say, might not be everything but it sure as hell helps you make a real difference when you have it & are able to use it in a way that allows that difference to be sustainable.
There have been moments of laughter though.
For those that are not aware New Zealand is hosting the Rugby World Cup 2011 & much of the work going on post September the 4th 2010 here on roads etc was not repairing earthquake damage but upgrading towards the World Cup. As we drove down Fitzgerald Avenue on the outskirts of the CBD we came across this sign which was obviously connected with the upgrade. Unable to remember the exact words but it went along these lines.
Due to requirement to upgrade the roads there will be some disruption & change in configuration of roading design.
The laughter went on for a while. They certainly got their change in configuration.
I think most of all it is the feeling of despair you get from people. As I say to me it is just like another day in paradise(Baghdad) in many ways. For many it is that shattered mindset that all those aweful things just don't happen in New Zealand & they are not handling it well.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
First thanks to Neil Smith for his link to a tourists video of the quake hitting. Unfortunately with our internet haven't been able to view it all. The part I did see at start it appears the camera person is standing in the entrance into the Cathedral when it hit. Its the view we had virtually once we got the people out & dust had settled some. It then appears they may of been struck by masonary, many were & before we started keeping people away from the Cathedral had a quick look at the injuries lined up by police Kiosk. Everyone had a head injury including a baby. A St Johns team were soon on the scene.
After an ex army mate wound me up(yeah you got me but I will get you back) about doing anti looting patrols was not really helping I thought I would give a more detailed account of what it is like actually living here.
To do that I need to go back to September the 4th 2010.
First it is the immense sense of power when the big one hits. Like many New Zealanders(except ironically many in Christchurch) I have had to live with earthquakes for at least part of my life. But nothing like the power in the destructive ones. Quakes that would of had me heading for a safe place in the past you now just look, listen & nah its a tiddler. But you know when it is powerful now. Might be unfit & bit overweight these days but boy I can still run fast when the mood takes me. Boy did it take me on Tuesday.
But there were a few problems which I have alluded to in previous posts. Structural engineers were letting it be known privately that the whole truth was not been told & to ensure as best you can to get all properties checked thoroughly. Two & the Mayor were even in the "Press" saying the building code is only there to save lives. Which to me means everything must be either replaced(as I type this they are saying at least a third of the CBD must be demolished) or an extremely good check take place as now they have had their one big quake there is no guarantee they will survive another of similar or greater power.
So it has proved.
Then there has been Ken Rings quite accurate predictions of possibility of shakes on or around certain dates & the upcoming possible large one on or around the 20th March 2011. The experts keep contradicting themselves & each other, so lends him much more creditability even though he says it is not a precise process.
So a lot of people were & are edgy but now it has changed.
Unless you have experienced the power of these earthquakes it is hard to describe. Unlike other types of disasters(apart from suicide bombers) they just keep coming making everything associated with it more dangerous & for many nerve racking.
Last nights anti looting patrol was probably a good example of what we are looking at.
Quite a lot of what appear to be groups of teens still roaming or on pushbikes without lights up & down streets. Quite a few vehicles acting suspiciously. We saw two persons come out of house that is badly damaged who took a keen interest in what we were doing. So we stopped to offer them water & rice(given to us by Hornby Takeaways to hand out in the damaged areas) to find our driver knew one of them.
Their story is becoming the norm. A lot of suspicious people hanging around, looting taking place right in front of people. The person Bernie knew it was his house they came out off. The three neighbouring houses the people had left town. Person with him was his brother in law who lived about 7 houses down the road so they were doing their own little anti looting patrols in the street.
Then we moved on. In areas where there was power you noticed how many at 8.30-9.00pm were without lights & how empty & quiet it was. Where there was no power you noticed those with their own generators or candles. It is so noticeable as to what properties where empty.
At one part we helped a home owner get a house bus into his drive. House was munted but he was worried about looters & there appeared to be no neighbours in the street.
Now police have said they will swamp badly hit areas & we know they are trying but it took us ages to actually see a police patrol. When we did they were so appreciative of what we were doing with more eyes & ears on the ground. We asked what a certain area was like. Their response "mate been trying to get there all night but everytime we start to head that way we get called away".
We were starting to find more areas closed off & more cordons up with New Zealand & Australian Police combined with New Zealand & Singaporean soldiers on a cordon.
But still it is hard for the police to be everywhere & they don't have enough 4WD's to get into some areas. It is entirely possible that martial law could be imposed if people keep leaving to effect control over the city. Even in the not so badly hit areas like where I live people are just up & leaving. In just the last few days school roles outside Christchurch are jumping due to people just moving to be with relations or to their holiday home, bach or crib to live. Return time to be confirmed.
For many probably never.
I know many will not go back into multi story buildings because of the failure of the like of emergency exit stairs & been stuck up there for up to five hours awaiting rescue.
It is very quiet today & as the Mayor just said "its a weekend but its not" until he said that I didn't even realize it was Saturday. Days mean nothing right now.
It is the way some people are leaving though that show that many are in panic or terror as shocks continue. Just walking down the road when a vehicle obviously packed to leave town went down the road overtook a truck dangerously continued on the wrong side of the road & round a blind corner. Have seen that so many times of late where people are in such a hurry to get out that they are taking extreme risks on the road not thinking that they might kill themselves in the rush. The on going shocks are just spooking people so much. Soon it will be only those who are working trying to help or the Scum left at this rate.
Walking back see what is obviously someones business trailer just packed with all their worldly possessions heading south. Another common sight.
One good thing about it all is the people trying to help in which ever way they can. We stopped to talk to a check point on a cordon. In about five minutes they had four vehicles stop to offer them food or drinks, then a local group walked up with soup. Police officer said "going to get fat at this rate".
But with so many on edge it will only take another good shake to clear many more from the city. As someone said the media are underplaying it. Well they are not but it is really hard to convey not just the damage but the feeling of nerves waiting for the next 'big' shake. The only place I have ever been that has had a feeling like it is Baghdad & I think that is heightened by the fact New Zealanders were just not prepared for something like this.
One neighbour said they were about to leave here when it hit & said to the other neighbour "that was a good shake" then went off to work. It was near her work she said it was her 9/11 moment with 12 vehicles on the road but hundreds of peole walking. The other neighbour said "yeah real good shake but thought nothing of it went off to work to find the whole road grid locked. Thought what is going on here?"
So even within the city itself because of how the power was channelled not everyone was aware of how bad it was.
But as a police officer said last night it is probably the demise of the Cathedral that has hit hardest. As I said on the cordon on the day it hit a guy came up & when he saw it just burst into tears & couldn't stop. The heart of the city has gone.
I did find last night my vehicle is probably alright as that building appears to be undamaged. But the cordon is going to be in place for months it would appear & so now having to look at other options.
Now some of my mates have not liked my postings in the past regard to been able to increase my cash flow, business & generally have cash on hand to get things done.
Right now I think proves my point. Yes lives are important but that is actually why I have looked at what I have done for business. Both my security concept & sustainable communities designed with the effects of a large earthquake &/or a Tsaunami in mind to also provide redundant systems so that no part is ever completely shut down. Also to provide jobs therefore cash flow to allow people to feed their families which with an estimated 40,000 in the CBD alone with no work is going to be a priority.
Been out & about you feel you are contributing, but with one vehicle you can only do so much. It is really frustrating that had you been able to get things going as you wanted it would right now be making a real difference to peoples lives.
Money, as people say, might not be everything but it sure as hell helps you make a real difference when you have it & are able to use it in a way that allows that difference to be sustainable.
There have been moments of laughter though.
For those that are not aware New Zealand is hosting the Rugby World Cup 2011 & much of the work going on post September the 4th 2010 here on roads etc was not repairing earthquake damage but upgrading towards the World Cup. As we drove down Fitzgerald Avenue on the outskirts of the CBD we came across this sign which was obviously connected with the upgrade. Unable to remember the exact words but it went along these lines.
Due to requirement to upgrade the roads there will be some disruption & change in configuration of roading design.
The laughter went on for a while. They certainly got their change in configuration.
I think most of all it is the feeling of despair you get from people. As I say to me it is just like another day in paradise(Baghdad) in many ways. For many it is that shattered mindset that all those aweful things just don't happen in New Zealand & they are not handling it well.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Another day another disaster!
Kia Ora,
What a day & night it has been. Carried out another job I am doing on a part time basis then headed into Christchurch city centre for an interview over the new Security Personnel & Private Investigators Act 2010. Was going to take the bus but decided to take my vehicle which is now stranded in the centre of the city.
If you are not sure what the situation is Christchurch New Zealand was struck by a second large earthquake in six months but this time it has led to fatalities.
What I will be writing about is my experience of the day so it will be a long post with some comments on my observations. Also based on comments from others during the day.
When the quake struck was about to use an ATM(since they are all down now it would of been nice to get in two minutes earlier but sh.t happens). Instantly you knew it was a big one coming, but as several others have commented many though froze or ran into the most dangerous areas. Right from the start some people took charge by virtually ordering people to do things or they were doing nothing. Managed to get some people moving in direction I was towards square. Luckily not too fast as part of Cathedral collapsed in front of us.
Joined the first really good person I met on the day. Young Israeli woman who obviously had a bit of experience in rescue type situations. I stopped at the door to the Cathedral, as you just could not see due to dust & there was a worry about the rest of the roof coming down. So initially yelled for people to come towards us. Young Israeli woman says no we will have to go in so we went in yelling, as any firemen will tell you, as the dust cleared we started to notice people in all sorts of place & had to basically order people out. As we got the last of about ten people out a staff member arrived & says to stop yelling.
But as I say you through out the day virutally had to order a lot of people as they went on auto pilot or in shock so you needed to get them moving.
Shortly after that it was noticed despite the situation that people were walking or posing for photos beside the leaning parts of the Cathedral. So with another good person who appeared that day, a young guy from City Care, who managed to find a bull horn we assisted the police to first keep people back from the Cathedral then move them out of the city centre.
The police were awesome there just weren't enough of them. Once the Square was clear we were asked to leave as well, but when we got to the outer edge of the cordon we found the police trying to move on large numbers of people who were trying to get back in or refusing to move further. Together we helped move them back over the bridge then joined the police on the cordon.
Again police were awesome as were the fire service who with no water to fight fires with took to checking out buildings were empty. Of course the Ambulance service were covering what they could, but also police cars were used as makeshift ambulances.
But at the cordon we began to have to deal with the anger. Now previously I have posted about the building anger & frustration which at recent earthquakes overseas has boiled over in riots, violence & crime quicker due to deaths.
There are a number of images that come to mind.
First in the Square just the amount of stunned looks & crying. Then when first on the cordon, after we had pushed everyone back & directed them to Hagley park processing centre or the Art Gallery if they wanted to help, a guy coming up on seeing the damage to the Cathedral down the street just burst into tears & couldn't stop.
Then the two angry guys. Well there were three but one was an idiot.
The first was an angry husband who was threatening to get in anyway he could to find his wife. Like many others they were coming back from where us & the police were told to direct them to to get information to say there was no information.
Next was the young boy on a bike angry at been sent here there & everywhere who could not find his parents. Unfortunately at the time we were dealing again with a lot of people trying to get through so cound't afford him much time but to turn him back.
Then the idiot. drunk turned away several times who wanted to get his car. In the end the police had to remove him, but they didn't want to clog up the cells so had to take him home in the country.
Oh forgot the other idiot. The one who in the middle of all this pulled a pistol on someone in another part of the city so police had to arm up & go find this w....r.
An elderly couple decided they needed to go to the toilet so decided to try to use a damaged empty building & also had to be ordered out by the police.
Finally we got the highly experienced helpers(not to mention the groups of well meaning helpers usually with shovels who were also frustrated), like a group of cavers, who just had enough of waiting to help & came like many others to the cordon to see if they could help were frustrated & angry over the disorganization.
It appears of all the groups involved the one that didn't learn much from the previous earthquake were Civil Defence. Having been part of Civil Defence & seeing them operate during the last earthquake there are too many people that don't want to make decisions.
Personally I think it is time to maybe scrap civil defence & use the army in its place. On a previous emergency whilst part of the army just a little military tip helped streamline a civil defence response. The difference is the military use this system all the time & can be set up quickly to provide effective command control & most of all effective use of resources. Though Civil Defence search & rescue teams were well drilled.
Once the police didn't require our services anymore had to walk home in the rain but that is a minor discomfort compared to what has happened. But some of the idiotic driving seen on the way home was beyond belief. Then a young guy named Mike stopped & gave me a lift home. He was on the way to comfort his ex girlfriend as she had rung very upset & not handling it. He was one of those good people who made a little difference.
Why do some people get in & do things when others stop or are in shock? I know in my case it is just what you do & that great training from the New Zealand army helps big time. But it is also experiences like working in Iraq.
In fact when a reporter asked myself & the young Israeli woman why we went in & then was it a worry. "Not really worked in Iraq & this young lady is from Israel so to us it is just like another day".
Experience counts but there are also others who just naturally just get stuck in & help as best they can.
One of those recently called themself a loser. He is not a loser, he gives his all to help others. That is the type of person whom we identify with as a real Kiwi. A person that will get on & make the best of what gets thrown at him.
www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
What a day & night it has been. Carried out another job I am doing on a part time basis then headed into Christchurch city centre for an interview over the new Security Personnel & Private Investigators Act 2010. Was going to take the bus but decided to take my vehicle which is now stranded in the centre of the city.
If you are not sure what the situation is Christchurch New Zealand was struck by a second large earthquake in six months but this time it has led to fatalities.
What I will be writing about is my experience of the day so it will be a long post with some comments on my observations. Also based on comments from others during the day.
When the quake struck was about to use an ATM(since they are all down now it would of been nice to get in two minutes earlier but sh.t happens). Instantly you knew it was a big one coming, but as several others have commented many though froze or ran into the most dangerous areas. Right from the start some people took charge by virtually ordering people to do things or they were doing nothing. Managed to get some people moving in direction I was towards square. Luckily not too fast as part of Cathedral collapsed in front of us.
Joined the first really good person I met on the day. Young Israeli woman who obviously had a bit of experience in rescue type situations. I stopped at the door to the Cathedral, as you just could not see due to dust & there was a worry about the rest of the roof coming down. So initially yelled for people to come towards us. Young Israeli woman says no we will have to go in so we went in yelling, as any firemen will tell you, as the dust cleared we started to notice people in all sorts of place & had to basically order people out. As we got the last of about ten people out a staff member arrived & says to stop yelling.
But as I say you through out the day virutally had to order a lot of people as they went on auto pilot or in shock so you needed to get them moving.
Shortly after that it was noticed despite the situation that people were walking or posing for photos beside the leaning parts of the Cathedral. So with another good person who appeared that day, a young guy from City Care, who managed to find a bull horn we assisted the police to first keep people back from the Cathedral then move them out of the city centre.
The police were awesome there just weren't enough of them. Once the Square was clear we were asked to leave as well, but when we got to the outer edge of the cordon we found the police trying to move on large numbers of people who were trying to get back in or refusing to move further. Together we helped move them back over the bridge then joined the police on the cordon.
Again police were awesome as were the fire service who with no water to fight fires with took to checking out buildings were empty. Of course the Ambulance service were covering what they could, but also police cars were used as makeshift ambulances.
But at the cordon we began to have to deal with the anger. Now previously I have posted about the building anger & frustration which at recent earthquakes overseas has boiled over in riots, violence & crime quicker due to deaths.
There are a number of images that come to mind.
First in the Square just the amount of stunned looks & crying. Then when first on the cordon, after we had pushed everyone back & directed them to Hagley park processing centre or the Art Gallery if they wanted to help, a guy coming up on seeing the damage to the Cathedral down the street just burst into tears & couldn't stop.
Then the two angry guys. Well there were three but one was an idiot.
The first was an angry husband who was threatening to get in anyway he could to find his wife. Like many others they were coming back from where us & the police were told to direct them to to get information to say there was no information.
Next was the young boy on a bike angry at been sent here there & everywhere who could not find his parents. Unfortunately at the time we were dealing again with a lot of people trying to get through so cound't afford him much time but to turn him back.
Then the idiot. drunk turned away several times who wanted to get his car. In the end the police had to remove him, but they didn't want to clog up the cells so had to take him home in the country.
Oh forgot the other idiot. The one who in the middle of all this pulled a pistol on someone in another part of the city so police had to arm up & go find this w....r.
An elderly couple decided they needed to go to the toilet so decided to try to use a damaged empty building & also had to be ordered out by the police.
Finally we got the highly experienced helpers(not to mention the groups of well meaning helpers usually with shovels who were also frustrated), like a group of cavers, who just had enough of waiting to help & came like many others to the cordon to see if they could help were frustrated & angry over the disorganization.
It appears of all the groups involved the one that didn't learn much from the previous earthquake were Civil Defence. Having been part of Civil Defence & seeing them operate during the last earthquake there are too many people that don't want to make decisions.
Personally I think it is time to maybe scrap civil defence & use the army in its place. On a previous emergency whilst part of the army just a little military tip helped streamline a civil defence response. The difference is the military use this system all the time & can be set up quickly to provide effective command control & most of all effective use of resources. Though Civil Defence search & rescue teams were well drilled.
Once the police didn't require our services anymore had to walk home in the rain but that is a minor discomfort compared to what has happened. But some of the idiotic driving seen on the way home was beyond belief. Then a young guy named Mike stopped & gave me a lift home. He was on the way to comfort his ex girlfriend as she had rung very upset & not handling it. He was one of those good people who made a little difference.
Why do some people get in & do things when others stop or are in shock? I know in my case it is just what you do & that great training from the New Zealand army helps big time. But it is also experiences like working in Iraq.
In fact when a reporter asked myself & the young Israeli woman why we went in & then was it a worry. "Not really worked in Iraq & this young lady is from Israel so to us it is just like another day".
Experience counts but there are also others who just naturally just get stuck in & help as best they can.
One of those recently called themself a loser. He is not a loser, he gives his all to help others. That is the type of person whom we identify with as a real Kiwi. A person that will get on & make the best of what gets thrown at him.
www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Saturday, February 5, 2011
No Leadership! Tell us something we don't know!
Kia Ora,
Well big drive by the Christchurch 'Press' to try to pin down where the earthquake recovery is going. The fact it seems leaderless.
It is this passing the buck, lack of action that is frustrating people & causing anger to rise.
I see also that EQC are going to review the assessments of chattels as private insurance has been giving small payments saying the house is going to be demolished from what they can see yet EQC are saying it can be fixed(from descriptions I have had Mickey Mouse style). Results in huge difference in assessments, more frustration & anger.
Normally you would say it was private insurance trying to pay as little as possible, but having been in some properties where EQC has said they can be fixed I think not. Slapping some concrete out of a bucket with a paint brush to even out the bumps in the floor I have seen done in Asia & might be acceptable in Australia(as it was recommened by an Australian I take it, it is)but it is not here & not when more large earthquakes are overdue.
Even the Mayor of Christchurch has lost his zip & fallen into line with the status quo saying different leaders are needed for different areas. But there is a need for an overall leader. Not a new one but an existing one to step up.
Now the Mayor of Christchurch & two structural engineers said quite early on in interviews that the building code had done its job & saved lives it was not there to save a building.
Straight away to me that implies like any saftey equipment such as body armour, cycle or motorcycle helmets that once used for the purpose for which they were designed they have to be replaced. So this is a rebuild not a recovery.
Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering Handbook
Instead of like Auckland or Wellington where recently Heritage buildings have been ordered demolished in hours when required Christchurch is still arguing over their merits five months later. Probably why someone asking for suggestions to get CBD going again didn't like my suggestion of bulldozing the whole lot & starting again.
By having so many 'leaders' who are as far as anyone can see showing no leadership nothing is getting done. With expected shocks to continue & even the predicted potential big shake around the 20th March 2011 (not to mention the earlier shake up around the 19th February 2011 based on the moon in Perigee) damage is worsening & showing how poor assessments are that have been done.
When green stickered(All OK) builidings have walls collapse it just tells people good shake from different direction or location can wreck anything or the initial assessments were not good enough.
Earthquake Engineering for Structural Design
All the theory in the world is great but it is the actual effect on the ground that matters.
The Minister for Earthquake Recovery is no better. He might officially live here, though for some reason wasn't here at time of the wee shake & never seems to be here except for visits as far as anyone can tell. People in his electorate are not happy. His efforts have been pitiful.
Now the Mayor of Christchurch in the aftermath of the earthquake & led up to the local body elections made a statement "I'm over democracy" or words to that effect. I would of though the current situation was right up his alley to prove his point.
Earthquake Engineering
When immediately after the main quake he had special powers & was able to get things done, but now it is committee after committee or commission & the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Commission(CERC)has no power it just recommends.
Of course a Camel is a horse designed by a committee or as one businessman I think it was said "a commitee is a place where good ideas go to die" or words to that effect.
We don't need committee's or commissions we need action.
It has got so ridiculous that one business contracted into assist with the recovery went to set up in the location recommended by the council but is now waiting on resource consent from the council to set up. The earthquake recovery act was supposed to deal with issues like that quickly, efficiently as was the minister. Both have failed!
Earthquake Damage: Inspection, Evaluation and Repair
The media are only scratching the surface of what is been passed on by concerned structural engineers as to information that is been hidden from people. It gives the impression that they are been hard on those who represent us but in reality it appears to be "you scratch my back & I will scratch your back".
So say this predicted potential big quake does hit around 20th March 2011 & this time people are killed. What then to these bureaucrats & politicians who do nothing?
I would say the anger & frustration will definitely boil over. About that time to add to the stress people's payments to cover rent(for temporary accomodation) from insurance companies is due to run out. With no word on what these people, who are paying both mortgage & rent, will get to cover this shortfall as yet many are moving back into their condemmed houses. The worsening financial crisis is making things just more difficult.
Advances in Earthquake Engineering for Urban Risk Reduction
I have said it before New Zealand has become a Risk Adverse country.
People would say to me but you are always on about Health & Saftey & Risk Assessment.
There is a difference.
In a very early blog someone criticized me for not naming the system of Risk Assessment I use. Those systems are designed to give people an excuse not to do anything.
Where as the other day I saw an editors comment about how the person whom the movie 127 hours is about is one of those persons who just ignores the risks or words to that effect.
Earthquake-resistant Concrete Structures
Actually that is the New Zealand perception been wrong again.
In business, life, the military & working in places like Iraq. It is not about ignoring the risk, it is about assessing it, mitgating it whilst still carrying on & I suspect without seeing the movie that is what this person has done. New Zealand used to be like that but not anymore. It just seems risky because people lack the knowledge or haven't weighed up the Risks.
Actually as I was typing that it reminded me of Charles Upham VC & Bar when standing on top of a truck to direct fire duirng the battle of Minqar Qaim. It looked dangerous & foolhardy to those around him, but his assessment was all the German shots were going low, so he was safer up high.
That is why people don't like my risk assessments as they see them as it will be used as a reason not to do something.
In fact I am looking at it the other way. Here is the risk, mitigate it so we can have a good event or safe society. But people here do not want to know & even when something does happen, within hours people are acting like it never happened. If you asked many of those people they would tell you it never happens in New Zealand or where they are.
I know it happened the other day within 24 hours of an armed robbery where people allowed others to enter in a manner that could very well be another armed robbery at the same location. A non New Zealand citizen did their nut at the staff for allowing it.
Risk Assessment Methods: Approaches for Assessing Health and Environmental Risks
New Zealand has become like the US Military when I first went to Iraq to work. Hint of issues or a suicide bomber they would lock down the Green Zone for sometimes days which gave the initiative back to the terrorists & insurgents(I well remember one Irishman during such a time saying he was going to pushbike to the Baghdad airport to get his plane out).
Compare that to the British reaction(& the Iraqis did) which was to flood an area after a shooting or bombing with troops on foot asking questions "What did we do wrong? Who was it?" etc. Then play a game of soccer with the kids.
Risks of been shot or blown up hadn't changed but their reaction was to try to get things moving. The British themselves observed in the end they stayed too long & lost that goodwill.
Earthquake Risk Reduction
Seems to me we are retreating inside our fortress, doing a lot of talking but nothing is getting done. New Zealanders tend not to say a lot even when things are wrong as they don't want to stand out. So if a lot of people are now talking it is time to take note & take action. Get things done!
As former Mayor Gary Moore said when questioned in one of the articles "Do I still have a sense of hope? No" & I would say that is a sentiment shared by many in Christchurch at present because there is no action & there is no leadership.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Well big drive by the Christchurch 'Press' to try to pin down where the earthquake recovery is going. The fact it seems leaderless.
It is this passing the buck, lack of action that is frustrating people & causing anger to rise.
I see also that EQC are going to review the assessments of chattels as private insurance has been giving small payments saying the house is going to be demolished from what they can see yet EQC are saying it can be fixed(from descriptions I have had Mickey Mouse style). Results in huge difference in assessments, more frustration & anger.
Normally you would say it was private insurance trying to pay as little as possible, but having been in some properties where EQC has said they can be fixed I think not. Slapping some concrete out of a bucket with a paint brush to even out the bumps in the floor I have seen done in Asia & might be acceptable in Australia(as it was recommened by an Australian I take it, it is)but it is not here & not when more large earthquakes are overdue.
Even the Mayor of Christchurch has lost his zip & fallen into line with the status quo saying different leaders are needed for different areas. But there is a need for an overall leader. Not a new one but an existing one to step up.
Now the Mayor of Christchurch & two structural engineers said quite early on in interviews that the building code had done its job & saved lives it was not there to save a building.
Straight away to me that implies like any saftey equipment such as body armour, cycle or motorcycle helmets that once used for the purpose for which they were designed they have to be replaced. So this is a rebuild not a recovery.
Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering Handbook
Instead of like Auckland or Wellington where recently Heritage buildings have been ordered demolished in hours when required Christchurch is still arguing over their merits five months later. Probably why someone asking for suggestions to get CBD going again didn't like my suggestion of bulldozing the whole lot & starting again.
By having so many 'leaders' who are as far as anyone can see showing no leadership nothing is getting done. With expected shocks to continue & even the predicted potential big shake around the 20th March 2011 (not to mention the earlier shake up around the 19th February 2011 based on the moon in Perigee) damage is worsening & showing how poor assessments are that have been done.
When green stickered(All OK) builidings have walls collapse it just tells people good shake from different direction or location can wreck anything or the initial assessments were not good enough.
Earthquake Engineering for Structural Design
All the theory in the world is great but it is the actual effect on the ground that matters.
The Minister for Earthquake Recovery is no better. He might officially live here, though for some reason wasn't here at time of the wee shake & never seems to be here except for visits as far as anyone can tell. People in his electorate are not happy. His efforts have been pitiful.
Now the Mayor of Christchurch in the aftermath of the earthquake & led up to the local body elections made a statement "I'm over democracy" or words to that effect. I would of though the current situation was right up his alley to prove his point.
Earthquake Engineering
When immediately after the main quake he had special powers & was able to get things done, but now it is committee after committee or commission & the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Commission(CERC)has no power it just recommends.
Of course a Camel is a horse designed by a committee or as one businessman I think it was said "a commitee is a place where good ideas go to die" or words to that effect.
We don't need committee's or commissions we need action.
It has got so ridiculous that one business contracted into assist with the recovery went to set up in the location recommended by the council but is now waiting on resource consent from the council to set up. The earthquake recovery act was supposed to deal with issues like that quickly, efficiently as was the minister. Both have failed!
Earthquake Damage: Inspection, Evaluation and Repair
The media are only scratching the surface of what is been passed on by concerned structural engineers as to information that is been hidden from people. It gives the impression that they are been hard on those who represent us but in reality it appears to be "you scratch my back & I will scratch your back".
So say this predicted potential big quake does hit around 20th March 2011 & this time people are killed. What then to these bureaucrats & politicians who do nothing?
I would say the anger & frustration will definitely boil over. About that time to add to the stress people's payments to cover rent(for temporary accomodation) from insurance companies is due to run out. With no word on what these people, who are paying both mortgage & rent, will get to cover this shortfall as yet many are moving back into their condemmed houses. The worsening financial crisis is making things just more difficult.
Advances in Earthquake Engineering for Urban Risk Reduction
I have said it before New Zealand has become a Risk Adverse country.
People would say to me but you are always on about Health & Saftey & Risk Assessment.
There is a difference.
In a very early blog someone criticized me for not naming the system of Risk Assessment I use. Those systems are designed to give people an excuse not to do anything.
Where as the other day I saw an editors comment about how the person whom the movie 127 hours is about is one of those persons who just ignores the risks or words to that effect.
Earthquake-resistant Concrete Structures
Actually that is the New Zealand perception been wrong again.
In business, life, the military & working in places like Iraq. It is not about ignoring the risk, it is about assessing it, mitgating it whilst still carrying on & I suspect without seeing the movie that is what this person has done. New Zealand used to be like that but not anymore. It just seems risky because people lack the knowledge or haven't weighed up the Risks.
Actually as I was typing that it reminded me of Charles Upham VC & Bar when standing on top of a truck to direct fire duirng the battle of Minqar Qaim. It looked dangerous & foolhardy to those around him, but his assessment was all the German shots were going low, so he was safer up high.
That is why people don't like my risk assessments as they see them as it will be used as a reason not to do something.
In fact I am looking at it the other way. Here is the risk, mitigate it so we can have a good event or safe society. But people here do not want to know & even when something does happen, within hours people are acting like it never happened. If you asked many of those people they would tell you it never happens in New Zealand or where they are.
I know it happened the other day within 24 hours of an armed robbery where people allowed others to enter in a manner that could very well be another armed robbery at the same location. A non New Zealand citizen did their nut at the staff for allowing it.
Risk Assessment Methods: Approaches for Assessing Health and Environmental Risks
New Zealand has become like the US Military when I first went to Iraq to work. Hint of issues or a suicide bomber they would lock down the Green Zone for sometimes days which gave the initiative back to the terrorists & insurgents(I well remember one Irishman during such a time saying he was going to pushbike to the Baghdad airport to get his plane out).
Compare that to the British reaction(& the Iraqis did) which was to flood an area after a shooting or bombing with troops on foot asking questions "What did we do wrong? Who was it?" etc. Then play a game of soccer with the kids.
Risks of been shot or blown up hadn't changed but their reaction was to try to get things moving. The British themselves observed in the end they stayed too long & lost that goodwill.
Earthquake Risk Reduction
Seems to me we are retreating inside our fortress, doing a lot of talking but nothing is getting done. New Zealanders tend not to say a lot even when things are wrong as they don't want to stand out. So if a lot of people are now talking it is time to take note & take action. Get things done!
As former Mayor Gary Moore said when questioned in one of the articles "Do I still have a sense of hope? No" & I would say that is a sentiment shared by many in Christchurch at present because there is no action & there is no leadership.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Which Experts to listen too?
Kia Ora,
These days all we hear is 'they have the advice of the experts', but which experts do we listen too.
For example the experts over the earthquakes here can't even agree what has happened, what is going to happen & if there is a faultline under Christchurch (depsite one report talking about the Addington fault rupturing in the mid 1800's after this quake struck).
What prompted this post though was the front page article in the Christchurch 'Press' about the security hole in internet explorer.
Now this was one of the first things we received a warning about on arrival to work in Iraq from the US military. There are security issues with internet explorer, yahoo messenger & msn messenger we recommend you do not use them. This was in 2004.
Now for years there had been a rumour that there were holes so the US military could access your computer so thought it might be a good idea to listen.
Since then I find if you go onto European security sites they detect if you have internet explorer or not & you get a well done if say using Firefox.
Then there has been the odd clipping about European countries such as Denmark issuing a warning.
National security on the Web.(online material): An article from: Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
Meanwhile back here in New Zealand almost every issue I have had with some software has been put down to not having internet explorer. Often been told I need to have it to which the reply has gone along the lines "you can't actually tell me that as has been proven in court cases in Europe & the US. Anyway it is poor security."
Until today, when internet security experts have being seen quoted on TV, I am always told that they or their internet security expert have no knowledge of this & there is no issue. All of a sudden they are experts on it!
So it has taken nearly seven years for New Zealand internet security experts to catch up with what we found out in 2004.
Others have blamed the anti virus I use & said I need to turn it off! What person involved in the internet security tells someone to turn off their anti virus?
The Future of the Internet--And How to Stop It
This has resulted in a very good personal phone call from the CEO of the providers of the anti virus Chillisoft where their exasperation at been held to blame for others short comings was quite evident.
When it comes to internet security I do what I can but it is not my field of experience but it appears a lot of 'experts' have less knowledge than I do which is a real worry & try to baffle people with bullshit.
Personally I have a lot of knowledge of security & many different experiences but would never like to call myself an expert. As much as I will give my opinion there will always be someone else with more or different experiences that can be brought to bear.
The problem with a lot of them they have never actually been at the coal face so their views are not in line with what is reality.
Electronic Commerce: Technical, Business, and Legal Issues
Like many would not be aware that in the local area there have been two armed robberies not generally known about or a series of burglaries also not widely known about. Burglaries well that is normal until(if) they get to court, but at least until recently it seems if the police know about serious crime the media are informed shortly after in this country. That appears to be changing.
With the lack of coal face experience they wouldn't of picked up the two appearing to be casing the banks or the person that appears to be homeless hanging around.
How can someone be an expert when they have never experienced the situation or the issues that arise?
So who do you trust?
The 'expert' with the graphs & statistics to back them up or the person with the experience & anecdotes to back it up? Personally the person with experience will get my vote.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
These days all we hear is 'they have the advice of the experts', but which experts do we listen too.
For example the experts over the earthquakes here can't even agree what has happened, what is going to happen & if there is a faultline under Christchurch (depsite one report talking about the Addington fault rupturing in the mid 1800's after this quake struck).
What prompted this post though was the front page article in the Christchurch 'Press' about the security hole in internet explorer.
Now this was one of the first things we received a warning about on arrival to work in Iraq from the US military. There are security issues with internet explorer, yahoo messenger & msn messenger we recommend you do not use them. This was in 2004.
Now for years there had been a rumour that there were holes so the US military could access your computer so thought it might be a good idea to listen.
Since then I find if you go onto European security sites they detect if you have internet explorer or not & you get a well done if say using Firefox.
Then there has been the odd clipping about European countries such as Denmark issuing a warning.
National security on the Web.(online material): An article from: Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
Meanwhile back here in New Zealand almost every issue I have had with some software has been put down to not having internet explorer. Often been told I need to have it to which the reply has gone along the lines "you can't actually tell me that as has been proven in court cases in Europe & the US. Anyway it is poor security."
Until today, when internet security experts have being seen quoted on TV, I am always told that they or their internet security expert have no knowledge of this & there is no issue. All of a sudden they are experts on it!
So it has taken nearly seven years for New Zealand internet security experts to catch up with what we found out in 2004.
Others have blamed the anti virus I use & said I need to turn it off! What person involved in the internet security tells someone to turn off their anti virus?
The Future of the Internet--And How to Stop It
This has resulted in a very good personal phone call from the CEO of the providers of the anti virus Chillisoft where their exasperation at been held to blame for others short comings was quite evident.
When it comes to internet security I do what I can but it is not my field of experience but it appears a lot of 'experts' have less knowledge than I do which is a real worry & try to baffle people with bullshit.
Personally I have a lot of knowledge of security & many different experiences but would never like to call myself an expert. As much as I will give my opinion there will always be someone else with more or different experiences that can be brought to bear.
The problem with a lot of them they have never actually been at the coal face so their views are not in line with what is reality.
Electronic Commerce: Technical, Business, and Legal Issues
Like many would not be aware that in the local area there have been two armed robberies not generally known about or a series of burglaries also not widely known about. Burglaries well that is normal until(if) they get to court, but at least until recently it seems if the police know about serious crime the media are informed shortly after in this country. That appears to be changing.
With the lack of coal face experience they wouldn't of picked up the two appearing to be casing the banks or the person that appears to be homeless hanging around.
How can someone be an expert when they have never experienced the situation or the issues that arise?
So who do you trust?
The 'expert' with the graphs & statistics to back them up or the person with the experience & anecdotes to back it up? Personally the person with experience will get my vote.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Monday, January 31, 2011
What is Democracy?
Kia Ora,
Over the last week or so you have heard the governments of the west, in particular the US & Britain speaking out over the protests & riots in the Middle East saying let them have democratically elected governments.
But what is democracy?
It seems to be different things to different people.
I have raised this before about how an Iraqi team member when asked why he hadn't been to vote said he did. His Father did it for him & his mother did it for all the females in the family.
When we pointed out that is not democracy, that it is one person one vote & a government elected by the people, his answer was "you do not understand democracy.
When other Iraqis who worked at our villa were asked about their vote as they had been very pro one candidate did they vote for him. "oh no our Iman or our elders told us to vote for this or that person.
That is their idea of democracy. Though I see their preferred candidate technically won the last Iraqi election as he is a 'good strong man'.
In the dictionary it refers to as a government elected by the people, but the more I deleve into the world of financial education(real education not the education systems idea but self education looking to see what is really happening)that is all a myth where it is designed to divide & conquor then manipulate the masses.
It is also funny on how what is a democratic version of election in one country can be ruled undemocratic in another.
For example the US electoral system gives very little power to the voter(as seen in the election in 2000 of George W. Bush) but all power to the electoral college, but most people would regard the US as a very demoractic government.
Well my Iwi(tribe) uses the similar system to elect our representatives on TRONT(for want of a better definition ruling council) of which I was for a short time one(alternate representative). Everyone votes as too who is going to be on the electoral committee(in the US each state is different but it determines who sits on their electoral college)who then determine who of the candidates is to be elected(not the people). In my case it was pretty easy as I was the only one with my name in for that position.
Struggle for Democracy, The (8th Edition)
But then came the fisheries settlement between the New Zealand government & the Iwi of New Zealand. Our Iwi was initially left out as it required an Iwi to be represented by those democratically elected. Our system was said to be undemocratic even though it was quite obviously based on the US system.
You can see their point though as no one actually votes for the candidate. In the US votes determine how many votes go towards that candidate in the electoral college then we learn of the Super candidates in the electoral college who are not elected by any voters but have a huge say in who becomes the President of the USA.
So technically the people of the US can indicate they want one candidate but the electoral college can vote in another candidate.
Democracy in What State? (New Directions in Critical Theory)
Then the real manipulations begin once someone is in power. Governments always claim by been in power they have the mandate of the people to do certain things in their interest.
Actually they often don't. Here in New Zealand the governments can not have claimed that since about 1975 as under the first past the post system most governments often had less votes than the opposition just mroe electorates.
So we changed to MMP(a very dangerous system but if you tried to tell people at the time you were told you were wrong, I mean it is how Hitler got to power)& since then no government has been able to govern alone. Often the small parties have been able to exercise power well beyond their support base.
Just in this last week both major political parties here in New Zealand have shown how they are prepared to manipulate information to get those that do vote(which is getting less & less as people get disillusioned) to vote in their direction at the coming election.
The government claimed that New Zealand is in great debt, but only one financial commentator I have seen in the media has picked up on the figures used. They are right New Zealand is in a lot of debt but very little of it is government debt, it is the banks or personal debt so selling the governments assets to would be only to pay for the banks debt.
Meanwhile the opposition are jumping on the we will not tax the first $5000 & drop GST on food bandwagon. As has been pointed out this was similar to that tried by President of Tunisia & once the inflation caused by the US Federal reserve 'printing' currency hit is just made no difference.
Democracy, Inc.: The Press and Law in the Corporate Rationalization of the Public Sphere (History of Communication)
What is going to replace democracy as change sweeps the world & even these 'liberal' western forms of government are expected to fall?
The Singapore system of the benevolent dictatorship(lived there for two years & we came to the conclusion that is exactly what it is) or the Chinese capitalism in a controlled environment? At least the Chinese are more up front & honest about how their system works. This is the way it is! Much less manipulation through layers of bureaucracy. Less Crime too.
As one commentator said "do you go for the US or Chinese when you ask for a quote & whilst waiting for the first reply from the US supplier the Chinese have given not only their quote but have built a prototype."
Death of the Liberal Class
So what really is democracy & is it going to survive the upheaval the world is about to go through?
Can it survive in any form?
At the end of the day people only really care about looking after their families when it comes to the crunch.
The Chinese appear to be trying to learn from their history to stop it affecting them whilst the West seem to either forgotten or don't care.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Over the last week or so you have heard the governments of the west, in particular the US & Britain speaking out over the protests & riots in the Middle East saying let them have democratically elected governments.
But what is democracy?
It seems to be different things to different people.
I have raised this before about how an Iraqi team member when asked why he hadn't been to vote said he did. His Father did it for him & his mother did it for all the females in the family.
When we pointed out that is not democracy, that it is one person one vote & a government elected by the people, his answer was "you do not understand democracy.
When other Iraqis who worked at our villa were asked about their vote as they had been very pro one candidate did they vote for him. "oh no our Iman or our elders told us to vote for this or that person.
That is their idea of democracy. Though I see their preferred candidate technically won the last Iraqi election as he is a 'good strong man'.
In the dictionary it refers to as a government elected by the people, but the more I deleve into the world of financial education(real education not the education systems idea but self education looking to see what is really happening)that is all a myth where it is designed to divide & conquor then manipulate the masses.
It is also funny on how what is a democratic version of election in one country can be ruled undemocratic in another.
For example the US electoral system gives very little power to the voter(as seen in the election in 2000 of George W. Bush) but all power to the electoral college, but most people would regard the US as a very demoractic government.
Well my Iwi(tribe) uses the similar system to elect our representatives on TRONT(for want of a better definition ruling council) of which I was for a short time one(alternate representative). Everyone votes as too who is going to be on the electoral committee(in the US each state is different but it determines who sits on their electoral college)who then determine who of the candidates is to be elected(not the people). In my case it was pretty easy as I was the only one with my name in for that position.
Struggle for Democracy, The (8th Edition)
But then came the fisheries settlement between the New Zealand government & the Iwi of New Zealand. Our Iwi was initially left out as it required an Iwi to be represented by those democratically elected. Our system was said to be undemocratic even though it was quite obviously based on the US system.
You can see their point though as no one actually votes for the candidate. In the US votes determine how many votes go towards that candidate in the electoral college then we learn of the Super candidates in the electoral college who are not elected by any voters but have a huge say in who becomes the President of the USA.
So technically the people of the US can indicate they want one candidate but the electoral college can vote in another candidate.
Democracy in What State? (New Directions in Critical Theory)
Then the real manipulations begin once someone is in power. Governments always claim by been in power they have the mandate of the people to do certain things in their interest.
Actually they often don't. Here in New Zealand the governments can not have claimed that since about 1975 as under the first past the post system most governments often had less votes than the opposition just mroe electorates.
So we changed to MMP(a very dangerous system but if you tried to tell people at the time you were told you were wrong, I mean it is how Hitler got to power)& since then no government has been able to govern alone. Often the small parties have been able to exercise power well beyond their support base.
Just in this last week both major political parties here in New Zealand have shown how they are prepared to manipulate information to get those that do vote(which is getting less & less as people get disillusioned) to vote in their direction at the coming election.
The government claimed that New Zealand is in great debt, but only one financial commentator I have seen in the media has picked up on the figures used. They are right New Zealand is in a lot of debt but very little of it is government debt, it is the banks or personal debt so selling the governments assets to would be only to pay for the banks debt.
Meanwhile the opposition are jumping on the we will not tax the first $5000 & drop GST on food bandwagon. As has been pointed out this was similar to that tried by President of Tunisia & once the inflation caused by the US Federal reserve 'printing' currency hit is just made no difference.
Democracy, Inc.: The Press and Law in the Corporate Rationalization of the Public Sphere (History of Communication)
What is going to replace democracy as change sweeps the world & even these 'liberal' western forms of government are expected to fall?
The Singapore system of the benevolent dictatorship(lived there for two years & we came to the conclusion that is exactly what it is) or the Chinese capitalism in a controlled environment? At least the Chinese are more up front & honest about how their system works. This is the way it is! Much less manipulation through layers of bureaucracy. Less Crime too.
As one commentator said "do you go for the US or Chinese when you ask for a quote & whilst waiting for the first reply from the US supplier the Chinese have given not only their quote but have built a prototype."
Death of the Liberal Class
So what really is democracy & is it going to survive the upheaval the world is about to go through?
Can it survive in any form?
At the end of the day people only really care about looking after their families when it comes to the crunch.
The Chinese appear to be trying to learn from their history to stop it affecting them whilst the West seem to either forgotten or don't care.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Hate site or the Truth they are trying to Suppress?
Kia Ora,
One of the Sunday papers(Sunday Star-Times) here in New Zealand screamed the headlines Hate website calls NZ 'a tourist death trap'.
Yes when you look at the website some of the claims seem pretty out there. But I have been around the military, security & now in doing financial research to know that the truth really is often much stranger than fiction.
In fact when you dig into the financial area it is no wonder the US is a land of conspiracy theories. Many of them are actually based on firm facts.
But what of this sites claims?
One is that New Zealand is the most dangerous country in the world after Iraq. Well I have always said that it is actually more dangerous than Iraq which has New Zealanders perplexed. But they have to put it in context.
New Zealand is a country bigger in land size than Britain but with a population the size of Singapore. So the incidents of crime are spread out. The real reason though that I & others including my dentist originally from Jo'burg see New Zealand so dangerous is that it is so random & there is no reason for the crime. A lot of the violent crime here is just for kicks. That is what makes it so dangerous.
But New Zealand toursim makes a good point. Because New Zealand looks so safe & inviting people do not take the precautions they would normally. That random nature of the crime is the thing that really gets them.
Press Control Around the World
This is not the first website I have been aware off atacking New Zealand.
Some would say my blog here does the same. I would beg to differ, I am just interested in us been the best we can be. We were once but now we aim low & fail to achieve that mark & are in for a big shock.
Many of those like me who have worked security in places like Iraq or Afghanistan can see that it is not if but when New Zealand will be hit by a modern style terrorist attack.
Again New Zealanders can not see it as very few have ever been involved in this type of event. As a former Police officer who worked with us in Iraq said "you guys were right. Could only see it when I came back & started to talk to my old police colleagues. They couldn't see it as they have never experienced it" or words to that effect.
The Google on Orwell.(//bites: BRIEF NOTES ON NEWS AND VIEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD): An article from: Arena Magazine
The end of the article though brought up another issue. Internal Affairs were talked to about why the site wasn't banned effectively if not in so many words.
This starts to smack of the movement in the US, identified by financial commentators, by US media to have Wikileaks blocked & prosecuted. You would think they would be supporting Wikileaks.
Travelling the world I have found two countries in particular heavily control their media & what is put out into the public.
Singapore & the US.
In Singapore all comment criticizing the country is banned.
US citizens that have never travelled though will find the comment about how controlled their media is strange considering they see themselves as the bastion of free speech.
Nineteen Eighty-Four
Unfortunately that is a myth & like anyone you don't see your country in the same light until you have travelled overseas.
It is common when talking to Americans when they visit New Zealand for them to express surprise at the content of our news & items they would never see about the US, in the US.
In the same vein I was surprised when visiting the US as to how controlled & inaccurate the information was.
Recently it has appeared to not only myself but many others that New Zealand media are going the same way.
Even more recently a filter was put on the internet which from memory was supposed to limit certain spam & scams in particular to government sites. Well none of that seems to have slowed. In fact it has increased but it is noticeable that certain sites have become harder to access.
Animal Farm and 1984
So seeing the comment from main stream media about effectively banning the site is worrying.
The internet & social media have opened up the information world, after all we are in the information age, & so people are able to look & decide for themselves what is right & what isn't.
Western countries make a big deal when the likes of China or Iran do it, or right now Eygpt but it is increasingly looking like the West itself is allowing the same restrictions they condem to creep in.
Why?
What have they got to hide?
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
One of the Sunday papers(Sunday Star-Times) here in New Zealand screamed the headlines Hate website calls NZ 'a tourist death trap'.
Yes when you look at the website some of the claims seem pretty out there. But I have been around the military, security & now in doing financial research to know that the truth really is often much stranger than fiction.
In fact when you dig into the financial area it is no wonder the US is a land of conspiracy theories. Many of them are actually based on firm facts.
But what of this sites claims?
One is that New Zealand is the most dangerous country in the world after Iraq. Well I have always said that it is actually more dangerous than Iraq which has New Zealanders perplexed. But they have to put it in context.
New Zealand is a country bigger in land size than Britain but with a population the size of Singapore. So the incidents of crime are spread out. The real reason though that I & others including my dentist originally from Jo'burg see New Zealand so dangerous is that it is so random & there is no reason for the crime. A lot of the violent crime here is just for kicks. That is what makes it so dangerous.
But New Zealand toursim makes a good point. Because New Zealand looks so safe & inviting people do not take the precautions they would normally. That random nature of the crime is the thing that really gets them.
Press Control Around the World
This is not the first website I have been aware off atacking New Zealand.
Some would say my blog here does the same. I would beg to differ, I am just interested in us been the best we can be. We were once but now we aim low & fail to achieve that mark & are in for a big shock.
Many of those like me who have worked security in places like Iraq or Afghanistan can see that it is not if but when New Zealand will be hit by a modern style terrorist attack.
Again New Zealanders can not see it as very few have ever been involved in this type of event. As a former Police officer who worked with us in Iraq said "you guys were right. Could only see it when I came back & started to talk to my old police colleagues. They couldn't see it as they have never experienced it" or words to that effect.
The Google on Orwell.(//bites: BRIEF NOTES ON NEWS AND VIEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD): An article from: Arena Magazine
The end of the article though brought up another issue. Internal Affairs were talked to about why the site wasn't banned effectively if not in so many words.
This starts to smack of the movement in the US, identified by financial commentators, by US media to have Wikileaks blocked & prosecuted. You would think they would be supporting Wikileaks.
Travelling the world I have found two countries in particular heavily control their media & what is put out into the public.
Singapore & the US.
In Singapore all comment criticizing the country is banned.
US citizens that have never travelled though will find the comment about how controlled their media is strange considering they see themselves as the bastion of free speech.
Nineteen Eighty-Four
Unfortunately that is a myth & like anyone you don't see your country in the same light until you have travelled overseas.
It is common when talking to Americans when they visit New Zealand for them to express surprise at the content of our news & items they would never see about the US, in the US.
In the same vein I was surprised when visiting the US as to how controlled & inaccurate the information was.
Recently it has appeared to not only myself but many others that New Zealand media are going the same way.
Even more recently a filter was put on the internet which from memory was supposed to limit certain spam & scams in particular to government sites. Well none of that seems to have slowed. In fact it has increased but it is noticeable that certain sites have become harder to access.
Animal Farm and 1984
So seeing the comment from main stream media about effectively banning the site is worrying.
The internet & social media have opened up the information world, after all we are in the information age, & so people are able to look & decide for themselves what is right & what isn't.
Western countries make a big deal when the likes of China or Iran do it, or right now Eygpt but it is increasingly looking like the West itself is allowing the same restrictions they condem to creep in.
Why?
What have they got to hide?
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Friday, January 28, 2011
The Walls are starting to Tumble!
Kia Ora,
The world seems to be falling to pieces with protests & riots then the overthrow of the Tunisian President who has fled with 1.5 tonnes of the countries gold.
Riots in Eygpt & airport security has intercepted 59 shipments of gold destined for the Netherlands. The question was raised about how the Eygptian Presidents son is an international banker in regards to this gold.
Protests in Yemen.
Through out it all the US & Britain warn that the governments must respect the rights of the protesters. Will they be saying that when it is in their streets? Britain has already had protests & riots but it is about to get much worse.
This is why China has been going on its own course because it knows from its long history that when people start doing the likes of what the US & central banks have been doing it will not end well. They have been resisting raising the Yuan too quickly against the US dollar as this would put millions out of work, would mean millions starving or turning to crime to feed their families. Much like what is happening in the US.
But the worlds politicians just march on saying they are getting the best economic advice. Yeah right.
As has been noted when the US prints currency(or Quantitive ease) it causes inflation throughout the rest of the world, it causes inflation in the US when it monetizes that by buying debt as in bailouts or buying government bonds since no one else will.
When the meeting to take place at Davos proposes to create another US$100 Trillion in SDR's(the IMF-International Monetary Fund-equivalent to a currency) it will cause inflation world wide. Probably Hyperinflation. They say this US$100 Trillion will be over 10years with probably another US$100 Trillion needed, but the world is in so much debt it will need it quick.
Culture and Inflation in Weimar Germany (Weimar and Now: German Cultural Criticism)
The problem is the more currency that is created just making the coming problems worse. The only solution is to follow Iceland & let it fail but no country is likely to do that so there will be more riots, more governments overthrown & more people taking off with the only true Money gold or silver.
So since governments are going down the track of what advice they get the other option is with the created currency to put it into start up businesses to create jobs & create real wealth. If it goes into bailouts & government hand outs it creates no wealth what so ever(Ok apart from the central bankers & banking industry paying themselves for a job well done, but that is not real wealth).
Sir Robet Muldoon tried it here in New Zealand in the late 70's early 80's. Didn't quite take off but the idea was there. If you are going to have to do it then use it to create not keep the status quo or destroy.
Germany 1922 10,000 Mark, Pick 70. Large size "Vampire" note.
What is presently happening in the world has been referred too as the "Greatest transfer of wealth & power ever". Transfer of wealth because as central banks bail people & governments out they then can then claim those bailed out as their assets. Just like someone believes that China by buying European debt will be able to ask for the repayments in gold.
But then there are now issues over that gold. It is believed that the US no longer has any gold of its own although the US treasury claims to have 8000 tonnes. But then the IMF & Federal reserve claim to have that same 8000.
As shown in the movie Diehard 3 the worlds gold is held in the New York Federal reserve with an estimated 60% of Germany's gold held there. Already there is talk of the US seizing that & moving it to a military protected facility. If I was Germany I would be moving my physical gold home now.
Expectations, exchange rates, and monetary theory: The case of the German hyperinflation (Research paper)
Then we get to New Zealand where the government is proposing to sell assets. Since those assets give them a dividend they will actually lose out in the long run. They are better off trying to create jobs that create wealth. The New Zealand government is not seen as been that badly in debt actually so the reasoning behind it is flawed. Where New Zealand is in debt probably worse than anybody else is privately & in business. So when bailouts occur it is transferring that debt to the government.
But the opposition are no better. First whilst in government they had a finance minister with a degree in history who never studied financial history so made every mistake you could. Now they are trying to win favour by proposing tax changes that will give $10 a week extra! My grocery bill has doubled in the last year at least, $10 will not make one bit of difference.
Then they are saying they will take the GST off food. As the president of Tunisia found when the inflation is caused by the likes of the US creating currency out of thin air removing taxes will not make one bit of difference.
1918-1923 German hyperinflation,
So you either have to let it all fail with short term pain like Iceland or use any currency you create to try to create real wealth.
Otherwise crime will rise, there will be riots & possibly even the otherthrow of governments.
When people are struggling to feed their families then is when the situation leds to either extreme politics or coups. That was actually a strategy proposed in Iraq by a Colonel of the US Army Corp of Engineers when talking to him. He had seen how the British had succeeded initially in the South. If you create jobs, people are able to feed their families & have less time to get upset & join the insurgency. Same here if you create jobs people can feed their family, the government takes in more tax. Just giving the currency to the banks though is a recipe for failure.
Britain, the US & even New Zealand need to worry less about the rights of protesters in the Middle east & more about how they are going to stop it happening here. Seems that governments have not learnt from the French lesson that led to the revolution. To 'fix' the problem they just kept creating more currency.
Though it might give them more power to control the population. Interestingly overnight the Egyptians have suspened social media & even the internet with some people reporting the affects on twitter further a field.
Further evidence on expectations and the demand for money during the German hyperinflation (NBER working paper series)
We are already seeing the affects here in New Zealand of the inflation with a rise in armed robberies but many are not been reported by the authorities until days later. Sounds like been back in Iraq at times. Everyone sees the police flying past. Word goes out something has happened but it is not in the news. It never happened.
I know of one in the last couple of days but there has been no reports so far about it. It was just by word of mouth through the security industry that I came to know about it. When you get to that stage it is a very dangerous situation.
New Zealand is becoming like the US. On the face of it open & freedom of speech with good information flow but in reality much of the information is surpressed. Denial leds to people taking action at some stage.
Social Media & the internet are getting around this for now but already filters are been put in place like here in New Zealand that will limit what is said.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
The world seems to be falling to pieces with protests & riots then the overthrow of the Tunisian President who has fled with 1.5 tonnes of the countries gold.
Riots in Eygpt & airport security has intercepted 59 shipments of gold destined for the Netherlands. The question was raised about how the Eygptian Presidents son is an international banker in regards to this gold.
Protests in Yemen.
Through out it all the US & Britain warn that the governments must respect the rights of the protesters. Will they be saying that when it is in their streets? Britain has already had protests & riots but it is about to get much worse.
This is why China has been going on its own course because it knows from its long history that when people start doing the likes of what the US & central banks have been doing it will not end well. They have been resisting raising the Yuan too quickly against the US dollar as this would put millions out of work, would mean millions starving or turning to crime to feed their families. Much like what is happening in the US.
But the worlds politicians just march on saying they are getting the best economic advice. Yeah right.
As has been noted when the US prints currency(or Quantitive ease) it causes inflation throughout the rest of the world, it causes inflation in the US when it monetizes that by buying debt as in bailouts or buying government bonds since no one else will.
When the meeting to take place at Davos proposes to create another US$100 Trillion in SDR's(the IMF-International Monetary Fund-equivalent to a currency) it will cause inflation world wide. Probably Hyperinflation. They say this US$100 Trillion will be over 10years with probably another US$100 Trillion needed, but the world is in so much debt it will need it quick.
Culture and Inflation in Weimar Germany (Weimar and Now: German Cultural Criticism)
The problem is the more currency that is created just making the coming problems worse. The only solution is to follow Iceland & let it fail but no country is likely to do that so there will be more riots, more governments overthrown & more people taking off with the only true Money gold or silver.
So since governments are going down the track of what advice they get the other option is with the created currency to put it into start up businesses to create jobs & create real wealth. If it goes into bailouts & government hand outs it creates no wealth what so ever(Ok apart from the central bankers & banking industry paying themselves for a job well done, but that is not real wealth).
Sir Robet Muldoon tried it here in New Zealand in the late 70's early 80's. Didn't quite take off but the idea was there. If you are going to have to do it then use it to create not keep the status quo or destroy.
Germany 1922 10,000 Mark, Pick 70. Large size "Vampire" note.
What is presently happening in the world has been referred too as the "Greatest transfer of wealth & power ever". Transfer of wealth because as central banks bail people & governments out they then can then claim those bailed out as their assets. Just like someone believes that China by buying European debt will be able to ask for the repayments in gold.
But then there are now issues over that gold. It is believed that the US no longer has any gold of its own although the US treasury claims to have 8000 tonnes. But then the IMF & Federal reserve claim to have that same 8000.
As shown in the movie Diehard 3 the worlds gold is held in the New York Federal reserve with an estimated 60% of Germany's gold held there. Already there is talk of the US seizing that & moving it to a military protected facility. If I was Germany I would be moving my physical gold home now.
Expectations, exchange rates, and monetary theory: The case of the German hyperinflation (Research paper)
Then we get to New Zealand where the government is proposing to sell assets. Since those assets give them a dividend they will actually lose out in the long run. They are better off trying to create jobs that create wealth. The New Zealand government is not seen as been that badly in debt actually so the reasoning behind it is flawed. Where New Zealand is in debt probably worse than anybody else is privately & in business. So when bailouts occur it is transferring that debt to the government.
But the opposition are no better. First whilst in government they had a finance minister with a degree in history who never studied financial history so made every mistake you could. Now they are trying to win favour by proposing tax changes that will give $10 a week extra! My grocery bill has doubled in the last year at least, $10 will not make one bit of difference.
Then they are saying they will take the GST off food. As the president of Tunisia found when the inflation is caused by the likes of the US creating currency out of thin air removing taxes will not make one bit of difference.
1918-1923 German hyperinflation,
So you either have to let it all fail with short term pain like Iceland or use any currency you create to try to create real wealth.
Otherwise crime will rise, there will be riots & possibly even the otherthrow of governments.
When people are struggling to feed their families then is when the situation leds to either extreme politics or coups. That was actually a strategy proposed in Iraq by a Colonel of the US Army Corp of Engineers when talking to him. He had seen how the British had succeeded initially in the South. If you create jobs, people are able to feed their families & have less time to get upset & join the insurgency. Same here if you create jobs people can feed their family, the government takes in more tax. Just giving the currency to the banks though is a recipe for failure.
Britain, the US & even New Zealand need to worry less about the rights of protesters in the Middle east & more about how they are going to stop it happening here. Seems that governments have not learnt from the French lesson that led to the revolution. To 'fix' the problem they just kept creating more currency.
Though it might give them more power to control the population. Interestingly overnight the Egyptians have suspened social media & even the internet with some people reporting the affects on twitter further a field.
Further evidence on expectations and the demand for money during the German hyperinflation (NBER working paper series)
We are already seeing the affects here in New Zealand of the inflation with a rise in armed robberies but many are not been reported by the authorities until days later. Sounds like been back in Iraq at times. Everyone sees the police flying past. Word goes out something has happened but it is not in the news. It never happened.
I know of one in the last couple of days but there has been no reports so far about it. It was just by word of mouth through the security industry that I came to know about it. When you get to that stage it is a very dangerous situation.
New Zealand is becoming like the US. On the face of it open & freedom of speech with good information flow but in reality much of the information is surpressed. Denial leds to people taking action at some stage.
Social Media & the internet are getting around this for now but already filters are been put in place like here in New Zealand that will limit what is said.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
What sort of actions result in Extremism?
Kia Ora,
That might seem like a silly question, but as has triggered memories even innocent jokes can set off extremism.
Of course the most widely held example is the Islamic worlds reaction to the cartoons featuring the prophet Mohammed & the death threats against the cartoonist.
Over the last few days there have been the reactions in the US to comedian Ricky Gervais quip about God.
Now people will tell me that the reaction is nothing the same. Isn't it?
Ricky will have people stalking him now like Jared Loughner ready to kill.
Just writing this blog might earn me my own hate squad. Christian Extremism is only different in how it is delivered.
If people think that is far from fact then consider this example.
Shortly after leaving the army I assisted in security for a US TV evangalist. They had a team of bodyguards & all us extra security. The reason was death threats. Seems a lesser known evangalist had returned home to find Christian extremists in the US had killed his whole family because they didn't like the manner in which he was delivering the word of God.
Many in Islam consider suicide bombers as the only way they can fight the weapons of the Christians who are trying to destroy them with overwhleming force.
It all comes back to understanding each other. Many Americans in their first real contact with the likes of the British, Australians & New Zealanders in Iraq were taken back by the poor taste jokes about our Prime Ministers, governments & even the Royal family. US citizens(at least those who have not travelled alot) might not like the President but they would never tell bad taste jokes about them or an American disaster the way we do. Another British comedian recently told jokes about the Nuclear bombings of Japan, in NZ we were telling jokes about the plane crash into MT Erubus shortly after even though most people knew of someone who died.
Ours is a decidely black humour as evidenced when one of our US clients came out to hear in Baghdad, one of our British team members saying "into the valley of death rode the four landcruisers. Are you ready to die? We are all doomed!" Suffice to say it took her back & she did not wish to travel with us that day.
But yesterday by way of the Times the news of the scorched earth policy now been used in Afghanistan. It appears to be a version of tactics used in Vietnam but also throughout history.
It again shows the US has not taken time to know the people. Like the Maori of New Zealand we are of those areas,connected through body & spirit. It is Maori custom to bury the placenta in your home area to keep you connected to the land. I am sure the Afghans have similar customs.
The US actions will create more extremists in the same way innocent jokes have provoked outrage both in Islam & the US. It is that not understanding the other.
During some study in the army I once said that it appeared to me that religion was behind 90% of wars, where a mate said "no if you dig deeper religion is behind all wars."
These days I would say religion is used as the tool to get people to fight wars & as an atheist who thinks all religions are con jobs it just doesn't make sense.
But I do understand that that is how each finds their peace. Just don't expect me to support the extremist views it can generate with even the slightest upset.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
That might seem like a silly question, but as has triggered memories even innocent jokes can set off extremism.
Of course the most widely held example is the Islamic worlds reaction to the cartoons featuring the prophet Mohammed & the death threats against the cartoonist.
Over the last few days there have been the reactions in the US to comedian Ricky Gervais quip about God.
Now people will tell me that the reaction is nothing the same. Isn't it?
Ricky will have people stalking him now like Jared Loughner ready to kill.
Just writing this blog might earn me my own hate squad. Christian Extremism is only different in how it is delivered.
If people think that is far from fact then consider this example.
Shortly after leaving the army I assisted in security for a US TV evangalist. They had a team of bodyguards & all us extra security. The reason was death threats. Seems a lesser known evangalist had returned home to find Christian extremists in the US had killed his whole family because they didn't like the manner in which he was delivering the word of God.
Many in Islam consider suicide bombers as the only way they can fight the weapons of the Christians who are trying to destroy them with overwhleming force.
It all comes back to understanding each other. Many Americans in their first real contact with the likes of the British, Australians & New Zealanders in Iraq were taken back by the poor taste jokes about our Prime Ministers, governments & even the Royal family. US citizens(at least those who have not travelled alot) might not like the President but they would never tell bad taste jokes about them or an American disaster the way we do. Another British comedian recently told jokes about the Nuclear bombings of Japan, in NZ we were telling jokes about the plane crash into MT Erubus shortly after even though most people knew of someone who died.
Ours is a decidely black humour as evidenced when one of our US clients came out to hear in Baghdad, one of our British team members saying "into the valley of death rode the four landcruisers. Are you ready to die? We are all doomed!" Suffice to say it took her back & she did not wish to travel with us that day.
But yesterday by way of the Times the news of the scorched earth policy now been used in Afghanistan. It appears to be a version of tactics used in Vietnam but also throughout history.
It again shows the US has not taken time to know the people. Like the Maori of New Zealand we are of those areas,connected through body & spirit. It is Maori custom to bury the placenta in your home area to keep you connected to the land. I am sure the Afghans have similar customs.
The US actions will create more extremists in the same way innocent jokes have provoked outrage both in Islam & the US. It is that not understanding the other.
During some study in the army I once said that it appeared to me that religion was behind 90% of wars, where a mate said "no if you dig deeper religion is behind all wars."
These days I would say religion is used as the tool to get people to fight wars & as an atheist who thinks all religions are con jobs it just doesn't make sense.
But I do understand that that is how each finds their peace. Just don't expect me to support the extremist views it can generate with even the slightest upset.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Monday, January 24, 2011
Allowing Retailers to fight back?
Kia Ora,
Retailers in particular in Auckland ar present are wanting law changes to be allowed to fight back when confronted by armed robbers.
They seem to think that by been allowed to arm themselves they will not be subject to the law.
In fact it won't change. Now having a weapon nearby can mean you have the intent to use it. That will not change if you are allowed a weapon. By having a weapon the law considers you have the intent to use it.
You are then governed by how & the amount of force to be applied.
The problem you have is in civilian life they talk of reasonable force but what is reasonable to the person in the armed situation might not be reasonable to the Judge sitting in court.
In the Military when using ROE's or rules of engagement we talk of minimum force required. That is the minimum force required to achieve the task.
This has worked well in Northern Ireland, peace keeping & contrary to popular opinion Iraq for both the military & private security.
Though we all technically had immunity from prosecution if you did not follow the rules of engagement then you could be prosecuted in an international court of law. In fact there are a number of US soldiers in particular who have international arrest warrants in their name last I heard(one tank crew in particular). So that if they step outside the US or US military protection they will be arrested for excessive use of force(a warning shot with the main armanent(120mm) of a M1 Abrahams is not minimum force required in the first instance).
Play It Out: How to Fight Fair Rules of Engagement
So any retailer thinking a law change to allow them to carry weapons(not to mention the training that would be required) will make it easier in law to fight back is wrong. They can fight back now & several have but how much force you can use will always be subject to the requirements of the law.
So are there other solutions?
Well yes.
First the government stop dumbing down the police & let them get out & do policing. That is stopping crime through a presence before not been just reactive. Also general arming of the police with much improved training since most criminals are armed now the police need to be.
Secondly requiring the security industry to actually do security. As it currently stands at least 95% of the industry does not do that. Not real security or they do not allow their staff to do it. There also needs to be a look at re arming some of the security industry. First there needs a real clean up of the industry & it has nothing to do with qualifications. Good training & a change in mindset is what is required.
Rules of Engagement: A Life in Conflict
Then there are the steps the retailers can take.
Group of retailers band together to hire private security with the requirement to keep a look out for suspicious behaviour(in other words do actual security).
As they are often told, keep windows clear so people can see in.
Then there is the action I saw offshore which apparently is very effective. I have suggested it to retailers here in Chrsitchurch in the past when there has been a series of armed robberies, but they are more concerned about using the space to sell.
That is set up a large TV that can be seen as soon as you walk in the door(virtually in the door). Now this doesn't have to be a new large plasma or flat screen. With Analogue TV on the way out there are going to be a lot of large screen TV's going cheap. Have a hidden camera & recording equipment, the camera focussed only on the entrance.
The Rules of Engagement: Understanding the Principles That Govern the Spiritual Battles in Our Lives
As people walk in the first thing they see if a large image of themselves. Anecdotal evidence overseas says that people in particular those with criminal intentions back out real quick. They have even apparently had people with full faced balaclava's backout on seeing themselves on the TV screen.
So allowing the retailers to arm themselves to fight back is not the answer. They will still be subject to the law & understand the law as it pertains to their situation.
But improving the general security in our society is!
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Retailers in particular in Auckland ar present are wanting law changes to be allowed to fight back when confronted by armed robbers.
They seem to think that by been allowed to arm themselves they will not be subject to the law.
In fact it won't change. Now having a weapon nearby can mean you have the intent to use it. That will not change if you are allowed a weapon. By having a weapon the law considers you have the intent to use it.
You are then governed by how & the amount of force to be applied.
The problem you have is in civilian life they talk of reasonable force but what is reasonable to the person in the armed situation might not be reasonable to the Judge sitting in court.
In the Military when using ROE's or rules of engagement we talk of minimum force required. That is the minimum force required to achieve the task.
This has worked well in Northern Ireland, peace keeping & contrary to popular opinion Iraq for both the military & private security.
Though we all technically had immunity from prosecution if you did not follow the rules of engagement then you could be prosecuted in an international court of law. In fact there are a number of US soldiers in particular who have international arrest warrants in their name last I heard(one tank crew in particular). So that if they step outside the US or US military protection they will be arrested for excessive use of force(a warning shot with the main armanent(120mm) of a M1 Abrahams is not minimum force required in the first instance).
Play It Out: How to Fight Fair Rules of Engagement
So any retailer thinking a law change to allow them to carry weapons(not to mention the training that would be required) will make it easier in law to fight back is wrong. They can fight back now & several have but how much force you can use will always be subject to the requirements of the law.
So are there other solutions?
Well yes.
First the government stop dumbing down the police & let them get out & do policing. That is stopping crime through a presence before not been just reactive. Also general arming of the police with much improved training since most criminals are armed now the police need to be.
Secondly requiring the security industry to actually do security. As it currently stands at least 95% of the industry does not do that. Not real security or they do not allow their staff to do it. There also needs to be a look at re arming some of the security industry. First there needs a real clean up of the industry & it has nothing to do with qualifications. Good training & a change in mindset is what is required.
Rules of Engagement: A Life in Conflict
Then there are the steps the retailers can take.
Group of retailers band together to hire private security with the requirement to keep a look out for suspicious behaviour(in other words do actual security).
As they are often told, keep windows clear so people can see in.
Then there is the action I saw offshore which apparently is very effective. I have suggested it to retailers here in Chrsitchurch in the past when there has been a series of armed robberies, but they are more concerned about using the space to sell.
That is set up a large TV that can be seen as soon as you walk in the door(virtually in the door). Now this doesn't have to be a new large plasma or flat screen. With Analogue TV on the way out there are going to be a lot of large screen TV's going cheap. Have a hidden camera & recording equipment, the camera focussed only on the entrance.
The Rules of Engagement: Understanding the Principles That Govern the Spiritual Battles in Our Lives
As people walk in the first thing they see if a large image of themselves. Anecdotal evidence overseas says that people in particular those with criminal intentions back out real quick. They have even apparently had people with full faced balaclava's backout on seeing themselves on the TV screen.
So allowing the retailers to arm themselves to fight back is not the answer. They will still be subject to the law & understand the law as it pertains to their situation.
But improving the general security in our society is!
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Technology: An Aid nothing more!
Kia Ora,
In the last few days there has been an article in the 'Press' about the illegal dumping of rubbish in the Christchurch area.
The solution is hidden cameras. Great but any technology is only ever an aid. It will never replace good security & good security awareness by the public.
As a way of getting fit again since my injury suffered in the attack whilst filming crime I have being going for small 'route marches' with a light load. Not only have these helped with my fitness but have shown what is happening in the immediate vicinity.
Whilst the Christchurch city council is targeting obvious places for dumping rubbish it is quite clear no one is looking at not so obvious areas.
On my 10 km route I have seen several obvious gathering points for underage drinkers with all the bottles still in place, rubbish dumped in drains along several roads often like the bottles outside houses.
Two days in a row it was noted that someone had being going around the area on the first night ripping down street signs & pulling out road markers. On the second night another road sign (not sure where from) appeared snapped from its base & it was noted that signs for safety purposes had been torn down.
Street Smarts, Firearms, And Personal Security : Jim Grover's Guide To Staying Alive And Avoiding Crime In The Real World
Changing route has shown similar issues in particular outside one business that is seasonal & about to get underway. It also showed liquifaction that had flowed from under the road in that area which seemed to have been ignored. True it is not a great amount but might just be a warning to houses in that area in light of the predicted big shake in March 2011.
Technology is great & by all means we have to use it but with security in particular it is only ever an aid. It can not replace the person on the ground & gut feeling.
One thing that was noticeable in Iraq was the higher the threat the more people required on the ground. Of course the US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was sacked for suggesting that prior to the invasion of Iraq. He has since been proven right.
Private Security and Public Safety: A Community-Based Approach
Despite all the technology it is boots on the ground noticing the little things that really made the big difference.
There is no difference in the basics between security in a war zone & around our communities. It is all about people on the ground, taking notice of the small things & reporting or acting on them.
Technology just gives the impression something is been done when in actual fact the situation is getting worse because it is only an aid not the total solution.
Counter-Terrorism Policing: Community, Cohesion and Security
In relation to my last post, we have now had the 'expert' rolled out proclaiming that NCEA is a world leading system. Boy is the world in trouble if that is true. It is nothing but a dumbing down system. Aiming for the lowest common denominator.
But then that is how the Slavery system is setup to make people think it is an improvement. No different in mainly relying on technology to combat crime. The more technology the easier it is to defeat & therefore crime goes up.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
In the last few days there has been an article in the 'Press' about the illegal dumping of rubbish in the Christchurch area.
The solution is hidden cameras. Great but any technology is only ever an aid. It will never replace good security & good security awareness by the public.
As a way of getting fit again since my injury suffered in the attack whilst filming crime I have being going for small 'route marches' with a light load. Not only have these helped with my fitness but have shown what is happening in the immediate vicinity.
Whilst the Christchurch city council is targeting obvious places for dumping rubbish it is quite clear no one is looking at not so obvious areas.
On my 10 km route I have seen several obvious gathering points for underage drinkers with all the bottles still in place, rubbish dumped in drains along several roads often like the bottles outside houses.
Two days in a row it was noted that someone had being going around the area on the first night ripping down street signs & pulling out road markers. On the second night another road sign (not sure where from) appeared snapped from its base & it was noted that signs for safety purposes had been torn down.
Street Smarts, Firearms, And Personal Security : Jim Grover's Guide To Staying Alive And Avoiding Crime In The Real World
Changing route has shown similar issues in particular outside one business that is seasonal & about to get underway. It also showed liquifaction that had flowed from under the road in that area which seemed to have been ignored. True it is not a great amount but might just be a warning to houses in that area in light of the predicted big shake in March 2011.
Technology is great & by all means we have to use it but with security in particular it is only ever an aid. It can not replace the person on the ground & gut feeling.
One thing that was noticeable in Iraq was the higher the threat the more people required on the ground. Of course the US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was sacked for suggesting that prior to the invasion of Iraq. He has since been proven right.
Private Security and Public Safety: A Community-Based Approach
Despite all the technology it is boots on the ground noticing the little things that really made the big difference.
There is no difference in the basics between security in a war zone & around our communities. It is all about people on the ground, taking notice of the small things & reporting or acting on them.
Technology just gives the impression something is been done when in actual fact the situation is getting worse because it is only an aid not the total solution.
Counter-Terrorism Policing: Community, Cohesion and Security
In relation to my last post, we have now had the 'expert' rolled out proclaiming that NCEA is a world leading system. Boy is the world in trouble if that is true. It is nothing but a dumbing down system. Aiming for the lowest common denominator.
But then that is how the Slavery system is setup to make people think it is an improvement. No different in mainly relying on technology to combat crime. The more technology the easier it is to defeat & therefore crime goes up.
http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz
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