95bFM: The Wire

Commonwealth countries have recently adopted the Apia Ocean Declaration for One Resilient Common Future, which calls for an importance to restore and preserve all amenities of the ocean for future generations.

The declaration was signed last week in Samoa, and includes fifty-six independent sovereign states. Addressing the ocean through a declaration is inherently important, but due to the wide scope and similar previous declarations, experts question whether it will lead to real action.

Sasha spoke to Professor of the Marine Institute from the University of Auckland, Simon Thrush, about the recent commonwealth ocean declaration and potential implications.

The United States General Elections are officially being held today, and thousands of American citizens are rushing to polling stations to cast their vote for the next leader of the world’s largest superpower.

The two prospective candidates, Donald J. Trump of the Republican party, and Kamala Harris of the Democrats, are expected to be neck and neck in the polls, with the final outcome of the election to be won only by a slim margin.

However, a number of experts have purported that, in the possible event of his election loss, Donald Trump may denounce the results and accuse the US electoral college of fraud, a call that may lead to widespread uproar from his devoted supporters.

Oto spoke to Dr Timothy Fadgen, a Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations at the University of Auckland on Donald Trump’s possible reaction to the results of the US General Elections in the event that he loses, and the potential of him decrying the US electoral college.

For their regular catch-up, Oto spoke to the Green Party’s Ricardo Menéndez March about proposed cuts to Aotearoa’s long term child poverty reduction goals by Minister for Child Poverty Reduction, Louise Upston, as well Todd McClay’s new charter for recreational hunting and fishing and the Green party’s calls to ban bottom trawling.

He spoke to Sarita Divis from the child poverty action group for an expert opinion on the Louise Upston’s decision to reduce child poverty reduction targets. 

For this week’s Get Action! He speak to Rachel Jaboon from the Victoria African Diaspora Student Association to discuss a petition of hers calling for the Wellington government to make the CBD safer for Rangatahi and students.

And He spoke to Dr Timothy Fadgen from the University of Auckland to talk about how Donald Trump might raise allegations of voter fraud if he loses the upcoming U.S elections, as American voters head to the polls today.

Sasha spoke to Professor Simon Thrush, from the institute of Marine Science about the past week’s commonwealth ocean declaration

And he spoke to Emily Hall from the SAFE organisation calling for changes to New Zealand’s animal welfare and banning rodeo events.

Oto reached out to Sarita Divis from the Child Poverty Action Group for her organisation’s take on the proposed changes to Child Poverty Reduction goals by Minister Louise Upston. 

This comes after Louise Upston, called for a statutory review of New Zealand’s current 10-year child poverty reduction targets, and subsequent reduction of them, in a recently revealed document.

The Child Poverty Action Group have officially criticised the review, saying that the current goals were important for reducing child poverty and have called upon National to retain them. 

The new rodeo season commenced this past Sunday the 3rd of November, and animal rights organisation SAFE is calling for a ban on this sport. 

SAFE Campaign Manager Emily Hall spoke to Sasha about these rodeo events, stating that they breach the New Zealand Animal Welfare Act. There are many other issues with the rodeo sport industry, as for example it is not necessary for the organisations to report deaths or injuries unless requested.

Several protests are taking place on the 5th of November and the rest of the week outside branches of the bank ASB across the country.

These protests are being organised as part of Justice for Palestine’s  ‘Don’t Bank on Apartheid’ campaign who oppose the companies investment practices which, they say, are financing Israel’s actions in the Westbank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza.

The campaign is calling for ASB to end their investments in the communications company Motorola Solutions Incorporated and say that if ASB does not divest from Motorola Solutions, then a number of their customers will switch banks.

Producer Josef spoke to Nadia Abu-Shanab, a member of Justice for Palestine and a Campaign Organiser for 'Don’t Bank on Apartheid,' about the protests, boycotting, and why ASB specifically is being targeted by the protests.

Wire Host Caeden spoke to Dr Mike Lee, Associate Professor of Marketing at the Auckland Business School on the sustainability issues associated with Halloween and growing anti-consumerism movements.

Mike King’s recent comments about alcohol use and mental health have brought to light larger issues around substance abuse by our most vulnerable populations. Particularly affected by substance abuse are mothers, Māori, and Pasifika communities, particularly those who are living in poverty. 

Wire host Castor spoke to Social Work Doctoral Candidate and addiction researcher, Suzette Jackson, about the causes and consequences of substance abuse in Aotearoa.

This week on the Tuesday Wire...

For Dear Science this week, our expert, Doctor Cushla McGoverin, talked to us about using glowing gel to improve surgery, using rats to sniff out contraband wildlife, and how parrots change their plumage. 

In our weekly catchup with the National Party, News and Editorial Director, Joel, spoke to MP Katie Nimon about Mike King’s comments regarding alcohol and mental health, and David Seymour’s comments regarding a ban on swastikas in public. 

Wire host Castor spoke to Social Work Doctoral Candidate and addiction researcher, Suzette Jackson, about the extent of substance abuse in Aotearoa and how it affects our most vulnerable populations. 

Producer Josef spoke to Nadia Abu-Shanab, an organiser of the Don’t Bank on Apartheid Campaign, about this week’s protests outside ASB branches across the country.

Josef also spoke to the New Zealand Veterinary Association’s Head of Veterinary Services for Companion Animals, Sally Corey, about a new petition to ban the sale of fireworks to the public.

The New Zealand Veterinary Association has recently joined a petition to ban the public sale of fireworks.

The petition comes as a number of pet advocates are increasingly concerned about the fear and stress which is inflicted on pets and other animals by firework use.

Producer Josef spoke to the New Zealand Veterinary Association’s Head of Veterinary Services for Companion Animals, Sally Corey, about the petition, the impact of fireworks on animals, and how to keep your pet safer on Guy Fawkes Day.