ACTivate

Catherine Butchard

A monthly show by the Christchurch branch of Amnesty International Aotearoa/New Zealand, an organisation dedicated to campaigning for human rights.

Episodios

  1. 17 ago

    ACTivate - NZ Government: Do More For Sudan. Stand with Sudan and Help Stop the Violence Against Civilians. Now.

    This month, listen to Catherine explain what is happening in Sudan and how you can stand with the people. This is NOT a civil war but a brutal war against civilians sustained via a lucrative war economy driven by gold and vital commodities like gum arabic. The chance to move towards democracy post the non-violent revolution of 2018/2019 was stolen from the people by the brutal power struggle between the leaders of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF). UAE's support of the RSF is prolonging the violence against civilians. The RSF is currently encircling the strategic city of El Obeid. Fears rise of another looming massacre like El Fasher where atrocities committed last October and November amount to genocide. The NZ Government needs to do more! Stay tuned for a link to a webinar with Sudan Advocacy Network Aotearoa's chairperson, Fatima Sanussi in conversation with David Vega, Amnesty International Campaigns Manager. TAKE ACTION: sign the petition from the Sudan Advocay Network Aotearoa https://our.actionstation.org.nz/petitions/urgent-establishment-of-a-sudan-special-humanitarian-visa-pathway Sign the Amnesty petition: https://amnesty.org.nz/humanitarian-catastrophe-in-sudan/. DONATE: to Emergency Response Rooms (ERRs) - Sudanese award winning grassroots network that delivers life-saving humanitarian assistance where state institutions have collapsed and international reponses have fallen short.

  2. 15/09/2025

    ACTivate - The Regulatory Standards Bill: What is it and Why does it Matter? Listen to Wellbeing Economist Paul Dalziel Unpack this Concerning Bill.

    Despite first appearances this proposed legislation is anything but boring. If passed, it will become deeply important to how we "do" legislation in NZ. Economist and Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa researcher Paul Dalziel joins Catherine to delve into: What is regulation? What is the aim of this bill? Will it achieve it? And is there even a problem in the first place that justifies the estimated 20 million dollar price tag? Paul explains that the Bill is unnecessary, unfit for purpose and narrow. When setting standards there should be expert input, broad consensus and wide public consultation, none of which occurred satisfactorily in this case. Paul's opinion, shared by many other leading academics, is that this legislation will distort the parliamentary process towards an ACT party point of view due to its narrow focus on private property rights, which is not healthy for the general debate we want to have in parliament. He comments it is concerning that other important principles are not in the Bill, like the rights of future generations for example, and we talk about the glaring absence of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Essential listening for anyone wanting to learn more about this controversial Bill that experts like Sir Geoffrey Palmer has said, "is the strangest piece of NZ legislation he has ever seen." And listen out for part 2 of this interview in October's edition.

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A monthly show by the Christchurch branch of Amnesty International Aotearoa/New Zealand, an organisation dedicated to campaigning for human rights.