In this full session from our archive, Christopher Hitchens and professor Richard Dawkins came to Intelligence Squared in 2007 alongside a panel of other guests to debate if we would be better off without religion.
For the motion sits Christopher Hitchens, professor Richard Dawkins and A. C. Grayling. Whilst opposing the motion sits Nigel Spivey, rabbi Julie Neuberger and Roger Scruton.
Intelligence Squared has established itself as the leading forum for live, agenda-setting debates, talks and discussions around the world. Our aim is to promote a global conversation that enables people to make informed decisions about the issues that matter, in the company of the world's greatest minds and orators.
3:10 - Christopher Hitchens
16:51 - Nigel Spivey
26:46 - Richard Dawkins
One of the comments:
If it weren't religion, humans would find other reasons to control and punish others. It is convenient for us to blame the wishes of deity when we treat others badly.
[Source](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIR7_X-ahy4)
This video, depicting a couple from Oamaru, New Zealand with a population of 13,000, was quickly removed from Facebook.
These are just burials. What about cremations?
"I have no choice, I'm being forced into this, I've been mandated"
Gemma Stratford has had her request for medical exemption rejected directly from Ashley Bloomfield. She has been told that if she dies from taking the second j jab, the best support they offer is to "try and revive her"...
Gemma can't get an exemption despite the following:
– multiple serious anaphylactic reactions immediately after her first P***** j** and since then, painful seizures up to 10+ times a day.
– previously suffering from rare mast cell condition which causes multiple allergies including to particular smells, drugs, foods, and to certain heat or cold conditions.
Gemma ingests mainly zero sugar electrolyte drinks and barely any normal food for her daily energy intake.
– registered as being severally anaphylactic to sugar. Sucrose, a stabiliser ingredient in the j**, is dangerous for Gemma. Bloomfield and the PM allow almost zero exemptions- only for those with anaphylaxis to two other, more obscure, ingredients in the Pf**** j**.
– seven children to look after. Gemma is a paid carer for two of her high-needs children, who have disorders - including autism, epilepsy, and anaphylaxis - that require 24-hour care.
She relies on government financial support to pay for their medication and to enable her full-time care for them.
She scarcely leaves the family home in which she does her full-time caregiving for the children.
She does not mix with the outside world especially since her reaction to the first j** means she it's now unsafe for her to drive at all.
– forced against her will into taking the second j** just to keep the critical support for her children.
Here is a very obvious example of government policy that lacks logic and compassion.
The key question: how does any of this make sense?
Ashley Bloomfield - please come and have an interview with us
(Youtube needs me to let you know that correlation does not necessarily mean causation)
Disclaimer:
This video is not intended to provide assessment, diagnosis, treatment, or medical advice; it also does not constitute the provision of healthcare services. The content provided in this video is for informational and educational purposes only.
Please consult with a physician or healthcare professional regarding any medical or mental health-related diagnosis or treatment. No information in this video should ever be considered as a substitute for advice from a healthcare professional.
Having spotted the local MP for the Labour Party, Rachel Boyack, in their "open to the public" tent at the Nelson Saturday Market, I decided, as a concerned member of the public to go and ask for some answers on a couple of things I needed some clarifications on, well you can see how that went (please excuse my poor editing skills)...
One of our sold-out WefWoke politicians pushing the trans-gender narrative this weekend
[Many other top MPS have asked for accountability](https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/03/27/greens-co-leader-under-fire-for-blaming-white-cis-men-for-violence/)
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Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson has come under fire for making comments on the weekend that "white cis men" are the main perpetrators of violence in the world.
Davidson was approached by a member of the public on Saturday after attending the rally to oppose Posie Parker.
Capturing the exchange on video, the person asked what Davidson thought about Posie Parker being "violently assaulted" - having tomato juice tipped on her.
Davidson said she and those with her - which included fellow Green MP Jan Logie - were "here to reject the violence and hate of transphobia".
"We are here to raise love for our trans people and community above hate and I am so proud of the mobilising of people from across so many communities to stand in strong solidarity because trans people are terrific. Trans people are a taonga... trans people are true, trans people are fantastic, and trans people are tired of being oppressed and discriminated.
"I am a prevention violence minister, and I know who causes violence in the world. It is white cis men... who cause violence."
"Cis" is short for cisgender, which is the opposite of transgender. The term relates to a person whose gender identity corresponds with the sex assigned at birth.
Cisgender does not mean heterosexual. It relates to gender identity, not sexuality.
"Trans [people] are taonga. Trans women are women," Davidson continued.
"Te ao Māori was never so boring as binary. I am tangata whenua and I say transphobia is not welcome here."
Davidson said "ka kite" and walked away.
It is understood Davidson made the comments shortly after being hit by a motorcycle.
The comments prompted NZ First leader Winston Peters, fresh from his state of the nation speech last week, to call for Davidson's resignation as the minister "for the clear and outrageous statement... that ‘white straight [sic] men’ are the cause of violence".
"Her offensive, racist, and sexist remarks are typical of a minister who has lost any right and authority to hold her portfolio.
"This is peak madness."
Davidson is the Minister for Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence.
ACT Party leader David Seymour said Davidson needed to front up on the comments or resign.
He said Davidson could not be an effective minister if she could not get "basic facts right and instead chooses prejudice".
"If she can’t front up with evidence for her statement about white men and, she should resign."
He said the comments were "outrageous and extremely inappropriate for a Minister that is responsible for reducing family violence and harm".
“Family violence and harm does not discriminate and her obvious bias against one race is deeply troubling."
Quoting the Cabinet Manual, Seymour said no reasonable person could credibly claim that Davidson's comments "exercised a professional approach and good judgement".
National Party leader Christopher Luxon said Davidson had made "harmful generalisations about an entire group of people".
"Her statements are wrong and offensive."
He said Prime Minister Chris Hipkins needed to decide what sort of standards he accepted from ministers.
"If the thinks this is acceptable, he is setting the bar very low."
Davidson has been approached for comment.
1News has approached the Green Party to supply a factual basis for Davidson's comments.