Chinese Kids Driving Supercars...

Mt Cook...

Mt Cook

How a flat tax would be fairer...

Flashmob Croatian Independence Day

First Four Ships website

The First Four Ships carried the Canterbury Association’s first settlers. The Association, founded in 1848 and guided by Edward Gibbon Wakefield and John Robert Godley, imagined the founding of an Anglican Church settlement in New Zealand comprising a cross-section of English society. In late 1848, the Association’s land surveyors found what they considered the ideal site for the proposed settlement of Canterbury and its chief town, Christchurch (originally, the Wairarapa was to be the site). In May 1849, official sanction was gained and the Association in London was notified. By July 1849, the setting out of the port town and surveying of the Bridle Path and Port Hills were under way. On January 3, 1850, the Association’s purchase terms were approved for a reservation of 2½ million acres in the Canterbury region. With that, the Association began recruiting emigrants, and by July 1850, preparations were well under way for the voyage to New Zealand.
Website here

Anchored at Lyttelton at on December 16, 1850...

HISTORY IN THE MAKING: "Arrival of the first four ships" as painted by William Menzies Gibb in 1900 from a drawing done by Sir William Fox in December 1850. The picture shows the Cressy, Charlotte Jane, Randolph, Sir George Seymour in Lyttelton Harbour.

Welcome to transparent banking

Swiss gold referendum...

Swiss gold reserves: The proposal would require the Swiss National Bank to have gold reserves of at least 20% of the value of the assets of the Swiss National Bank, and see all Swiss gold currently held in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York returned to Switzerland. The popular initiative was started by Swiss People's Party MP Luzi Stamm and two other MPs, with the 100,000 signatures required for a referendum obtained by early 2013. The proposal is opposed by the Swiss National Bank and the Swiss government, as it would limit the SNB's ability to print money.
Read more here

World Collapse Explained in 3 Minutes

Canterbury Military Power

Catalonia leader pushes on with independence vote...

Catalonia's leader has pledged that a symbolic independence vote will be held despite the legal challenges by the Madrid government. Catalonia’s regional President Artur Mas said in a speech on Wednesday that Spain’s semi-autonomous Catalonia will go ahead with the referendum on Sunday, promising to protect Catalans' "right to decide." -

Read more here 

Guy Fawkes fireworks, New Brighton Christchurch NZ

If NZ does not want its current flag Canterbury will have it...

Bananas Official Trailer (1971) HD

Statism: The Most Dangerous Religion...

Claudio Grass: The Upcoming Swiss Gold Referendum

David Cameron should have looked to the Australian example before he allowed the so called Scottish 'referendum'.

Homeowners in an independent Scotland could face significantly increased mortgage payments and at the same time suffer a fall in real estate values, according to press reports.

The fact is that nobody has any idea of what the currency of an independent Scotland would be.

This demonstrates the extraordinary complacency of the British government, and especially of the British Prime Minister David Cameron.

Read more here

Whenever government...

Whenever government becomes destructive of these ends (life, liberty, pursuit of happiness), it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute a new government.  
Declaration of Independence of the American Colonies, 1776

Exclusive: Angry with Washington, 1 in 4 Americans open to secession...

(Reuters) - The failed Scottish vote to pull out from the United Kingdom stirred secessionist hopes for some in the United States, where almost a quarter of people are open to their states leaving the union, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll found.

Some 23.9 percent of Americans polled from Aug. 23 through Sept. 16 said they strongly supported or tended to support the idea of their state breaking away, while 53.3 percent of the 8,952 respondents strongly opposed or tended to oppose the notion.

Read more here

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Scottish Independence...

If Scotland breaks away, these 8 places in Europe could be next...

Given Europe's complicated history and cultural diversity, the existence of independence-minded groups and regions is understandable. Even so, the sheer number of separatist movements in Europe may surprise you.

Some of these groups have transformed their desire for separation into successful political movements; others are operating at a far lower level. Some are more violent (even building their own tanks, as was the case in Northern Italy) than others (as in Bavaria, where beer seems to be the only weapon which is used).

Read more here

Scotland – The Possible Turning Point...

A number of questions have been coming in about Scotland. Yes, it has the capacity to become the real Switzerland of Europe where capital would be attracted if they are out of the UK and the EU. Why? The EU is looking to more than just tax financial transactions, they are looking to even outlaw short-selling thinking they can support the Euro and their economy that way. Brussels cannot get it through their heads that if you prevent people from selling, you will prevent people from investing.
Read more here

Small states are successful states...

The practicalities of Scottish independence

Comedian Billy Connolly on Scottish independence

Scottish Independence v India Independence – Same Debate...

Whenever there is a movement for independence, the classic argument has been that they would fall flat on their face. Yet, in this case, many British believe that Scotland has a lot of socialists who live off the state and therefore Scotland costs Britain money. Support for Scottish Independence may even be higher inside Britain than in Scotland.

A reader sent this in regarding Scotland relating the situation to when India sought Independence:

Kinnoch: With respect, Mr. Gandhi, without British administration, this country would be reduced to chaos.

Gandhi: Mr. Kinnoch, I beg you to accept that there is no people on Earth who would not prefer their own bad government to the good government of an alien power.

Brigadier: My dear sir! India *is* British. We’re hardly an alien power!

[silence]

You just can’t make this stuff up.

There is nothing less attractive than a liberal in service to power.

Have a pleasant evening.

Reprinted from Armstrong Economics.

"No taxation without representation" ...

"No taxation without representation". 

Maybe it should be the more tax one pays the more one should be represented.

200 Years of Swiss Bank Secrecy Is Ending. So, Where's the Money?...

A funny thing's happened in Finland. Scores of its monied elite have filed requests to correct their tax data this summer—suddenly recollecting that they'd stashed earnings away in Swiss banks. Truly, this is the end of an era, thanks entirely to a U.S.-led crackdown on tax evasion. It's also a strange new beginning.

Read more here

East Timor secession...

The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste (also known as East Timor) has been described as having "seceded" from Indonesia. After Portuguese sovereignty was terminated in 1975, East Timor was occupied by Indonesia. However the United Nations and the International Court of Justice refused to recognize this incorporation. Therefore the resulting civil war and eventual 2002 East Timorese vote for complete separation are better described as an independence movement.
Source

The European Debt Crisis Visualized

Mt Cook, Canterbury, NZ

Support for Scottish independence surges 4% as ‘Yes’ campaign gains momentum – poll...

Support for Scottish independence is gathering steam three weeks before the referendum, bringing victory tantalizing closer for the “Yes” camp after its decisive debate win and David Cameron’s attempt to make a business case for remaining in the UK.

A poll for the Scottish Daily Mail newspaper released Friday showed that support for independence has surged by 4 percent, to 47 percent – just 6 percentage points behind the “No” campaign.

The Survation poll found 47 percent of respondents would vote "Yes" to independence, compared to 53 percent who would vote "No," excluding people who were undecided.

Read more here

Meanwhile in Canterbury...

Canterbury nation value...

A panel of experts has valued Canterbury at four trillion and eight hundred and thirty two billion dollars [$4,832,000,000,000] or $8,537,102 per Cantabrian.

Timeline to Scotland independence...

20th century[edit]

Year	Date	Event
1929		The Church of Scotland and the United Free Church of Scotland unite.
1934		Scottish National Party founded.
1938		The Empire Exhibition, Scotland 1938 is held at Bellahouston Park, Glasgow.
1941		The Clydebank Blitz (13–15 March).
1943		Creation of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board to bring electricity to all parts of the Highlands and Islands.
1945		First Scottish Nationalist MP is elected.
1947		Nationalisation of the railways – the Scottish Region of British Railways is created.
		The first Edinburgh International Festival is held.
1950		The Stone of Destiny is removed from Westminster Abbey.
1957		Scottish Television starts broadcasting.
1968		The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland permits the ordination of women as ministers.
1975		Local government reorganisation (replacing Counties and Burghs for administrative purposes with Regions and Districts).
1978		Launch of BBC Radio Scotland.
1979		Referendum to create a Scottish Assembly fails to meet the required majority.
1988		Terrorists blow up Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie with the loss of 270 lives, including 11 residents of the town.
1994		Local government reorganisation (replacing the Regions and Districts with single-tier councils).
1996		The Stone of Destiny is permanently returned to Scotland, to be housed in Edinburgh Castle.
1997		Newly elected Labour UK Government under the leadership of Scots-born Prime Minister Tony Blair legislates for a referendum on a devolved Scottish Parliament which is passed by a large majority.
1999		A Scottish Parliament sits for the first time in 272 years. Donald Dewar of the Scottish Labour Party elected as First Minister and formsScottish Executive in coalition with the Scottish Liberal Democrats.

21st century[edit]

Year	Date	Event
2004	October 9	Opening of the new Scottish Parliament Building.
2007		The Scottish National Party become the largest party in the Scottish Parliament and forms a minority government.
2011		The Scottish National Party under Alex Salmond gain an overall majority of the Scottish Parliament.
2014		Scotland is set to have a referendum on national independence.

Source here

Scottish Independence Debate 2: ALISTAIR DARLING v ALEX SALMOND

Scottish independence debate; Salmond v Darling

Final TV showdown in Scotland's independence debate looms before vote..

EDINBURGH (Reuters) - Scotland's future will be debated in a final TV showdown on Monday just weeks before a historic independence referendum with the pro-breakaway camp, behind in the polls, looking for a game-changing performance from its leader.
Read more here

World Collapse Explained in 3 Minutes

Hong Kong and Singapore forging ahead...

Men fight for liberty and win it with...

Men fight for liberty and win it with hard knocks. Their children, brought up easy, let it slip away again, poor fools. And their grandchildren are once more slaves.

D.H. Lawrence

Learn to Fly a Canterbury Air Force F-18 Hornet Fighter Jet...

Your Majesty, please grant us a new Magna Carta...

Noting the grievous loss of liberty suffered by hunts and hounds forbidden to chase foxes, we plead that they should be allowed to pursue pests of a different kind. These include: cold-callers; people who eat in the street and leave a trail of greasy litter behind them; dog owners who never scoop poop; mobile-phone users who insist on inflicting their half of any conversation on everyone in a 50-yard radius; motorway drivers whose car appears to have a magnetic attraction to one’s rear bumper; blind-drunk revellers in public places, and sundry other undesirables too numerous to mention. Set the dogs on them all!
Read more here

23 days to independence...

February 23[edit]

In Simferopol, on February 23, 2014 a pro-Euromaidan rally was held in support of the new Ukrainian authorities. The protesters also demanded the resignation of the Crimean parliament; attendees waved Ukrainian, Tatar and European Union flags.

Meanwhile in Sevastopol, tens of thousands protested against the new authorities and voted to establish a parallel administration and civil defense squads created with the support of Russian Night Wolves bikers.^{[clarification needed]} Same were created on 22 February in Simferopol, where about 5,000 had joined such squads. Protesters waved Russian flags and chanted "Putin is our president" and claimed they would refuse to pay further taxes to the state. Russian military convoys were also alleged to be seen in the area. In Kerch, pro-Russian protesters attempted to remove the Ukrainian flag from atop city hall and replace it with the flag of Russia. Over 200 attended waving flags of Russia, orange-and-black St. George and the Russian Unity party. Mayor Oleh Osadchy attempted to disperse the crowd and police eventually arrived to keep the protesters at bay. Osadchy said: "This is the territory of Ukraine, Crimea. Here's a flag of Crimea" but was accused of treason and a fight ensued over the flagpole.

Read more here

Europe’s fragmented future...

The specter of secession is haunting Europe. Since 2000 there have been three successful separations from existing states — by Montenegro, Kosovo and Crimea — and at the moment, several other regions are attempting to secede and create independent states. In March, Crimea first seceded from Ukraine and then voted, in a referendum, to rejoin the Russian Federation. At the same time, in an informal online referendum, voters of the Veneto region in northern Italy overwhelmingly favored independence and the restoration of the old Venetian republic. In September, the citizens of Scotland will vote in an independence referendum, and the government of the Spanish region of Catalonia plans to hold a referendum of the same kind two months later — despite a ruling by the Constitutional Court of Spain that such a referendum would be illegal (a similar referendum in the Basque region in 2008 was thwarted by the Spanish government). 
Read more here

40 Fun Facts About Singapore

1. Singapore consists only of one main island and 63 other tiny islands. Most of these islands are uninhabited.
2. Singapore is among the 20 smallest countries in the world, with a total land area of only 682.7 square kilometres. The USA is about 15,000 times bigger.
3. Apart from Monaco, Singapore is the most densely populated country in the world, with 6,430 people per square kilometre.
4. Singapore became the 117th member of the United Nations on 21 September 1965.
5. Symbolism of the National Flag: Red symbolises universal brotherhood and equality of man while white signifies purity and virtue. The crescent moon represents a young nation on the rise and the five stars signify the ideals of democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality. Read more here

Sowing wheat Canterbury in wheatbelt....

Quotes about small nations...

"Of all the small nations of this earth, perhaps only the ancient Greeks surpass the Scots in their contribution to mankind.”

― Winston Churchill

"All great things have been been done by small nations".

author unknown

A Message From Queen Elizabeth II About the American Secession Movement....

To the Citizens of the United States of America from Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

In light of your failure in recent years to nominate competent candidates for President of the USA and thus to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective immediately.  (You should look up ‘revocation‘ in the Oxford English Dictionary.) Since your independence has been thus revoked, there is no Union from which to secede, therefore cease and desist filing petitions, as they are useless.

Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will resume monarchical duties over all states, commonwealths, and territories (except North Dakota, which she does not fancy).

Your new Prime Minister, David Cameron, will appoint a Governor for America without the need for further elections.

Congress and the Senate will be disbanded.  A questionnaire may be circulated next year to determine whether any of you noticed.

To aid in the transition to a British Crown dependency, the following rules are introduced with immediate effect:

Read more here

Canterbury Armed Forces

Sterotypes about Switzerland...

• The Swiss have been a neutral country since 1850 and this resulted in the idea that the people themselves always refuse to take sides, even in emergency situations or if one of the two options is obviously wrong or evil.
• The Swiss are seen as very punctual and orderly, thanks to their stable government and reputation for quality watchmaking.
• Thanks to their famously secretive banking system, the Swiss are also caricatured as filthy rich bankers who guard money from dubious origins.
• In Europe the Swiss are thought to be dim-witted, slow people who really like to take their time. This is in great contrast with the precision of their famous watches and cuckoo clocks.
• Another image is the cleanliness of the average Swiss person, famously spoofed in “Asterix in Switzerland”.
• The Swiss eat nothing but Swiss cheese, fondue, and chocolate, and all their dogs are Saint Bernards.
  • Another stereotype: they only export said cheese and chocolate. In reality, their main export is machines that make molds.
• Another common image of Swiss people is that they are all mountaineers (like Austrians) who live in ski chalets and wear lederhosen and caps with feathers. Somebody may play an alpenhorn at some point.
• Foreigners often confuse Swiss people with Frenchmen, Italians or Germans.
  • The Swiss may be mistaken for Swedish people and vice versa, although their countries are not even geographically close together.
• Expect a William Tell reference at some point.
• They have excellent trademark mercenaries. The only guy they are willing to fight for without certain monetary expectations is the Pope.
  • The situation differs today. Basically Swiss citizens cannot be mercenaries anymore but when the treaty was written, the country was still largely Catholic and the Papal Guard was - and still is - allowed.

Too Late to Apologize: A Declaration

Canterbury national surplus clock...

National Debt of New Zealand

New Zealand Debt Clock

Alan B'stard: backroom deals and not delivering on promises

Canterbury Navy Submariners

The world's smallest nation - Sealand

UKIP's Farage seals EP deal

The gnomes of Christchurch...

Canterbury education for the poor....

A new initiative haas been announced by the Canterbury Education Department aimed at the poor with quality education and addressing associated social problems i.e. family problems.
The Education for Outcomes starting at Year 1 with a strategy to obtain the following occupational outcomes...

Construction Project Manager                    
Project Builder
Engineering Manager
Production Manager (Mining)
Child Care Centre Manager
Medical Administrator
Nursing Clinical Director
Primary Health Organisation Manager
Welfare Centre Manager
Accountant (General)
Management Accountant
Taxation Accountant
External Auditor
Internal Auditor
Actuary
Transport Engineer
Electrical Engineer
Electronics Engineer
Industrial Engineer
Mechanical Engineer
Production or Plant Engineer
Mining Engineer (Excluding Petroleum
Petroleum Engineer
Aeronautical Engineer
Agricultural Engineer
Biomedical Engineer
Engineering Technologist
Environmental Engineer
Naval Architect
Agricultural Consultant
Agricultural Scientist
Forester
Medical Laboratory Scientist
Veterinarian
Metallurgist
Physicist (Medical Physicist only)
Early Childhood (Pre-Primary School) Teacher
Secondary School  Teacher
Special Needs Teacher
Teacher of the Hearing Impaired
Teacher of the Sight Impaired
Special Education Teachers nec
Medical Diagnostic Radiographer
Medical Radiation Therapist
Nuclear Medicine Technologist
Sonographer
Environmental Health Officer
Occupational Health and Safety Adviser
Optometrist
Chiropractor
Osteopath
Dental Specialist
Dentist
Occupational Therapist
Physiotherapist
Podiatrist
Speech Pathologist
General Medical Practitioner
Anaesthetist
Specialist Physician (General Medicine)
Cardiologist
Clinical Haematologist
Medical Oncologist
Endocrinologist
Gastroenterologist
Intensive Care Specialist
Neurologist
Paediatrician
Renal Medicine Specialist
Rheumatologist
Thoracic Medicine Specialist
Specialist Physicians nec
Psychiatrist
Surgeon (General)
Cardiothoracic Surgeon
Neurosurgeon
Orthopaedic Surgeon
Otorhinolaryngologist
Paediatric Surgeon
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon
Urologist
Vascular Surgeon
Dermatologist
Emergency Medicine Specialist
Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
Ophthalmologist
Pathologist
Diagnostic and Interventional Radiologist
Radiation Oncologist
Medical Practitioners nec
Midwife
Nurse Practitioner
Registered Nurse (Aged Care)
Registered Nurse (Child and Family Health)
Registered Nurse (Community Health)
Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency)
Registered Nurse (Developmental Disability)
Registered Nurse (Disability and Rehabilitation)
Registered Nurse (Medical)
Registered Nurse (Medical Practice)
Registered Nurse (Mental Health)
Registered Nurse (Perioperative)
Registered Nurse (Surgical)
Registered Nurse (Paediatrics)
Registered Nurses nec
ICT business Analyst
Systems Analyst
Analyst Programmer
Developer Programmer
Software Engineer 261313 ACS
Computer Network and Systems Engineer
Telecommunications Engineer
Telecommunications Network Engineer
Barrister
Solicitor
Clinical Psychologist
Educational Psychologist
Organisational Psychologist
Psychotherapist
Psychologists nec
Social Worker
Civil Engineering Draftsperson
Civil Engineering Technician
Electrical Engineering Draftsperson
Electrical Engineering Technician
Radio Communications Technician
Telecommunications Field Engineer
Telecommunications Network Planner
Telecommunications Technical Officer or Technologist
Automotive Electrician
Motor Mechanic (General)
Diesel Motor Mechanic
Motorcycle Mechanic
Small Engine Mechanic
Sheetmetal Trades Worker
Metal Fabricator
Pressure Welder
Welder (First Class
Fitter (General)
Fitter and Turner
Fitter-Welder
Metal Machinist (First Class)
Locksmith
Stonemason
Carpenter and Joiner
Carpenter
Joiner
Painting trades workers
Glazier
Fibrous Plasterer
Solid Plasterer
Plumber (General)
Airconditioning and Mechanical Services Plumber
Drainer
Gasfitter
Roof plumber
Electrician (General)
Electrician (Special Class)
Lift Mechanic
Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic
Electrical Linesworker
Technical Cable Jointer
Electronic Equipment Trades Worker
Electronic Instrument Trades Worker (General)
Electronic Instrument Trades Worker (Special Class)
Boat Builder and Repairer
Shipwright
Dental Hygienist
Dental Technician
Dental Therapist

Scotland's economy...

NZ income tax tracker...

Find out where your income tax goes
http://www.yourtaxtracker.co.nz

William Tell Overture Finale

Revolutionary development...

Cantabrians  by a rate of two to one have voted Yes on a referendum;
Should all CCTV cameras be banned in Canterbury?
As from September 1 2014 all cameras will be deactivated and eventually  removed.
Fines will be increased for convictions,
more police will be patrolling public places,
traditional rights will be restored
and privacy will be respected.
This is a first in the first world.

Venice Independence....

Best Nigel Farage speeches

Satellite view of Canterbury's forests...

Clarke and Dawe - Quantitative Easing

NZ's fastest-growing sector...

TECH INDUSTRY

NZ's fastest-growing sector

Exports doubled over six years to more than $7 billion

Third-largest export earner behind dairy and tourism

The highest per-capita earning industry in NZ

ICT contributes nearly $20 billion to our economy

Employs more than 62,000 people

Contributes 5 per cent of GDP

(Source: NZ Technology Industry Association)

Jim Rogers: China to be most important country in 21st century

Solar FREAKIN' Roadways!

The hydro electric, water storage and irrigation potential...

Socialism v Nazism

Dr. Ernst Winter, the son-in-law of Col. Von Trapp whose father was the vice mayor of Vienna in the early 1930′s, when Austria, and especially Vienna, was being torn apart by armed paramilitary groups: the Nazis and the Communists. His father made an alliance politically with the socialists. He explained to his son the following: “The socialists are totally incompetent, but the Nazis are serious.”

Wheat planting time Canterbury...

Snowy Hydro - Snowy 69 (1969)

Clip description

Using a graphic, this clip outlines each of the individual projects completed to date on the Snowy Mountains Scheme, and their relationships to one another.

Watch video clip 1 here

Clip description

The Murray 1 Project, in the Snowy Mountains Scheme, is officially opened by Prime Minister Harold Holt in July 1967.

Watch video clip 2 here

Clip description

Shows the cycle of drilling, firing and hauling of materials in the construction of Talbingo Reservoir on the Snowy Mountains Scheme.

Watch video clip 3 here

Southern Alps Scheme...

High Country of New Zealand - Te Papa Press

Southern Alps hydro and irrigation scheme planned for Canterbury...

...based on the following model that will drought proof Canterbury and export water and electricity to Otago and Marlborough. ..