Julian Assange is a hero in the cause of Open Government, a journalist who dared to expose the machinations of senior politicians and bureaucrats.

On behalf of all 251,000 signatories a formal request for a Royal Pardon for Julian Assange from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has been administered. The formal name for such an application is a “Royal Prerogative Power of Mercy”. I have pasted the script of the application below and uploaded a snip of only page one of the document [above]

Full article and details on the Change.org website

By Graham Clouston

This series of seven articles on prostate and other cancer has highlighted the positive impact of Mind-Body Medicine when combined with Conventional Medicine. The following are a few closing thoughts.

Coping with the bad news

The words from a Clinician saying, “You have cancer”, are a shock to most people. Immediately there is concern for the future and what it may bring. Some may hear the words, “You have terminal cancer”. This is very confronting for most people.

If we unpack things a little, we have a “diagnosis” which is usually accurate and factual. If you are told that you have cancer then this view is normally evidenced by clinical tests and radiology.

Then we have a “prognosis” which is a clinical opinion of possible outcomes, based on experience, for the condition diagnosed. A “prognosis”, being an opinion, is not necessarily definitive of what a final outcome may be.

It is therefore reasonable to accept a “diagnosis” as fact and a “prognosis” as opinion, albeit an educated opinion. With a ‘terminal prognosis” it is very important not to accept the forecast outcome as a fait accompli. If you do, you may find that you could go “on time”, and you may not want that to happen.

There are plenty of examples of people recovering

There are many reported cases of people recovering from serious, including Stage 4, cancers. These survivors invariably use Mind-Body Medicine in addition to Conventional Medicine.

A very good read on the subject which comes highly recommended is Dr Kelly Turner’s Radical Remission. Dr Turner’s research was funded by the American Cancer Society. She interviewed several hundred cancer survivors, people for who western Conventional Medicine had done all that it could, but not enough to remit their cancer. These people used nine common factors, all aspects of Mind Body Medicine, to move into long term cancer remission.

It is possible to improve a cancer outcome using Integrative Oncology (Integrative Oncology is Conventional Oncology and Mind-Body Medicine working together). This hope, which is very real, is based on the knowledge that others have done so. The alternative is to be without hope and this would not be helpful in any situation, let alone when dealing with a cancer.

Having support and hope

Social support is important for persons with serious and/or life threatening disease. This support may come from family, friends, a church, or perhaps from organisations such as the Cancer Society. In New Plymouth where I live, the Cancer Society is very active, providing gym based exercise groups, walking groups, and classes in Qi gong, relaxation/yoga, meditation and life skills. There is practical support provided by qualified staff. Reiki massage is available and there are Men’s and Women’s support groups that meet monthly. A sense of positive support and belonging is reported by those who engage.

If you have serious disease make sure that you do have good social support. My recommendation is that you also include the Cancer Society as part of your support base.

There is hope that the combination of Conventional Medicine and Mind Body Medicine will achieve a better outcome than may have been expected. This is my world.

There is hope that new treatments, both fully funded and unfunded, will become available. In the nearly four years that I have been on my own cancer journey I have seen that happening for others with some great outcomes.

Be positive on the journey

If you too are on a cancer journey, it should be just that, a “journey” and not a “battle”. Battles are about war, struggle, grief and misery. A journey is an adventure. Cancer need not be a bad thing. Unwelcome yes, but strangely not necessarily a disaster. Take the “journey”, enjoy life, be positive, and cast aside the negativity of the “battle” mentality.

You will be better for it

I hope that you have gained something from this series on cancer. If you do have cancer or other serious disease, I hope that the treatments you have chosen bring you wellness and peace.

It’s a major threat to native plants, and some councils list it as a pest species. But the fact it’s so hard to eradicate makes others wary of taking it on. –Nicholas Boyack, Dominion Post 19 January 2018

The popular South African import

By Roger Childs

It’s flowering time for agapanthus and you may have the attractive white and purple-blue flowers in your garden at the moment, or down the road on a bank.

But many exotaphobes regard it as a weed.

Well, it’s not a native and is seen by some as a threat to our biodiversity. Some local authorities have suggested to their citizens to root them out, but should all foreign plants in the country be wiped out solely for that reason? Kapiti Coasters will have noticed the prolific growth of agapanthus in the central barrier of the old state highway near Coastlands, so presumably the KCDC is OK with them [or at least the NZTA is —Eds].

Biodiversity is what we’ve got!

biodiversity: diversity among and within plant and animal species in an environment. –dictionary.com

Some ecological and horticultural purists are obsessed with plants that are native to New Zealand and some don’t even like trees like pohutukawa growing outside their heartland in the northern half of the North Island!

Surely, our biodiversity is what we’ve got now: radiata pine, gorse, blackberry, poplars, the native forest and everything else that’s growing on our land. Not to mention sheep, cattle, possums, blackbirds, stoats, trout and rats.

Wellington ecologist Jamie Steer argues that we have a moral responsibility to value introduced species as well as natives. However, there are other scientists who support eliminating “unwanted” plants and animals.

Enjoy the agapanthas

These flowers have long been popular with gardeners and because of their powerful root systems they are great for holding banks together and growing along boundaries.
There is no question that highly developed agapanthus can be difficult to root out, however, why move them if they have a role in your garden? They are no more a weed than roses, camellias or rhododendrons, and no-one is suggested we should get rid of those garden favourites.

At this time of the year the distinctive agapanthus are a great sight!  Enjoy.

Actually taken standing on a group of rocks.

A message from the council:

Enjoy an event at Waikanae Park watching two movies suitable for the whole family. Bring keep cups and a picnic or grab dinner from one of the Food Trucks.

Starting at 5 pm is Toy Story 4, a movie continuing the tale of Woody, Buzz Lightyear and their friends as they embark on a road trip with a new toy named Forky.

Then at 7:30 pm, we’ll be playing Hunt for the Wilderpeople, a Kiwi film about a boy and his foster father becoming subjects of a man hunt in the New Zealand wilderness.

Both films are rated PG.

From 3.30 pm–5 pm and between movies, we’ll have sport and play equipment to keep the kids entertained.

Movies in the Park is an alcohol and smoke free event. We have made accessible parking available. Please contact the Council for more information.

Saturday 15 February 2020 3:30pm – 9:45pm

Brought to you by Kāpiti Coast District Council with support from Mike and Audra – Voyle & Co Realty.

Taken last night.

This is at a turning circle.  On the left the street continues into the Millvale subdivision.

In 1983 President Ronald Reagan signed into law the third Monday in January as a national holiday to celebrate the great civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. He is known for great oratory opposing racism in the 1960s and his quotes are often seen in America, an example in a downtown park in San Francisco is below.

Civil rights and civil liberties, particularly freedom of speech, and fights against injustice have become big issues in NZ and the principles Martin Luther King promoted are just as applicable here.