Richard Bernau

Kiwi in back in Kiwiland, trusted adviser and BBQ geek. All views my own.

[Richard Bernau @RichardBernau]

This resonates. It’s (almost) always the richest who are the least generous. And that’s putting it mildly.

[Richard Bernau @RichardBernau]

Hugo Rifkind nails it on Brexit. How does Farage continue to get away with it? UK MSM has much to answer for. https://t.co/Md0IVKMJzK

[Richard Bernau @RichardBernau]

Good analysis. No surprise Elon throws toys from pram.

[Christopher David @Tazerface16]

Elon Musk is super duper angry at @Apple right now.

Why?

Because Apple and OpenAI agreed yesterday to use/integrate Open AI's ChapGPT AI product in their iOS ecosystem.

This has screwed over Elon's side hustle xAI, right after raising $6 billion in equity.

A thread. 🧵

[Richard Bernau @RichardBernau]

This Politico story seems like real news, but it’s just a collection of quotes from confirmed Trump supporters. Disappointing.

[Richard Bernau @RichardBernau]

Interesting. Could the chance of Trump going to prison be higher than the popular consensus?

[Palmer Report @PalmerReport]

Why I believe the talking heads are wrong on this one: https://t.co/gTISGLx5wq

[Richard Bernau @RichardBernau]

Very hard to argue with this. The neoliberal project has been very successful for the rich. Everyone else, not so much.

[George Monbiot @GeorgeMonbiot]

#IDthought 5: Until the neoliberal era, inequality declined for some 60 years. From the 1980s onwards, it returned with a vengeance. Since 1989, America’s super-rich have grown about $21 trillion richer. The poorest 50 per cent, by contrast, have become $900 billion poorer.🧵

[Richard Bernau @RichardBernau]

One might think there is some logic in this approach: target the high emitters first. Not rocket surgery.

[Assaad Razzouk @AssaadRazzouk]

Just 57 oil, gas, coal and cement producers are responsible for 80% of ALL emissions since the 2015 Paris agreement

57. Surely that’s who we should focus all climate action on, instead of falling into their trap of deflecting responsibility to 8b people

https://t.co/bIOtMclFuc

[Richard Bernau @RichardBernau]

We should condemn Israel’s action where the actions warrant that condemnation. No ifs or buts. They have clearly targeted aid workers and the supply of aid to Gaza. Not good.

[Jeremy Konyndyk @JeremyKonyndyk]

There are no words to adequately convey the rage heartbreak of the Israeli govt murdering 7 aid workers.

First and foremost, my deepest condolences and full solidarity with @WCKitchen, @chefjoseandres, and the families of the 7 heroes who gave their lives feeding Gazans.

[Richard Bernau @RichardBernau]

Another amazing thread outlining how DEI policies produce better grads not worse. Please read it!

[Michael Harriot @michaelharriot]

I'll take this one.

The idea that affirmative action or diversity, equity & inclusion policies equal lower standards is something that a lot of people believe.

Instead of citing what "I believe" like Elon did, let's use facts & a something I like to called "math"

A thread.

[Richard Bernau @RichardBernau]

Incredibly perceptive post outlining the danger of the ‘poverty mentality’ that Nats/Luxon bring to governing. But it’s more than that - the ability to only see people as costs (unless they are already rich) rather than assets is a feature of the neoliberal project.

[Amazonia - Kaua e tautohetohe ki nga riwai @Jandal_It]

🧵 The #TobacCoalition and thePoverty Mentality

I was raised in poverty. Grinding, anxious poverty. When things got tough, my parents sold things. Clothes, furniture, the car, and eventually, our humble home. We didn't invest, save, or even know how to. We eked out a life. 1/

[Richard Bernau @RichardBernau]

Excellent summary of the current position in Ukraine. And, if you can believe anything Trump says, then what impact would he have if he became president? Not a good impact, that’s for sure. And no way he could end the war in a day - as he claims.

[ChrisO_wiki @ChrisO_wiki]

1/ Viktor Orbán has disclosed what he says is Donald Trump's plan for ending the war in Ukraine – by cutting off all American aid. As Trump has at least a 50-50 chance of becoming the next US President, this has to be taken seriously. Could Trump's plan actually work? ⬇️

[Richard Bernau @RichardBernau]

Trump as a fully fledged dictator - which is what he is say out loud - is the nightmare scenario. Could it really happen?

[Richard Bernau @RichardBernau]

I like this, because it definitively refutes everything the antivax crowd claim. You can’t argue with the data.

[The Real Truther @thereal_truther]

97% of the US Military (~1.3 million) was fully vaccinated by 2022.

The hospitalization rate in 2021 was the 3rd lowest rate of the past decade.

The hospitalization rate in 2022 was the lowest rate of the past decade.

The majority of hospitalizations were related to mental health disorders or pregnancy.

COVID-19 accounted for 1.5% of hospitalizations in 2021 & dropped 70% to under .5% in 2022.

Cancer (neoplasm) hospitalizations in 2020 & 2021 were identical & went down in 2022.

There was no measurable rise in circulatory system, immune disorder or nervous system hospitalizations.

Vaccines are not harming the young & healthy in the USA.

[Richard Bernau @RichardBernau]

Unless the rich and powerful start to genuinely care about climate change, we are in a bit of a predicament. COP28 looks like it’s a turning point - for all the wrong reasons. Read on below.

[Stephen Barlow @SteB777]

COP28, has to be the turning point.

I don't expect anything meaningful, from the official process.

However, now we know what we're up against. The gloves must come off.
1/🧵

[Richard Bernau @RichardBernau]

This COP28 presidency was a blatant conflict of interest from day 1. Not really a hot take, but still. Maybe this controversy gives members the backbone to make this the COP that counts? Rather than another lame greenwashing festival.

[Al Gore @algore]

The chances for real progress at COP28 were badly damaged early this year when an oil company CEO was appointed to lead the negotiations. And now investigative journalists have confirmed some of the worst fears of those who criticized that absurd appointment with the shocking news that the President-designate has been using the meetings he has set up with nations around the world to sell more oil and gas. At the same time, the fossil fuel company he leads (the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company) has been preparing to launch one of the largest expansions of oil and gas production of any company in the world — timed to begin immediately after COP28 concludes.

Using international climate talks as leverage to shore up support for pumping more oil and gas at a time when we urgently need to phase out fossil fuels is — to say the least — utterly appalling.

[John Gibbons 🇵🇸 @think_or_swim]

Superb #climate comms from the brilliant Olivia Colman.
Enjoy.

[Richard Bernau @RichardBernau]

For the Saudis, sustainability means sustaining oil demand. This, on the eve of COP28. Revealed: Saudi Arabia’s grand plan to ‘hook’ poor countries on oil | Oil | The Guardian https://t.co/k2lSuxfmxH

[Richard Bernau @RichardBernau]

And people wonder why I might be a tad cynical about COP28. COP28: UAE planned to use climate talks to make oil deals - BBC News https://t.co/s7hBQRDrLA

[Richard Bernau @RichardBernau]

Perfect summary or our petty, backwards looking, unambitious coalition govt. John Campbell: I hoped to be surprised - actually I'm amazed (on the downside) https://t.co/mtYfgMs0Ww

[Richard Bernau @RichardBernau]

This is what I am talking about - save the trees!! You should be reading this Christchurch City Council.

[- Ministry of Swedish Oaks 🇸🇪 - @OaksofSweden]

The city of Ängelholm is constructing a new road, and in its path stood an 80-year-old oak tree

This is how they moved a 100-ton Oak - a thread 🧵